Celebrities Who Kept Their Cancer Diagnosis A Secret

Alan Rickman: Rickman received treatment for prostate cancer as early as 2005 which led to a prostatectomy, but after a stroke in 2015, he was diagnosed with cancer once again. Rickman never told anyone about his diagnosis, which coincided with the last three films of the ‘Harry Potter’ films. He passed away in 2016, surrounded by his loved ones.

Alicia Witt: The Actress revealed on Instagram in June 2022 that she had been diagnosed and successfully beat breast cancer. “Just a little over 2 months ago, i had my last round of chemical therapy prior to my mastectomy.” Witt said she didn’t want to cause concern until she was healed, so she used a therapy cap to prevent hair loss. “While keeping hair was obviously the last of my concerns on a larger level, i did deeply wish to keep my diagnosis private until it was 100% healed.”

Steve Jobs: The Apple businessman was diagnosed with a rare form of pancreatic cancer in 2003. The following year he went into surgery which helped him battle the disease until he had a liver transplant in 2009. He finally resigned in 2011, and two months later died at 56.

Ben Stiller: The actor was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014 and went into surgery immediately. Two years later, he opened up about his experience to support the PSA test, which was controversial at the time. “I think American Cancer Society says you should discuss it at 50. If I hadn't taken the test — my doctor started giving it to me at 46 — I would not have known. Right now, I still wouldn't have known.”

David Bowie: The singer did not know he had cancer until the final 3 months of his life, yet he never revealed his diagnosis to the public, but rather made his 25th and last record, which contained words such as “Look up here, I’m in heaven” while on a hospital bed in the music video. Curiously enough though, Johan Renck, director of the video, said he proposed Bowie be in a hospital bed, and he only knew of the condition later on, according to ‘The Guardian.’

Kathy Bates: At the age of 55 Bates was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was operated on immediately, but she never revealed the details to the public. “I continued to work right after the operation, doing Little Black Book with Brittany Murphy. […] I didn’t want anyone to know, but it really took a lot out of me,” she told ‘People.’ As if beating cancer once wasn’t enough, in 2012 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. She opened up about her past after having to deal with lymphedema, a disease caused by cancer treatment.

Chadwick Boseman: The actor was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 and kept his condition secret until sadly, he passed away in August 2020. His family wrote “A true fighter, Chadwick persevered through it all, and brought you many of the films you have come to love so much,” according to the ‘BBC.’

Michael Douglas: Even though he did not keep his diagnosis a secret from the world, he did hide a few details about it. In 2010 he revealed to the press that he had throat cancer, after expressing his worries to his surgeon, but in reality, the actor suffered from tongue cancer. He kept the details hidden because he could have possibly lost part of his tongue and jaw, complicating his career.

Paul Reubens: The latest star to have revealed he had cancer was Reubens, known for his character “Pee-wee Herman”. The beloved actor passed away on Sunday, and a public last message from the actor was posted on his Instagram page. “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”