26 Famous Cleft Lip And Palate Celebrities To Inspire You

It might surprise you to discover some of your biggest icons were born with cleft lips and palate. Some openly share their experiences growing up with this condition, while others keep such topics off-limits. Discover some famous cleft lip and palate celebrities below.

Cleft lip and palate is a common facial deformity that can be corrected with cosmetic surgery. The deformity occurs when the facial structures forming the lips and palate fail to fuse properly during embryonic development.

Famous cleft lip and palate celebrities

Most celebrities born with cleft lips and palates underwent surgery as kids to correct it. Meanwhile, others don't do surgery and are okay with it. This article comprises the following celebrities:

Some cleft lip and palate celebrities who do not get surgery edit their photos, use makeup, or cover the cleft with a mustache and beards to achieve perfect looks. Here are 26 the famous cleft lip and palate celebrities:

1. Joaquin Phoenix - actor

• Full name: Joaquin Rafael Phoenix
• Birthdate: 28 October 1974
• Age: 49 years (as of August 2024)
• Birthplace: Río Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Height: 1.73 m
• Partner: Rooney Mara (2016–present)
• Career: Actor

Joaquin is among celebrities with cleft lip and palate scars. He is known for portraying dark and unconventional characters in independent films.

The actor was born with a microform cleft palate. Luckily, his family helped him to access proper medical attention. As a child, Joaquin Phoenix underwent several surgeries to correct the condition.

2. Tom Selleck - actor

• Full name: Thomas William Selleck
• Birthdate: 29 January 1945
• Age: 79 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, USA
• Height: 1.93 m
• Spouse: Jillie Mack (1987–present), Jacqueline Ray (1971–1982)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor

Tom Selleck is an acclaimed actor with a cleft lip scar. He is famous for starring private investigator Thomas Magnum in the Magnum PI TV series from 1980 to 1988.

The Detroit native was bullied as a child because of having a cleft mouth. Tom Selleck, however, overcame the taunting and forged a beautiful life.

3. Gene Simmons - musician

• Full name: Gene Simmons
• Birthdate: 25 August 1949
• Age: 75 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
• Height: 1.88 m
• Spouse: Shannon Tweed (2011–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Musician

Gene is a renowned Israel-born American musician. In the early 1970s, he founded the hard rock band Kiss, where he was the bassist and co-lead singer. Simmons was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

The singer was born with cleft lips but underwent surgery as a young boy to correct it. Nonetheless, Gene Simmons still has a slight indent in the middle of his upper lip that is almost unnoticeable.

4. Leonardo DiCaprio - actor

• Full name: Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio
• Birthdate: 11 November 1974
• Age: 49 years (as of August 2024)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Height: 1.83 m
• Partner: Vittoria Ceretti
• Career: Actor and film producer

Leonardo DiCaprio is among the famous American male celebrities born with cleft lip and palate. His condition did not hinder him from becoming influential in the American entertainment sector.

The actor is famous for his exemplary works in period and biographical films. For nearly ten times, Leonardo DiCaprio was annually ranked as one of the highest-paid actors in the world.

5. David Ortiz - retired baseball hitter

• Full name: David Américo Ortiz Arias
• Birthdate: 18 November 1975
• Age: 48 years (as of August 2024)
• Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Height: 1.91 m
• Spouse: Tiffany Ortiz (2002–2023)
• Children: 3
• Career: Retired professional baseball hitter

Baseman David Ortiz played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2016, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Fans nicknamed him "Big Papi," and his career is decorated with coveted awards and titles.

His fans get inspired when they know he was born with a cleft lip and palate. David Ortiz uses his influence to advocate for children with the same condition.

6. Victor Garber - actor 

• Full name: Victor Garber
• Birthdate: 16 March 1949
• Age: 75 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: London, Canada
• Height: 1.84 m
• Spouse: Rainer Andreesen (2015–present)
• Career: Actor

Canadian actor Victor Garber also underwent a cleft lip and palate surgery. The condition didn’t affect his life so much because he received medical attention at a young age. The actor often uses his influence to advise people to seek early medical intervention for kids born with this condition.

