Famous Adoptees

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Famous Adoptees- look at some of the notable famous adoptees

Steve Jobs

The former Apple CEO, who passed away Oct. 5, Steve Jobs + pancreatic cancer was adopted by a California couple, shortly after his birth in 1955. As an adult, Jobs found his biological parents and biological sister, steve jobs sister mona simpson, a successful novelist. Paul and Clara Jobs, Abdulfattah John Jandali regrets adoption

Gary Coleman

Coleman became famous for his TV role as an orphan, Diff'rent Strokes, taken in by a millionaire, conrad bain, but was adopted in real life as well. Sue and Willie Coleman, Gary Coleman + $1.3 million suit against parents

Daunte Culpepper

This free agent quarterback, most recent team, Daunte Culpepper + Sacramento Mountain Lions was adopted by a Florida woman who gave 17 children a home. Emma Lewis Culpepper, Daunte Culpepper + incarcerated teenage mother, African American Adoption Agency + Daunte Culpepper

Deborah Harry

A New Jersey couple adopted the baby girl who would become an iconic star of a 1970s punk rock group, Blondie. Richard and Catherine Harry 

Scott Hamilton

Long before he was an Olympic gold medalist, Scott Hamilton + 1984 Olympic gold medal + figure skating, Hamilton was an infant adoptee. Dorothy and Ernest Hamilton, Scott Hamilton + brain tumor

Faith Hill

This country star given name Audrey Faith Perry, was reared in what she has called a “very stable … God-fearing home” in Star, Miss. Pat and Edna Perry + Faith Hill, Faith Hill + Tim McGraw, Tony Bennett + Faith Hill, Tony Bennett

Art Linkletter

The veteran radio and TV host, Art Linkletter + “People Are Funny”, was adopted by a Canadian couple that later relocated him to California. Mary and Fulton Linkletter, “Kids Say the Darndest Things!” + Art Linkletter

Ray Liotta

A New Jersey couple took this soon-to-be wise guy actor, GoodFellas, into their home back in 1955. Mary and Alfred Liotta, Ray Liotta + When I was younger I felt like damaged goods

Greg Louganis

This future Olympic gold medalist, Greg Louganis + 1984 Olympic games + diving, was born to unwed teen parents and adopted several months later. Peter and Frances Louganis, Greg Louganis + SoCal Divers coach

'DMC' Darryl McDaniels

Revered as one-third of a groundbreaking rap act, Run-DMC, McDaniels was taken in by a Queens, NY, couple in the early ‘60s. Byford and Bannah McDaniels, DMC: My Adoption Journey, Darryl McDaniels + National Adoption Conference, "Son of Byford"

Michael Oher

Oher, an NFL offensive tackle, team Baltimore Ravens, suffered from neglect and homelessness before a Tennessee couple adopted him. Their story became a blockbuster movie, starring Sandra Bullock. Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy

Edgar Allan Poe

Though they never formally adopted the literary giant, a Virginia couple did take Poe in after his mother died. John and Frances Allan, William Henry Leonard Poe

Soon-Yi Previn

Previn was adopted from her native country South Korea and was raised in a large family of siblings. Her adoptive parents later divorced, and her famous mother raised her with an iconic movie director, whom Previn ultimately married and is still with today. Andre Previn and Mia Farrow

Sarah McLachlan

American expatriates raised the Grammy-winning, "I Will Remember You", singer/songwriter and her two adopted brothers, Stewart, Ian and Sarah McLachlan. Jack and Dorice McLachlan, Sarah McLachlan + Judy James, Sarah McLachlan + "I'm glad she did it."

Dave Thomas

Thomas, the lovable founder of Wendy’s, was adopted a few weeks after his birth in 1932. Rex and Auleva Thomas, wendy thomas, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption