Not Just Billy Joel: Celebs Whose Health Issues Prevented Them From Driving

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Back in February 2025, iconic singer and songwriter Billy Joel stumbled while onstage at a concert. Three months later, he announced why on his Instagram: He had been diagnosed with a condition called normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a type of swelling around the brain that causes balance issues and memory problems. Joel's disorder forced him to cancel his concert tour and join the list of celebrities who had health scares in 2025.

In September 2026, Joel, who turned 77 earlier in the year, revealed on SiriusXM's "The Billy Joel Channel" that he had undergone surgery to insert a shunt in his brain to drain fluid buildup. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter the following month, Joel explained that NPH "affects your balance, it affects your memory, it affects your vision, your hearing." He added that despite being generally in good health, he still hasn't returned to the stage. Additionally, he's not allowed to drive, and needs to undergo more tests before driving again can be a possibility. In the meantime, Joel has decided to auction off about 70 of his 100+ motorcycles.

Joel isn't the only celebrity to stop driving under a doctor's directive, either. Many other famous faces have experienced the same loss of freedom due to health issues. Still, Joel seems to be taking this turn of events in stride, and his fellow A-listers who had to turn over the keys appear to be doing the same.

For "The Chase" quizzer and comedian Paul Sinha, finding out he had Parkinson's disease in 2019 was a turning point in his life. Yet he didn't shy away from the surprising diagnosis. On the contrary, he told his fan base almost immediately on his website, keeping a practical, positive attitude about it: "With the diagnosis now confirmed, and a treatment plan in place, I now feel far more prepared for the new challenges ahead." He continued, "whatever the next stage of my life holds for me, many others have it far worse." However, Sinha couldn't avoid the realities that come with Parkinson's. As a result, in 2023, he admitted that he no longer drives nor dances because of his condition.

Could Sinha eventually return to driving? The chances are slim; while the disease's symptoms can be managed, there is no cure for Parkinson's at the time of writing. Over time, people with Parkinson's lose their ability to control their reactions and muscles, at which point many decide they need to stop driving for safety reasons. Fortunately, Sinha seems to have a strong supporter in his husband, whom he's thanked for helping him with everyday tasks.

During a 2019 episode of "The View," actor and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg shared that she had stepped back from driving because of her poor eyesight (via Entertainment Tonight). Keeping true to her comedic roots, she sprinkled a bit of self-deprecation into her reveal: "My sight is not good enough, people get nervous when I get behind the wheel." She added, "So, I am not allowed to really drive." How does the mega-star get around, then? Goldberg told her co-hosts and audience that she has a driver, and that she doesn't rely on ride-sharing apps (specifically Uber) to get from one place to another.

Years later, in 2023, Goldberg surprised fans when she appeared on "The View" without glasses. During the episode, she explained that she had undergone surgery to remove "teeny tiny" cataracts in one eye. Since this operation is meant to improve a person's ability to see items close to them, it's unlikely that the procedure would have corrected Goldberg's vision enough to render her safe for getting behind the wheel.

It's tough to imagine that any obstacle could keep legendary actor Dame Judi Dench down. Yet one age-related medical issue has made it impossible for her to safely drive: macular degeneration. The condition, which is most common in people over the age of 50, leads to the progressive worsening of a person's central eyesight. Over time, people with macular generation may find that activities such as driving and reading can become challenging, which was what happened to Dench.

In an interview for Radio Times around 2019, Dench admitted, "A couple of years ago I stopped driving, which was one of the most traumatic moments of my life" (via The Independent). At the same time, she admitted that she realized it was the right decision. "But I just know I'll kill somebody if I get behind the wheel of a car now," she said. Dench added that she just went on with life as usual and adapted to the reality of not being able to see clearly.

At age 13, actor Hugo Weaving was diagnosed with epilepsy. Among other side effects, epilepsy can cause unpredictable seizures, so many people with epilepsy, like Weaving, simply can't or don't drive. However, Weaving admitted during a 2006 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald that it was theoretically possible for him to get a driver's license because his condition is well-controlled. "I haven't had a seizure for a long time," he explained, which is a common requirement for people with epilepsy to be permitted to drive. "But I'm now just so used to not driving, I'm scared of what I'd do."

Does not driving negatively affect people with epilepsy from a social or personal standpoint? According to 2017 research published by the American Epilepsy Society, many people who have to give up driving due to being epileptic agree that it takes a toll on their quality of life. That said, Weaving has never shown any major concern about the topic and seems to be completely fine with the decision. In fact, he told the New York Post in 2012, "I can't be bothered. It's easier to walk. At least, that's my excuse, anyway."

Actor Michael J. Fox's 2020 memoir "No Time Like the Future" included a surprising admission: He had started looking for his car keys one day, even though he hadn't driven for decades due to his history with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition that eventually affects the whole nervous system. It was a sign of how his disorder had begun to affect him cognitively and not just physically. "My short-term memory is shot," he explained to People at the time.

Although people living with Parkinson's may find themselves having to give up driving, they don't automatically have to stop operating a car when they first develop the condition. Many people can still drive safely for a long time after their diagnosis. However, should the day come that a person can no longer drive due to Parkinson's, experts recommend finding ways to remain active and social, such as using public transportation or riding with a friend.