List of recluses

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This is a list of notable people who have been described as recluses, individuals who live in voluntary seclusion from the public and society. Excluded are religious hermits, as well as people who live otherwise normal lives but value their privacy.

Contents

People

Bobby Fischer, chess champion Schaker Bobby Fisher aan bord (archief), Bestanddeelnr 924-7362.jpg
Bobby Fischer, chess champion
Greta Garbo, actress RH Louise Garbo20.jpg
Greta Garbo, actress
Howard Hughes, business magnate Howard-Hughes-1938.jpg
Howard Hughes, business magnate
Ted Kaczynski, domestic terrorist and mathematician Young theodore kaczynski.jpeg
Ted Kaczynski, domestic terrorist and mathematician
J.D. Salinger, novelist J. D. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye portrait).jpg
J.D. Salinger, novelist
Brian Wilson, musician Brian Wilson 1976 crop.jpg
Brian Wilson, musician
NameYear of birthYear of deathDescription
Devorah Baron [1] 18871956Hebrew author, Reclusion 1922-1956
Syd Barrett [2] [3] 19462006English singer-songwriter, former leader of the band Pink Floyd
Marlon Brando [4] [5] 19242004American actor
Maria Callas [6] [7] 19231977Greek opera singer
Huguette Clark [8] [9] 19062011American heiress and philanthropist
John Deacon [10] 1951English musician, songwriter and former member of the band Queen
Emily Dickinson [11] [12] 18301886American poet
Eliza Emily Donnithorne [13] [14] 18261886Australian eccentric, rumored model for Miss Havisham in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Enya [15] [16] 1961Irish singer and musician
Rod Evans [17] 1947English singer who was the original lead singer of the band Deep Purple
Bobby Fischer [18] [19] 19432008American former world chess champion
Greta Garbo [20] [21] [22] [23] 19051990Swedish-American actress
Glenn Gould [24] 19321982Canadian pianist
Alexander Grothendieck [25] [26] [27] 19282014German-French mathematician
Mark Hollis [28] 19552019British singer, instrumentalist and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the band Talk Talk
Howard Hughes [20] [29] 19051976American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film director, and philanthropist
Ted Kaczynski [30] [31] 19422023American domestic terrorist known as the Unabomber
Harper Lee [32] 19262016American author, wrote To Kill a Mockingbird
Lee Mavers [33] 1962English singer-songwriter and the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The La's
Pordenone Montanari [34] [35] 1937Italian painter, sculptor and philosopher
Richard O'Sullivan [36] 1944English comedy actor
William Onyeabor [37] [38] 19462017Nigerian funk musician
Marcel Proust [39] [40] 18711922French novelist of In Search of Lost Time
Thomas Pynchon [32] 1937American novelist
Tommy Quickly [41] 1945British singer, known for hit song "Tip of My Tongue"
J. D. Salinger [20] [32] 19192010American author who wrote The Catcher in the Rye
Phil Spector [42] 19402021American record producer, songwriter and convicted murderer
Layne Staley [43] [44] 19672002American singer and songwriter who was the original lead vocalist of the band Alice in Chains
Sly Stone [45] [46] 1943American musician, songwriter and record producer
Patrick Süskind [47] 1949German writer and screenwriter
John Swartzwelder [48] [49] 1949American comedy writer best known for his work on The Simpsons
Akira Toriyama [50] [51] [52] 19552024Japanese manga artist and character designer, creator of Dragon Ball
Bill Watterson [53] [54] 1958American cartoonist and the creator of Calvin and Hobbes
Meg White [55] 1974American musician best known as the drummer of the rock band the White Stripes.
Brian Wilson [56] [57] 1942American musician, songwriter and record producer who led the Beach Boys
Ida Wood [58] 18381932American socialite who remained in seclusion in a New York City hotel suite with two relatives for decades.
Jocky Wilson [59] 19502012Scottish former world darts champion

Fictional characters

NameWorkAuthorNotes
Miss Havisham [60] Great Expectations Charles Dickens
Lestat de Lioncourt [61] The Vampire Chronicles Anne Rice A recluse for extended periods throughout the series.
Boo Radley [62] To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee A recluse created by a famous recluse.
The Grinch [63] How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and its adaptations Dr. Seuss
Shrek [63] Shrek and its adaptations William Steig

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