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9 Celebrities Who Have Suffered From Concussions

Who knew acting and singing could be such a dangerous job? By Katie RobinsonReviewed: March 22, 2018Fact-CheckedFrom left: Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie, and Halle Berry.AP Photo; Getty Images (2)It’s common knowledge that contact sports and concussions go together like crutches and broken legs. With more research available on high-impact sports such as football and hockey, findings show that head trauma is affecting even young athletes. It’s estimated that each season an incredible 50 percent of all high school football players have a concussion — or mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) — while one-third of this estimate have more than one. What many people don’t realize is that even non-sports-related concussions are more common than we think. (Just ask Justin Bieber, who got a concussion by walking into glass.) According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls were the leading cause of concussions in 2013. So although staying away from bashing helmets with the biggest men in America does help, it doesn’t make anyone less immune — even singers and actors whose stunt failures and onstage prop mishaps sometimes lead to concussion.

1 Rebel Wilson

Rebel Wilson, actress and comedian, suffered a concussion on set.Lisa Maree Williams/Getty ImagesWhile on set for her new movie Isn’t It Romantic, Rebel Wilson took a tumble that landed her at a local hospital on Long Island in New York. Later that day, she posted on Instagram to let fans know that she had made it through: “Started the day with a fall that led to a mild concussion … yet somehow looking not bad at 7pm.” The comedian also posted the picture on Twitter with the caption “Slaying my mild concussion suffered today! Won’t be doing any crazy stunts the next few days though!” There are no public claims as to how the star fell, but there are plenty of paparazzi shots of Wilson filming a scene in which she gets hit by a taxicab.

2 Jackie Chan

Jackie Chan has suffered many injuries while doing stunts for his movies.AP PhotoThe Rush Hour actor is famous for doing his own stunts. But that comes at a cost. In an interview with The Guardian, Jackie Chan rattled off a litany of the injuries he’s sustained on film sets. He's dislocated both his sternum and pelvis and broken his jaw, knees, ankles, and ribs multiple times. But it was in the ladder-fighting scene in First Strike (1996) that Chan received both a concussion and a broken nose. Even with such serious injuries, the 63-year-old actor is entertaining rumors of a possible Rush Hour 4. He told Fox News that he and Chris Tucker plan to produce the movie “before we get old.”

3 Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie suffered a concussion while filming the movie "Salt."Tristan Fewings/Getty ImagesAnother star famous for performing her own stunts, Angelina Jolie suffered a mild concussion while shooting the action film Salt. Her injury was caused when a stray light hit her forehead. She began bleeding and was sent to the hospital as a precaution, Radar Online reported. Later that day she was back in action doing blue screen work.

4 Lady Gaga

Pop singer Lady Gaga suffered an onstage concussion but finished the show.Getty ImagesDuring her Born This Way tour, Lady Gaga was singing “Judas” onstage when a male backup dancer hit the singer's head with a metal machine gun prop. Gaga staggered, rubbed her head, then walked off stage, MTV reported. Shortly after, she appeared back on stage (in the most Gaga sort of way) and performed 16 more hits. She even paused to tell the audience of her injury. “I want to apologize," she said. "I did hit my head, and I think I may have a concussion. But don’t worry, I will finish this show.” Later, her makeup artist tweeted out the news: “Gaga has a concussion but she is going to be okay. She wants u to know she loves u. I’m taking care of her. Can’t believe she finished the show.”

5 Derek Amato

Derek Amato, a professional pianist, discovered he could play the piano after suffering a concussion.Photo Courtesy of Derek AmatoFor some people, having a concussion can change their life. That was the case for Derek Amato, a regular man who after suffering a severe concussion from diving into a shallow pool and hitting his head, discovered that he could play the piano impeccably. Up until then, he had never played piano, had never thought of playing piano, and in fact, didn’t even know how to read music. Often called sudden savant syndrome, this post-TBI, sudden genius transformation does have its downsides. In an interview with HuffPost, the now-famous musician explained that he still has severe headaches and a sensitivity to light, but he seems okay with it. “The headaches and the loss of hearing — those things are sort of the price tag on this particular gift, and I’m okay with that,” he said.

6 Justin Bieber

Singer Justin Bieber walked into glass during one of his concerts.Shareif Ziyadat/Getty ImagesOh, yeah. The Biebs had a concussion. During a 2012 concert in Paris, Justin Bieber walked off stage … right into solid glass. Bieber told TMZ he was “disoriented” but still managed to finish the show. As soon as he got to his room backstage, however, he passed out and was unconscious for 15 seconds. After Bieber was rushed to the hospital, doctors confirmed that the singer had suffered a mild concussion. Nevertheless, he was able to finish the European tour.

7 Roald Dahl

The beloved children's book author Roald Dahl suffered many serious injuries after a plane crash during World War II.Ronald Dumont/Getty ImagesThis children’s book author may also be considered a sudden savant. During World War II, Roald Dahl was a pilot, but he'd had minimal training. After a crash landing in the desert, Dahl had a fractured skull, burns, spinal trauma, temporary blindness, and a severe concussion. Though his frontal lobe suffered greatly, it is believed that the collision unleashed a portion of the brain that controls inhibition, allowing Dahl to expand his imagination to unfathomable lengths.

8 Priyanka Chopra

Priyanka Chopra accepted an award while she was recovering from a concussion.Michael Kovac/Getty ImagesThe Quantico actress slipped and fell during a stunt, leading to a mild concussion. She was treated and discharged after a few hours. She was told by her doctors to rest for a couple days, but sitting at home can be a bit mundane. Just three days later, Priyanka Chopra won favorite dramatic TV show actress at the 2017 People’s Choice Awards. “I was a little nervous,” the actress told People on accepting the award. “I didn’t know if I would make it, but I got so bored sitting on my couch for three days.”

9 Gavin DeGraw

Singer Gavin DeGraw was attacked in New York City, resulting in a concussion and many injuries.Xavi Torrent/Getty ImagesIn 2011, the pop singer was reportedly attacked by three men and subsequently hit by a taxicab while in the East Village in New York City. At the hospital, doctors treated him for a concussion, broken nose, black eyes, and plentiful bruises. Unfortunately for Gavin DeGraw, he couldn’t finish his tour as the opening act for Train and Maroon 5. NEWSLETTERS

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