Notable people who have had a heart transplant

Dick Cheney

  • Who: Former Vice President of the United States (under George W. Bush)

  • Transplant Date: March 2012

  • Background: After multiple heart attacks and the use of a ventricular assist device (VAD), Cheney received a heart transplant at age 71.

Larry Hagman

  • Who: Actor best known for his roles in Dallas and I Dream of Jeannie

  • Transplant Date: 1995

  • Background: Hagman received a liver transplant due to cirrhosis, but it’s often confused with a heart transplant. It’s worth noting for accuracy that he did not receive a heart transplant.

Tony Huesman

  • Who: One of the longest-living heart transplant recipients (not a celebrity in traditional terms but a public figure in transplant advocacy)

  • Transplant Date: 1978

  • Legacy: He lived 31 years post-transplant and became an advocate for organ donation.

 

Erik Compton

  • Who: Professional golfer

  • Transplants: Had two heart transplants — first at age 12, and another at 28

  • Notability: Became a PGA Tour pro and competed at the highest levels with a transplanted heart.

Recep Çiftçi (Swimming – Turkey)

  • Sport: Paralympic swimming

  • Transplant: Received a heart transplant and went on to compete at the national level

  • Notability: He’s an example of post-transplant athletic achievement in adaptive sports.

Ken Price (Cycling)

  • Sport: Recreational and competitive cycling

  • Transplant: Heart transplant in the early 2000s

  • Notability: Became a vocal figure in transplant sports and competed in the World Transplant Games.

Matt Millen

  • Position: Linebacker

  • Teams: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins

  • Heart Condition: Amyloidosis, a rare disease causing abnormal protein buildup in organs

  • Transplant Date: December 2018

  • Details: Millen underwent a successful heart transplant at age 60 after being diagnosed with amyloidosis, which had reduced his heart function to 30%. NFL.com+1ESPN.com+1ESPN.com+1NFL.com+1

Jerry Richardson

  • Position: Former NFL wide receiver

  • Team: Baltimore Colts

  • Role: Carolina Panthers owner

  • Transplant Date: February 2009

  • Details: Richardson received a heart transplant at age 72 after being placed on the waiting list following a hospital stay related to a pacemaker installation. NFL.com

Greg Olsen’s Son, TJ Olsen

  • Age at Transplant: 8 years old

  • Condition: Congenital heart defect

  • Transplant Date: June 2021

  • Details: TJ, the son of former NFL tight end Greg Olsen, received a heart transplant after undergoing three open-heart surgeries. His family has been active in raising awareness for pediatric heart health.

Sam Wyche

Underwent a heart transplant in 2016. After living with cardiomyopathy for 15 years, his heart began to fail, and he was placed on the transplant list. In September 2016, he received a donor heart and underwent successful surgery. Remarkably, just nine days later, he was discharged from the hospital. WLWT+2WYFF+2The Washington Post+2WLWT

Wyche, who led the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XXIII, became an advocate for organ donation following his transplant. He worked with NFL teams to promote awareness and encouraged others to consider becoming organ donors. NFL.comWYFF

Tragically, Wyche passed away in 2020 at the age of 74. His family expressed deep gratitude for the donor family and encouraged others to register as organ donors in his memory.