10 Celebrities Who Dropped Everything to Care for Their Loved Ones

Whether it’s caring for a partner or a family member, tending to a sick loved one may seem challenging at the start. If you or someone you know is going through the same experience, know that no one is exempt from performing this act of love, not even celebrities.

Bright Side listed down inspiring stories of celebrities who have played the role of caregiver for a loved one.

1. Céline Dion

In 2014, Céline went on a career hiatus to care for her husband who was suffering from cancer. The announcement came after her husband, René Angélil, had a tumor removed and she wanted to devote all her time and energy to his healing. Sadly, René succumbed to throat cancer in 2016.

2. The Rock

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson took care of his mother, Ata Johnson, when she was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer. In 2008, he would take his mom to weekly chemotherapy and radiation treatments while inspiring other people along the way. Since 2010, Ata has been cancer-free.

3. Diane Keaton

For 13 years, Diane Keaton was her mother’s caregiver who was suffering from debilitating Alzheimer’s disease. Diane shared details of how the disease affected her and the whole family in her book, Then Again.

4. Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen

In honor of Seth Rogen’s mother-in-law, Adele, he and his wife, Lauren Miller-Rogen, organized the annual entertainment event featuring fellow actors and comedians, Hilarity for Charity, to raise funds for Alzheimer’s disease awareness. Seth helped his wife care for Adele, who was diagnosed with the disease at age 55.

5. Joey McIntyre

The former New Kids On The Block member, Joey McIntyre, described his mom as a “one-woman show” and said that it was hard for him watching her suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. He raised funds for Alzheimer’s research in honor of his mother by completing the Boston Marathon and was honored as Caregiver of the Year by the Alzheimer’s Association.

6. Queen Latifah

The Grammy-winning rapper was the primary caregiver for her mother, Rita Owens, who died of interstitial lung disease. In an interview, she admitted that she sometimes would just want to fall apart during those times, but she would always remember that her mother was the one fighting for her life and having an even harder time.

7. The Baldwin brothers

Along with their sisters, Elizabeth and Jane, Baldwin brothers Alec, Billy, Stephen, and Daniel cared for their mother, Carol, who battled breast cancer. Fortunately, she was able to conquer that ordeal by undergoing a double mastectomy. The siblings also helped their mother set up the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, which helps other women cope with the disease.

8. Michael Bublé

At the tender age of 3, Michael Bublé’s son, Noah, was diagnosed with liver cancer. Michael and his wife, Luisana, vowed to win the battle together with their son. Michael canceled all upcoming performances, including the BBC Music Awards and the 2017 Brit Awards, to be by his son’s side as Noah went through 4 grueling months of chemotherapy. Thankfully, Noah has since recovered.

9. Kathy Griffin

In 2019, comedienne Kathy Griffin revealed that her mother, Maggie, was suffering from dementia. Since her father’s death, Kathy asked Maggie to live with her so she could always be there for her mother and take care of her. Unfortunately, Maggie passed away in 2020.

10. Patrick Dempsey

Grey’s Anatomy star Patrick Dempsey took care of his mother who suffered from ovarian cancer. He would make the long commute from Los Angeles to Maine while working to be with his mother. In 2008, Patrick founded the Dempsey Center in Maine, which aims to give back to his hometown where his mother first received cancer treatment in 1997.

Which celebrity caregiving story inspired you the most? Would you have done the same if you were in their shoes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.