Celebrities who have publicly said they have sleep apnea include Shaquille O’Neal, Amy Poehler, Jack Black, Rosie O’Donnell, Shonda Rhimes, Slayer singer Tom Araya, broadcaster Roman Kemp and NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick. Most of them use CPAP therapy, and several describe it as life-changing. Their stories show the same pattern doctors see every day: loud snoring, choking awake and exhausting days that go unexplained for years until someone gets a sleep test.
Every person below is included only because they discussed their diagnosis themselves, in an interview, podcast, public event or official announcement. We link to the original reporting for each one.
Key takeaways
- Sleep apnea affects athletes, actors, musicians and writers alike: body size, fitness and fame don’t protect anyone.
- Most of these public figures were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) after a sleep study and treat it with CPAP.
- The symptoms they describe (snoring, choking awake, daytime exhaustion) are the classic warning signs listed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
- If those signs sound familiar, a home or in-lab sleep test is the only way to know for sure.
Celebrities with sleep apnea at a glance
| Name | Known for | What they shared | Treatment mentioned |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaquille O’Neal | NBA Hall of Famer | Moderate OSA found in a filmed Harvard sleep study (2011) | CPAP (nasal mask) |
| Amy Poehler | Actor, comedian | Said on her podcast that CPAP “changed my life” (2025) | CPAP |
| Jack Black | Actor, Tenacious D singer | Called his CPAP a “game changer” (2025) | CPAP |
| Rosie O’Donnell | Comedian, TV host | Discussed her OSA diagnosis and CPAP on The View (2006) | CPAP |
| Shonda Rhimes | TV producer, author | Said she developed sleep apnea and woke up choking (2025) | Improved health and weight loss |
| Tom Araya | Slayer singer and bassist | Said he needs a CPAP to sleep, which makes touring hard (2017) | CPAP |
| Roman Kemp | UK radio and TV presenter | Shared his diagnosis and CPAP photo (2022) | CPAP |
| Tyler Reddick | NASCAR Cup Series driver | Announced an OSA diagnosis earlier in 2026 | CPAP |
Athletes with sleep apnea
Shaquille O’Neal
In 2011, Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine released a video, “Shaq Attacks Sleep Apnea,” that followed the basketball legend through an overnight sleep study. His girlfriend described being woken repeatedly by his loud snoring, and the study found moderate obstructive sleep apnea. On camera, he worked with sleep specialists to choose a nasal CPAP mask, as the American Academy of Sleep Medicine reported. Read more in our article on Shaq’s snoring and sleep apnea.
Tyler Reddick
In August 2026, the 23XI Racing driver revealed that doctors had diagnosed him with obstructive sleep apnea earlier that year, after he had lived with symptoms for a long time without realizing what they were. He announced the diagnosis alongside an awareness partnership with CPAP maker ResMed, as covered by NASCAR.com.
For more sports figures, see our roundup of athletes with sleep apnea and our article on Brett Favre and sleep apnea.
Actors and TV personalities with sleep apnea
Amy Poehler and Jack Black
On the April 22, 2025 episode of her podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler, Poehler asked guest Jack Black whether he snores. When he said he uses a CPAP machine, she replied that she does too. Black called his machine “a game changer,” and Poehler said it “changed my life,” according to coverage by the patient-advocacy group Project Sleep. The light-hearted exchange (“CPAP team unite”) was widely shared because it made a medical device feel normal.
Rosie O’Donnell
In November 2006, O’Donnell used a segment of ABC’s The View to talk about being diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea and starting CPAP therapy, joined by sleep specialist Dr. Michael Breus, according to the medical-equipment trade publication HME Business.
Shonda Rhimes
The creator of Grey’s Anatomy and executive producer of Bridgerton spoke about her past health struggles at a 92NY event with Robin Roberts on October 14, 2025. “I developed sleep apnea and I like woke up all the time, choking in my sleep,” she said, describing breathlessness and trouble climbing stairs before she made major health changes for the sake of her children, as theGrio reported.
Roman Kemp
The British radio and TV presenter told the Daily Mail in 2022 that he had “recently got diagnosed with sleep apnoea,” describing debilitating tiredness that he had first suspected was narcolepsy. He later shared a selfie wearing his CPAP mask in bed, as HELLO! magazine reported.