7. Andy García - actor  

• Full name: Andrés Arturo García Menéndez
• Birthdate: 12 April 1956
• Age: 68 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
• Height: 1.75 m
• Spouse: Marivi Lorido García (1982–present)
• Children: 4
• Career: Actor, producer, and director

Cuban-American actor Andy García is also among the famous people born with cleft lip. He rose to fame for his role as Agent George Stone in the 1987 film The Untouchables.

Andy often raises awareness for kids with cleft palate. In 2019, García raised over $2 million in a fundraising gala to cater for cleft lip and palate surgeries.

He also worked with Operation Smile, an organization offering free cleft palate surgeries to kids in developing countries.

8. Tom Brokaw - retired journalist    

• Full name: Thomas John Brokaw
• Birthdate: 6 February 1940
• Age: 84 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Webster, South Dakota, USA
• Height: 1.83 m
• Spouse: Meredith Lynn Auld (1962–present)
• Children: 3
• Career: Retired network television journalist and author

Tom Brokaw was born with a cleft palate but underwent surgery as a boy to correct it. The now-retired journalist rose to fame between 1976 to 1981 as The Today Show co-anchor.

Later, Tom Brokaw shifted to NBC Nightly News, where he was a news anchor and managing editor. After working with NBC for 55 years, the news reporter retired in 2021.

9. Florence Welch - musician

• Full name: Florence Leontine Mary Welch
• Birthdate: 28 August 1986
• Age: 38 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Camberwell, London, UK
• Height: 1.74 m
• Career: Musician

British-American musician Florence Welch is among the famous female celebrities born with cleft lip and palate. She is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Florence and the Machine.

On several occasions, Florence has candidly spoken about her experiences with cleft lip and palate. She underwent successful surgeries in childhood to rectify the condition.

10. Jeffrey Dean Morgan - actor

• Full name: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
• Birthdate: 22 April 1966
• Age: 58 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, USA
• Height: 1.85 m
• Spouse: Hilarie Burton (2019–present), Anya Longwell (1992–2003)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor

Jeffrey Dean Morgan is known for portraying Negan the hit AMC series The Walking Dead and its spin-off. He has also starred in numerous other films and TV shows.

Morgan was born with a cleft lip and palate but underwent surgery as a child. Today, he raises awareness and funds for organizations that support kids with that condition. For instance, Jeffrey Morgan once supported Smile Train, a non-profit organization.

11. Cher Lloyd - singer

• Full name: Cher Lloyd
• Birthdate: 28 July 1993
• Age: 31 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Malvern, UK
• Height: 1.57 m
• Spouse: Craig Monk (2013–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Singer

Cher Lloyd rose to prominence in 2010 when she finished fourth on The X-Factor in the UK. She faced criticism from judges and audiences unaware of her cleft condition. Nonetheless, Cher Lloyd still pressed on and has become a prolific artist.

12. Cheech Marin - comedian

• Full name: Cheech Marin
• Birthdate: 13 July 1946
• Age: 78 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: South Los Angeles, California, USA
• Height: 1.68 m
• Spouse: Natasha Rubin (2009–present), Patti Heid (1986–2009), Rikki Marin (1975–1984)
• Children: 3
• Career: Comedian

American comedian Cheech Marin was born with a cleft lip and palate and underwent surgery to repair it as a child. He has spoken openly about his experiences and worked with organizations that raise awareness and support individuals with the condition.

Cheech Marin gained recognition in the 1970s and early 1980s as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong. He has also voiced characters in several Disney films, including The Lion King.

13. Stacy Keach - actor

• Full name: Walter Stacy Keach Jr.
• Birthdate: 2 June 1941
• Age: 83 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Savannah, Georgia, USA
• Height: 1.82 m
• Spouse: Malgosia Tomassi (1986–present), Jill Donohue (1981–1986), Marilyn Aiken (1975–1979)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor

The actor first distinguished himself in Off-Broadway productions. Stacy was also born with a cleft lip and palate and underwent several surgeries to correct it as a child.

Today, Stacy Keach speaks about it to reduce the stigma associated with the condition. He also works with charitable organizations supporting kids born with it.

