'70s And '80s Stars Who Radically Changed Their Lifestyle For Health

When you receive an unexpected medical diagnosis, you may need to overhaul your everyday habits as part of your long-term treatment. In fact, making lifestyle changes can help better manage an existing chronic condition. (Check out the health and wellness trends that are everywhere in 2026.) "Many disease processes are impacted by your lifestyle," explains Dr. Blake Arthurs, adding that many healthcare providers suggest that patients with medical conditions make beneficial lifestyle modifications (via Henry Ford Health). 

A 2023 article in Nutrients noted that prioritizing nutrient-rich eating, regular fitness, and adequate sleep could reduce the impacts and incidence of metabolic diseases and some cancers. Meanwhile, a 2020 study in JAMA evaluated data from 116,043 adult subjects to investigate a potential link between lack of nicotine use, routine exercise, and limited alcohol intake and the diagnosis of a chronic condition like diabetes. The findings showed that people who followed healthier lifestyles were able to live disease-free for longer. But changing your behavior isn't always easy, especially if you're forced to rethink your whole world. That's when it's helpful to hear about inspirational stories of others who've been successful in making radical changes. 

Actor Jeff Bridges, who won an Academy Award in 1972, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2020, requiring a year-long battle to achieve remission. He also contracted the Covid-19 virus, which he described as being more difficult than cancer. Bridges told AARP that he used his musical talents to just "jam" his way through the experience. Additionally, in a Parade article, he discussed engaging in stress-relieving exercises daily to remain in a "good groove."

Here are other stars from the 1970s and 1980s who made changes for their lasting well-being.

The legendary voice of Patti LaBelle seemed to be everywhere after her breakout hit of 1974, "Lady Marmalade." Yet LaBelle's rise to fame and fandom didn't shield her from receiving a diabetes diagnosis in the 1990s. As she recalled to the Washington Informer in 2023, she initially lived in denial. However, she turned herself around and "made a conscious choice to prioritize [her] health and change [her] way of living."

The good news was that LaBelle loved to cook, so she leveraged her culinary skills to remake her diet. Her results worked for her, and they turned around her career. Today, LaBelle is as well-known as a cookbook author and cooking show host as she is for her songs. (And you can take a hint from LaBelle's transformation by learning about the foods you should be eating to reduce your high blood sugar levels.)

When actress Drew Barrymore screamed at seeing an alien in the 1982 movie "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," she solidified her place as part of the next generation of Hollywood stars. What the general public didn't know was that from a young age, Barrymore struggled with the disease of addiction. As she told The Guardian, her mother sent her to a rehab facility when she was still a teenager. (It's worth noting that rehab isn't the only way to treat alcohol addiction; there are effective medications to treat alcoholism as well.) 

Barrymore continued the battle for several decades before deciding to go sober in 2019. When she was a guest on CBS Mornings in 2021, Barrymore admitted that alcohol "just did not serve [her] and [her] life." Reportedly, Barrymore focused her attention on being more mindful and seeking alternative therapies, including yoga and acupuncture, as part of her holistic lifestyle changes.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

In the late 1980s, Christina Applegate received instant recognition for her comedic talents as the Bundys' ditzy daughter Kelly in "Married... with Children." The TV hit jumpstarted her career, which followed a steady trajectory of projects throughout her adulthood. However, while filming "Dead to Me" in 2021, she experienced balance issues and uncomfortable nerve tingling (via ABC News). A doctor affirmed that her symptoms were the result of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic, progressive, and incurable disease of the autoimmune system. Applegate confirmed the diagnosis in a tweet, noting, "It's been a tough road."

To cope, Applegate tries to minimize her social interactions to avoid too much overstimulation, which can exacerbate the intensity of her MS symptoms (via TODAY). "I like to keep it as quiet and as mellow as possible," she told Vanity Fair in 2023.

"Star Wars" fans know George Lucas as the filmmaker behind their favorite out-of-this-world franchise. Yet before he jettisoned to fame in the 1970s for his genre-defining science fiction blockbuster, he received a diagnosis that forced him to reconfigure his life.

While a young adult, Lucas was told he had diabetes. Knowing the disease could be life-threatening (his grandfather passed away from diabetes, according to RadarOnline reporting), he set out to manage his blood sugar levels. While he hasn't revealed the exact strategies behind his success, the fact that he has survived with the condition for nearly 60 years is nothing short of remarkable. As Diabetes UK says, Lucas has "set a great example for millions of diabetic patients" by showing it's possible to keep the disease under control for decades.

The 1980s catapulted Tom Hanks to fame with movie hits like "Splash" and "Big." In fact, he was so committed to his profession that he was willing to transform his body to fit a role. Yet he admitted in 2013 that he wished he hadn't taken such liberties with his diet and exercise because he believed the decision led to his developing diabetes. As he explained, "You eat so much bad food and you don't take any exercise when you're heavy" (via Hello! Magazine). Indeed, a 2022 editorial in Diabetics supports the idea that yo-yo dieting can increase someone's likelihood of developing diabetes.

After receiving his diagnosis, Hanks revamped his lifestyle. According to Diabetes Australia, Hanks follows a strict regimen of exercising an hour each day and watching what he eats so carefully that, as he jestingly suggests, his diet is boring.