Famous Recipients

People from all walks of life have an Implantable device including; celebrities, world-class athletes, politicians and business leaders.

Entertainers

Elton John had a pacemaker implanted in the summer of 1999. After the procedure, he was quoted as saying, "The only long-term effect of the heart problem is that I have to carry a card explaining why I set off the alarms when I walk through airport security."

Elton John has a pacemaker


Charlie Daniels, an American multi-instrumentalist lyricist, and singer, best known for his number one country hit "The Devil Went Down to Georgia".

Julie Bowen, star of Modern Family show.  When the doctors broke the news she needed a pacemaker, she remembers having “a big crying fit” about needing a device that’s “for old people.” Since then, she’s come to realize how lucky she is that a serious medical problem could be remedied in a way she considers “no big deal”.

Julie Bowen has a pacemaker


Jeffrey Wayne Fattt, an Australian musician, and actor who is best known as a member of the children's band The Wiggles.​

Garrison Keillor, a humorist had a pacemaker implanted in 2017 at the Mayo Clinic.

Max Page, the child actor who gained fame after playing “little Darth Vader” in a 2011 Super Bowl commercial, has a heart valve and pacemaker.

Sir David Frederick Attenborough, English broadcaster and natural historian.

Saul Hudson (Slash), Guns n' Roses lead guitarist. He has received critical acclaim and is considered one of the greatest guitarists in rock history.

Ken ‘‘Hawk’’ Harrelson, former White Sox broadcaster.

Ric Flair, retired WWE legend has a pacemaker.

David Hasselhoff, former Baywatch star received a defibrillator implant in 2019 to stave off a heart attack.

Kirk Douglas, an American actor, producer, director, and author.

Jann Arden, Canadian singer & songwriter. She had a pacemaker for 17 years, but it was removed because she no longer needed it.  "One tends to really think about living and dying when you get a pacemaker implanted at 20 years old." Her pacemaker experience inspired her popular "Will You Remember Me" song.

Robert Guillaume, actor best known for playing Benson DuBois on 'Soap' and 'Benson'.​

Krusty, a character from the famous Simpsons television show.

Mark Fredrick Farner, an American singer, guitarist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lead guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad.

Burton Race, a British starred chef, television personality and celebrity.
 

Athletes

Fred Hoiberg, men's basketball coach for the Iowa State University Cyclones

Khalilou Fadiga, former professional footballer had an automatic defibrillator implanted at 29 years old.

Brett MacLean, former NHL hockey player.

Sir Alex Ferguson, former Manchester United soccer manager.

Alex Ferguson has a pacemaker

 

Anja Andersen, a famous handball player in Denmark had a pacemaker implanted in 1999 after several fainting spells during playing. She is now a handball coach.

Barry Grant, cricket champion 

Kemoy Campbell, the pacer whose heart stopped halfway through the 3,000m at the Millrose Games in early 2019 wo weeks ago had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implanted in case it happens again.

Bob Huggins, an American college basketball coach.University has a defibrillator (ICD).

Tommy Lasorda, baseball Manager who lead Dodgers to two World Series titles while managing the team from 1976 to 1996.

Darrell Wayne Lukas, an American horse trainer and a U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee.

Charlie Powell, Florence Motor Speedway’s owner. His thoughts on his pacemaker - “..it beats the alternative.”

Staale Solbakken, is a former Norigiena midfielder soccer player who is now coaching received a pacemaker at 33 years old.

James Taylor, a former Nottinghamshire and England batsman, has a defibrillator. In April 2016, the right-handed batsman was forced to retire from international cricket at the age of just 26 after he was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

 

Leaders

Silvio Berlusconi, former Italian prime minister and media tycoon.

Adrienne Clarkson, former Canadian Governor General.

Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, former Crown Prince of Nepal has a pacemker.

Nick Zerwas, US Rebublican State Representative.

Reuven Rivlin, President of Israel.

Dianne Feinstein, US Senator.

Bob Dole, an American politician who represented Kansas in the Senate.

Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the Catholic Church.

Dick Cheney, former US Vice-President had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implanted in 2001. 

James Major, son of former British Prime Minister John Major, had a pacemaker implanted at 26 years old.


Famous Member Memorials

Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who devoted her life to the poorest of the poor in Calcutta had a pacemaker.