14. Tom Burke - actor

• Full name: Tom Burke
• Birthdate: 30 June 1981
• Age: 43 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: London, UK
• Height: 1.83 m
• Career: Actor

Actor Tom Burke is known for paying Athos in the BBC TV series The Musketeers, Dolokhov in the BBC miniseries War & Peace, Cormoran Strike in the BBC series Strike, and Orson Welles in the 2020 film Mank.

The actor is an advocate promoting the acceptance of people with cleft conditions like him. He has never undergone a surgery to correct it.

15. Richard Hawley - musician

• Full name: Richard Willis Hawley
• Birthdate: 17 January 1967
• Age: 57 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Sheffield, UK
• Height: 1.7 m
• Spouse: Helen Richard
• Children: 3
• Career: Musician and producer

Guitarist Richard Hawley found success as a member of the Britpop band Longpigs in 1990s. He joined the Pulp band in 2000 after the Longpigs broke up. He later went solo and has released eight albums.

Richard Hawley has never done surgery to correct his cleft lip and palate condition and advocated for people affected by it.

16. Joel Edgerton - actor

• Full name: Joel Edgerton
• Birthdate: 23 June 1974
• Age: 50 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Blacktown, Australia
• Height: 1.8 m
• Partner: Christine Centenera (2018–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor and filmmaker

Australian actor Joel Edgerton is known for portraying Will McGill on the Australian drama series The Secret Life of Us. The actor has been open about his experience and the challenges of a cleft lip since childhood.

17. Richard Hammond - journalist

• Full name: Richard Mark Hammond
• Birthdate: 19 December 1969
• Age: 54 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Solihull, UK
• Height: 1.7 m
• Spouse: Mindy Hammond (2002–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Journalist and mechanic

Journalist Richard Hammond is best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring program Top Gear from 2002 until 2015.

In 2012, Hammond helped launch a campaign called “Until We Heal" to raise awareness about the impact of cleft lips and palates. The British television presenter was teased and bullied by other children for having a facial deformity.

18. Pedro Pascal - actor

• Full name: José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal
• Birthdate: 2 April 1975
• Age: 49 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
• Height: 1.8 m
• Career: Actor

The Chilean-American actor had his breakout role as Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. Pedro Pascal promotes awareness and social education of cleft lip conditions after having experienced them as a child.

19. Peyton Manning - retired football quarterback

• Full name: Peyton Williams Manning
• Birthdate: 24 March 1976
• Age: 48 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Height: 1.96 m
• Spouse: Ashley Thompson (2001–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Retired professional football quarterback

The quarterback played in the National Football League for 18 seasons and was nicknamed "the Sheriff." He spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning had a difficult experience as a child with a cleft lip, forcing him to undergo several surgeries to rectify it.

20. JR Martinez - actor

• Full name: Jose Rene Martinez
• Birthdate: 14 June 1983
• Age: 41 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
• Height: 1.78 m
• Spouse: Diana Jones (2018–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor and former US Army soldier

JR Martinez is also among famous people born with a cleft lip and palate. In 2003, he sustained severe burns while serving as a US Army infantryman in Iraq.

After leaving the army, the discharged US Army officer became an actor and motivational speaker and has been featured in several television programs.

Actor JR Martinez played Brot Monroe on the ABC daytime drama All My Children and won season 13 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars.

21. Kevin Weisman - actor

• Full name: Kevin Glen Weisman
• Birthdate: 29 December 1970
• Age: 53 years (as of August 2024)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Height: 1.7 m
• Spouse: Jodi Tanowitz (2005–2011)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor

Kevin Weisman is known for portraying Marshall Flinkman in the ABC series Alias, Ray Spiewack in the CBS series Scorpion, and Ned Berring in the Amazon Prime Video series Goliath.

The actor underwent surgeries as a child to repair his facial deformity. Kevin Weisman is involved in various charitable organizations supporting individuals with cleft lip and palate and their families.

22. Carmit Bachar - dancer

• Full name: Carmit Maile Bachar
• Birthdate: 4 September 1974
• Age: 49 years (as of August 2024)
• Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
• Height: 1.7 m
• Spouse: Kevin Whitaker (2008–present)
• Children: 1
• Career: Dancer and singer

The American dancer underwent multiple surgeries as a child to correct her cleft lip and palate. Carmit Bachar has also worked with the Smile Train charity organization, which provides free surgeries to children born with cleft lips and palates in developing countries.

