Gerard Butler Had to Glue His Right Ear Back to Film His ‘Tomb Raider’ Sequel Due to a Frustrating Condition He’s Had Since Childhood – Showbiz Cheat Sheet
To many fans, it seems as though celebrities lead truly charmed lives. Movie stars have fame, fortune, and good looks—so it’s hard to believe that they struggle with very common health problems. For this reason, the world of celebrity health conditions is exceptionally fascinating. Gerard Butler is a good example of this, a handsome action star who has been a staple in Hollywood for two decades. In his private life, however, Butler struggles with a condition called tinnitus and …….
To many fans, it seems as though celebrities lead truly charmed lives. Movie stars have fame, fortune, and good looks—so it’s hard to believe that they struggle with very common health problems. For this reason, the world of celebrity health conditions is exceptionally fascinating. Gerard Butler is a good example of this, a handsome action star who has been a staple in Hollywood for two decades. In his private life, however, Butler struggles with a condition called tinnitus and he’s not the only celebrity with a hearing-related health condition.
Gerard Butler’s experience with tinnitus
Gerard Butler | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Butler didn’t start out as an actor. In fact, the Scottish-born performer originally studied law before turning to acting in the mid-90s. He also had a few health issues before getting his start in Hollywood. As Butler told Men’s Journal in 2010, he developed a serious ear infection when he was 10 years old. The infection caused Butler to develop a disorder called tinnitus and to suffer partial hearing loss in his right ear. Butler underwent surgery in an attempt to save his hearing, during which the doctor pinned his right ear closer to his head.
The experience would later affect Butler’s Hollywood career, with IMDb reporting that when he had to shave his head for his role in 2003’s Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, he noticed that his ears appeared very crooked: “I didn’t realise it until I had to shave my head for that movie… Everyone went, ‘Holy f**k, one ear sticks out way more than the other one!’ And we literally had to glue it back.”
Butler’s tinnitus would also affect his smile, with the actor rocking a slightly crooked smile due to the inner-ear condition. “I know a couple of other people with crooked smiles, and it turns out they’re hard of hearing in one ear,” Butler would tell Men’s Journal.
What causes tinnitus?
The CDC estimates 20 million Americans have chronic tinnitus. And the pandemic has both ushered in new cases — and worsened the condition among people who already had it.
If you suffer from it, here are some techniques to help quiet the sound.https://t.co/rf4qd6W5Tg
— NPR (@NPR) June 25, 2021
According to the Mayo Clinic, tinnitus is usually caused by an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or a problem with the circulatory system, although prolonged exposure to loud notice can also cause tinnitus. Tinnitus is a relatively common condition, causing the sufferer to experience ringing or other noises in one or both …….
