Growing up in foster care or being adopted often shapes a person’s life experience. Many celebrities actually spent time in foster care or were adopted as children. Their stories demonstrate that with support and opportunity, foster and adopted youth can achieve great success. Here are some celebrities who you might not know were fostered or adopted.
Marilyn Monroe
Iconic actress and model Marilyn Monroe endured a difficult childhood, shifting through many foster homes in her early years. Her mother, who suffered from mental illness, placed Monroe in foster care when she was just two weeks old. Monroe bounced around different homes until she eventually embarked on a modelling career and later transitioned to acting. Despite a tumultuous upbringing, she became one of the biggest stars of her era.
Greg Louganis
Legendary diver Greg Louganis, a five-time Olympic medallist, entered foster care right after he was born. At nine months old, he was adopted by the family who raised him. Although he didn’t know his biological parents growing up, in 2017 he connected with his birth father. Louganis has proudly shared his foster care story and works to promote foster parenting.
Tiffany Haddish
Comedian and actress Tiffany Haddish spent several years in foster care after her mother suffered severe head trauma in a car accident. Haddish cycled through group homes and foster families until she was 15. She says that while foster care was difficult for her, it ultimately made her more resilient and determined to succeed.
Eddie Murphy
Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy and his older brother entered foster care after their mother became seriously ill. The brothers spent about a year in foster care, which Murphy says forced him to develop his sense of humour. At age 9, he and his brother were happily reunited with their mother.
Coco Chanel
After her mother died when she was 12 years old, iconic designer Coco Chanel was sent to live in an orphanage with her sisters. This is where she learned to sew, planting the seeds for her fashion empire. Although never adopted, the orphanage gave Chanel structure during a difficult childhood.
Simone Biles
Olympic gold medallist Simone Biles and her siblings were placed in foster care as their mother struggled with addiction. At age 6, Biles’ grandparents officially adopted them. She credits her grandparents for giving her the love and opportunities she needed to become a world-champion gymnast.
Cher
Musician and actress Cher spent time in foster care at several points throughout her childhood while her mother struggled with financial instability and illness. Despite a rocky start, Cher persevered to become the beloved pop culture icon she remains today.
Ready to Become a Foster Carer?
The stories of celebrities who grew up in foster care or were adopted show that children simply need love, stability, and opportunities to thrive. If you live in the UK and are interested in fostering or adopting a child, check out resources from fosteringpeople.co.uk. With an open heart, you can change a child’s life forever.
With more foster carers, even more children’s lives could be changed for the better.