These celebrities were in a coma and you didn’t know it
Coma can be described as a “state of prolonged unconsciousness” in which a person cannot wake up, does not respond to stimuli, and cannot initiate voluntary movements. There are various reasons why a person may fall into a coma, and sometimes the coma is induced for medical reasons. Whether medically induced or not, several celebrities have been in a coma and woke up to tell the tale. Click through this gallery to find out which celebrities survived the coma.
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Lamar Odom
Former professional basketball player Lamar Odom was hospitalized in 2015 following a suspected drug overdose. He fell into a coma and was placed on life support at a Las Vegas hospital.
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Lamar Odom
Odom’s ex-wife, Khloé Kardashian, supported him and even withdrew her divorce petition for a time to help him with his recovery.
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Ozzy Osbourne
Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne was in a serious quad bike accident in 2003. He was rushed to hospital, where he was treated for his broken collarbone, ribs and neck vertebrae.
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Ozzy Osbourne
The singer was in a coma for several days following the accident. “The matter almost [termina] with me. I’m lucky to be here today and not be paralyzed.”
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Burt Reynolds
Legendary actor Burt Reynolds battled drug addiction at points in his life, once slipping into a coma following abruptly stopping his sleeping medication.
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Burt Reynolds
He spent eight or nine hours in a coma in a Los Angeles hospital, where he might apparently hear doctors say “we’re losing him” and tell his wife to say goodbye.
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Sharon Stone
In 2001, actress Sharon Stone suffered a brain aneurysm. She was lucky to survive the incident, which was so severe that she spent two years learning to walk and talk once more.
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Sharon Stone
He spent nine days in a coma in an ICU. She has said that the incident has made her appreciate the power of her growing old.
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Lil’ Wayne
Rapper Lil’ Wayne suffers from epilepsy, which has landed him in the hospital several times. In 2013, there were reports that he was in an induced coma following a series of seizures.
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Lil’ Wayne
After the incident, however, the media was criticized for exaggerating the seriousness of the incident and it was questioned whether the musician had been in a coma.
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Kurt Cobain
Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain slipped into a coma in 1994 following overdosing on champagne and Rohypnol. He was only unconscious for a day, but was in the hospital for four more.
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Kurt Cobain
The ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ singer survived that incident, but it sadly foreshadowed his tragic death, which was to occur later that year, when Cobain took his own life.
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Martin Lawrence
In 1999, Martin Lawrence attempted to lose weight for a role by jogging in the heat in multiple layers of clothing. When he got home, his temperature was 41.6°C.
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Martin Lawrence
The comedian was rushed to hospital, where he fell into a “near-fatal” coma that lasted three days. During that time, his breathing was assisted by a ventilator.
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Gary Busey
Actor Gary Busey fell into a coma in 1988 following being involved in a horrific motorcycle accident.
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Gary Busey
He was not wearing a helmet at the time. He suffered a skull fracture and doctors thought he might have permanent brain damage. His coma lasted 33 days.
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Stevie Wonder
In 1973, musician Stevie Wonder was involved in a car accident while on tour in North Carolina. His car collided with the back of a truck and he fell into a coma.
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Stevie Wonder
He was in a coma for four days, and when he woke up, he found that he had partially lost his sense of smell and temporarily lost his sense of taste.
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Evel Knievel
In 1967, famed stuntman Evel Knievel attempted (and failed) to jump the Caesar’s Palace fountain in Las Vegas on a motorcycle.
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Evel Knievel
The stuntman suffered a series of broken bones and was rushed to hospital. There were reports of a 29-day coma following the accident, although these were disputed by his wife.
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Jerry Garcia
Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia suffered from diabetes, and in 1986, he slipped into a diabetic coma that nearly killed him. He remained in a coma for five days.
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Jerry Garcia
After coming out of the coma, Garcia spoke publicly regarding his experience of unconsciousness as a surrealist. The coma forced him to relearn how to play the guitar.
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Michael Schumacher
Former Formula 1 champion Michael Schumacher suffered a skiing accident in 2013 and was put into a medically induced coma due to the injuries he sustained.
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Michael Schumacher
Sources suggest that Schumacher was in a coma, intended to reduce the swelling around his brain, for around six months, before doctors gradually removed him.
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The Game
Rapper The Game fell into a coma in 2001 following being shot five times.
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The Game
His coma only lasted a few days. Reflecting on her experience nearly 20 years later, he said waking up from her was “like waking up from anything.”
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Seth Binzer
Musician Seth Binzer, frontman for Crazy Town and better known by his stage name Shifty Shellshock, has had a very public battle with drug addiction and has spent a lot of time in and out of rehab.
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Seth Binzer
The ‘Butterfly’ singer fell into a coma in 2012. Although there was no official confirmation of the cause, sources suggest it may have been drug related.
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Shayne Lamas
Reality TV personality Shayne Lamas (daughter of actor Lorenzo Lamas) fell into a coma in 2014 following suffering a miscarriage. Unfortunately, her unborn child did not survive.
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Shayne Lamas
Waking up from his coma and seeing messages of support from fans, Lamas wrote, “Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers. I have cried seeing so much generosity and warmth.”
Editor-in-Chief Prize-winning journalist with over 20 years of international news experience. Alexandra leads the editorial team, ensuring every story meets the highest standards of accuracy and journalistic integrity.