23. Avi Kaplan - singer

• Full name: Avriel Benjamin Kaplan
• Birthdate: 17 April 1989
• Age: 35 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Visalia, California, USA
• Height: 1.8 m
• Career: Singer

American singer Avi Kaplan underwent surgery as a child to correct his cleft palate. The singer was a vocal bass of the acapella group Pentatonix from 2011 to 2017. As a part of the group, he released five studio albums, won three Grammy Awards, and sold over six million albums.

24. Kristin Chenoweth - actress

• Full name: Kristin Dawn Chenoweth
• Birthdate: 24 July 1968
• Age: 56 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA
• Height: 1.5 m
• Spouse: Josh Bryant (2023–present)
• Career: Actress and singer

Actress Kristin Chenoweth sang gospel music as a child in Oklahoma and studied opera. She had her sitcom, Kristin, in 2001 and has guest-starred on many shows, including Glee. The actress was born with a small cleft palate and has spoken about her experience with the condition. Kristin had surgeries to correct it.

25. Nicolas Cage - actor

• Full name: Nicolas Kim Coppola
• Birthdate: 7 January 1964
• Age: 60 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Long Beach, California, USA
• Height: 1.83 m
• Spouse: Riko Shibata (2021–present), Erika Koike (2019–2019), Alice Kim (2004–2016), Lisa Marie Presley (2002–2004), Patricia Arquette (1995–2001)
• Children: 3
• Career: Actor and producer

Actor Nicolas Cage hails from an Italian-American family of filmmakers and performing artists. He began his career in films such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) and Valley Girl (1983). Nicolas Cage's teeth, cleft lip, and palate underwent a makeover, significantly transforming his looks.

26. Jake Johnson - actor

• Full name: Mark Jake Johnson Weinberger
• Birthdate: 28 May 1978
• Age: 46 years (as of 2024)
• Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, USA
• Height: 1.78 m
• Spouse: Erin Payne (2006–present)
• Children: 2
• Career: Actor

As a public figure with cleft lip and palate, Jake Johnson strongly advocates for people with disabilities. The actor starred as Nick Miller in the Fox sitcom New Girl, for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award in 2013.

Which celebrity has bilateral cleft lip and palate?

Thomas William Selleck is among the bilateral cleft lip and palate celebrities. The American actor and producer was bullied as a child because of having a cleft mouth.

Does Aishwarya Rai have a cleft lip and palate?

The Bollywood actress was not born with a cleft. Aishwarya Rai's cleft lip and palate video was a Miss World 1994 campaign for Smile Train, a charity organization that provides free surgeries to children born with this condition.

Does Nicolas Cage have a cleft lip and palate?

Nicolas Cage's teeth and cleft lip and palate underwent a makeover.

How does cleft lip and palate look before and after surgery?

There is a small chance that the cleft could re-open or a small hole could develop after surgery. Here are images of cleft lip and palate before and after surgery:

How common is cleft lip and palate?

About 1 in every 2,800 babies is born with cleft lip without cleft palate and about 1 in every 1,600 babies is born with cleft lip with cleft palate.

What is the difference between cleft lip and cleft palate?

A cleft lip birth defect occurs when a baby's upper lip does not form completely, thus leaving an opening. Meanwhile, a cleft palate happens when the roof of the baby's mouth) does not form completely, hence leaving an opening.

What are the main causes of cleft lip and palate?

Some primary causes of cleft lip and palate are:

• Inherited genes from their parents
• Lack of folic acid during pregnancy
• Obesity during pregnancy
• Smoking or drinking alcohol while pregnant
• Taking certain medicines in early pregnancy, such as some anti-seizure medicine.

Which gender is cleft palate more common in?

A cleft palate without a cleft lip is more common in females. Meanwhile, males are more likely to have a cleft lip with or without a cleft palate.

Some cleft lip and palate celebrities share their experiences growing up with the condition to enlighten and inspire people in similar conditions. Their boldness and success prove that there is no limit to the success people with cleft lip and palate can achieve.

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