Singers and musicians with sleep apnea
Tom Araya (Slayer)
In a 2017 interview with Loudwire, the Slayer frontman revealed he has sleep apnea and said, “I need [a CPAP] to sleep, so if I can’t sleep well, I don’t sleep long.” He said sleeping on the tour bus had become the part of life on the road he no longer enjoyed. It’s a common problem for touring musicians, since a CPAP needs power and a stable place to sleep.
Jack Black (Tenacious D)
Best known as an actor, Black is also the lead singer of the rock duo Tenacious D. His CPAP conversation with Amy Poehler is covered above.
Celebrities who died with sleep apnea as a factor
Sleep apnea has also been named in official findings after some high-profile deaths. Most notably, the Los Angeles County coroner listed sleep apnea and “other undetermined factors” as the cause of actress Carrie Fisher’s death in 2016. We cover these cases, and the ones that are often misreported, in celebrities who died from sleep apnea and Carrie Fisher and sleep apnea.
What their stories teach
- A partner often notices first. Shaq’s snoring was obvious to his girlfriend long before a diagnosis. If someone tells you that you snore loudly or stop breathing, take it seriously.
- Fit, strong people get it too. A thick neck, jaw shape and nasal anatomy matter, not just weight. Even thin people can snore and have apnea.
- Exhaustion isn’t a personality trait. Kemp thought he might have narcolepsy and Reddick said he had symptoms for a long time; unexplained daytime sleepiness deserves a medical look.
- Treatment works when you use it. CPAP remains the first-line treatment for moderate to severe OSA, and newer masks and machines are far quieter and smaller. See our guide to the best CPAP machines.
When to get tested
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, common signs of sleep apnea include loud snoring, gasping or choking during sleep, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches and trouble concentrating. Untreated sleep apnea is linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.
Talk to a doctor if you have these symptoms, especially if a bed partner has noticed breathing pauses. A quick screen with our STOP-BANG calculator can help you prepare, and our guide on how to test for sleep apnea explains home tests versus in-lab sleep studies. If you mostly snore without other symptoms, see celebrities who snore and our how to stop snoring guide.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Details about public figures are based on their own public statements and the news reports linked above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What celebrities have sleep apnea?
Public figures who have discussed their own sleep apnea include Shaquille O’Neal, Amy Poehler, Jack Black, Rosie O’Donnell, Shonda Rhimes, Slayer’s Tom Araya, Roman Kemp and NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick. Most of them treat it with CPAP.
Which singers have sleep apnea?
Slayer singer and bassist Tom Araya said in 2017 that he needs a CPAP machine to sleep, and Jack Black, the lead singer of Tenacious D, said on Amy Poehler’s podcast in 2025 that his CPAP was a game changer.
Does Shaq still have sleep apnea?
Shaquille O’Neal was diagnosed with moderate obstructive sleep apnea in a 2011 sleep study filmed by Harvard Medical School and was fitted with a nasal CPAP mask. Sleep apnea is usually a long-term condition that is managed rather than cured, so ongoing treatment is typical.
Did Carrie Fisher die of sleep apnea?
The Los Angeles County coroner listed the cause of Carrie Fisher’s 2016 death as sleep apnea and other undetermined factors, noted heart disease and drug use as other conditions, and ruled the manner of death undetermined.
Is sleep apnea common?
Yes. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder that often goes undiagnosed. Many people, famous or not, live with it for years before a sleep test confirms it.
Sources
- American Academy of Sleep Medicine — Shaquille O’Neal brings attention to sleep apnea and CPAP in Harvard video
- Project Sleep — Amy Poehler and Jack Black talk CPAP on “Good Hang” podcast
- The Ringer — Jack Black joins Good Hang with Amy Poehler (April 22, 2025)
- HME Business — Actress Rosie O’Donnell sheds light on OSA
- theGrio — Shonda Rhimes says her kids inspired her to change her health (October 15, 2025)
- Loudwire — Slayer’s Tom Araya reveals struggle with sleep apnea (2017)
- HELLO! — Roman Kemp shares life with sleep apnoea and CPAP (2022)
- NASCAR.com — Tyler Reddick finds life-changing answer in his sleep (August 25, 2026)
- Associated Press via KTVU — Coroner: Sleep apnea among causes of Carrie Fisher’s death
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute — Sleep Apnea