Dr. John Hopps, twenty-seven years after inventing the first pacemaker in 1950, he was fitted with one to regulate his heartbeat. Hopps died just before his invention was voted the Canadian engineering invention of the century

Earl Bakken, it’s quite ironic that Medtronic’s co-founder, had a pacemaker. Earl Bakken and his brother-in-law Palmer Hermundslie started Medtronic in a garage in northeast Minneapolis, where they repaired electronic hospital equipment. Medtronic is now the world’s leading medical technology company and pacemaker manufacturer.

Medtronic founder has a pacemaker


Les Paul, famous guitarist who invented the solid-body electric guitar and his namesake line of guitar.

Roger Moore, the star of seven James Bond movies had a pacemaker implanted on May 10, 2003. Moore played the part of Agent 007 in the movies from 1973 to 1985. 

Roger Moore has a pacemaker


Frances Faye, consummate entertainer.

Byron Baer, former United Sates Senator.

Malcolm Mitchell Young, the Australian musician and songwriter, best known as a co-founder, rhythm guitarist, backing vocalist and songwriter for the hard rock band AC/DC had a pacemaker.

George Voinovich, a former US Senator from Ohio​​.

Jim Nabors, singer with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame had this to say about his pacemaker - "I have much more energy now. I'm made up of parts and pieces".

Stan Lee, the American comic-book writer, editor, publisher, media producer, television host, actor, president and chairman of Marvel. 

John David Dingell, an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1955 until 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, he holds the record for longest-ever serving Congressperson in American history.

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, former Italian President and banker.

Rishang Keishing, a senior politician of the Indian National Congressparty and a Member of the Parliament of India.

Moose Skowron, former New York Yankee ball player who played in eight World Series in the 1950s.

Joseph "Joe" Jackson, the manager and father of the Jackson family of entertainers which includes music superstars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.

Ted Williams, the last Major League baseball player to hit.400 in 1941 had a single chamber pacemaker implanted in 2000 to treat congestive heart failure.

Ed Koch, New York’s feisty former Mayor.

Jake LaMotta, fomer professional boxer.

Arnold Palmer, retired American professional golfer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest in history.

Arnold Palmer has a pacemaker


Mike Wallace, news correspondent and co-editor of 60 Minutes since its 1968 premiere.

Howard Reig, NBC nightly news announcer.

Hans-Dietrich Genscher, German Foreign Minister.

Jesse Helms, United State Senator was fitted with a pacemaker in August 2003.

Don Haskins, basketball coach and member of the basketball Hall of Fame.

Byron Nelson, golf legend had a pacemaker implanted in 1999 to combat bouts of vertigo, dizziness and an irregular heartbeat. 

Helmut Schmidt, former German Chancellor.

Prince Claus of the Netherlands.

Jimmy Stewart, the legendary star of 75 films including "It’s a Wonderful Life" and "The Philadelphia Story".

Dale Evans, known as the "Queen of the West". She co-starred in 35 films and several 1950s and ’60s television shows with her husband, Roy Rogers. She’s credited with writing the "Happy Trails to You" theme song that became attached to her and her husband’s work.

Izzy Asper, the colorful Canadian media baron.

Jack Buck, a mainstay in the Cardinals broadcast booth and longtime sports director for KMOX radio.

Bob Bullock, former Texas Lieutenant Governor, had a pacemaker. Before his operation he joked by saying; "It’s very interesting. ... Once it’s in there, you all can come in here and feel it. They tell me after they install it you can feel it under the skin." 

Buddy Ebsen, the actor who starred as Jud Clampett on the Beverly Hillbillies.

Phyllis Diller, comedian - "I’m the bionic woman!" she once bragged.

Johnny Grant, Hollywood's honorary mayor who has served as master of ceremonies when new stars were placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Jorge Amado, the famous Brazilian novelist.

Keizo Obuchi, former Japanese Prime Minister.

Gerald Ford, former United States President.

Don Ho, known for his signature tune "Tiny Bubbles".

Ian Fraser Kilmister (Lemmy), English musician, singer, and songwriter who founded and fronted the rock band Motorhead.

You know you're wired when...

You trust technology more than your heart.

Member Quotes

I feel so blessed to have this little gem implanted in me. When I think of the alternative it is quite overwhelming sometimes.