The Celebrities Who Took "Magic Vitamins" From Dr. Feelgood

June 7, 2024 | Jamie Hayes

The Celebrities Who Took "Magic Vitamins" From Dr. Feelgood

Doctor Feelgood

Presidents and movie stars all came to the German Dr. Max Jacobson for his magic "vitamin shots" that made you feel amazing. It wasn't until a shocking 1972 New York Times expose that people realized what was actually in them, losing him his license in disgrace.

So, which celebrities exactly were taking prescriptions from the infamous Dr. Feelgood?

1721996032931

John F. Kennedy

Profession: United States President

Grayscale Portrait Photo of John F. Kennedy Kheel Center, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Judy Garland

Profession: Actress

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Singer Judy Garland in her dressing room Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Mickey Mantle

Profession: Baseball player

1951 Grayscale Portrait Photo of Mickey Mantle New York Yankees, Wikimedia Commons

Elvis Presley

Profession: King of Rock n Roll

Grayscale Portrait Photo of singer Elvis Presley in dark outfit Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wikimedia Commons

Nelson Rockefeller

Profession: Politician

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Nelson Rockefeller Royden Dixon, Wikimedia Commons

Frank Sinatra

Profession: Singer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Frank Sinatra in a dark suit and dark hat Capitol Records, Wikimedia Commons

Elizabeth Taylor

Profession: Actress

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Elizabeth Taylor Anefo / Mieremet, R., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Richard Burton

Profession: Actor

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Richard Burton wearing a gray suit looking to the right Joop van Bilsen, Wikimedia Commons

Sir Winston Churchill

Profession: British Prime Minister

Winston Churchill during the General Election Campaign in 1945 Imperial War Museums, Picryl

Andy Warhol

Profession: Postmodern Artist

Andy Warhol At The Jewish Museum. Bernard Gotfryd, Wikimedia Commons

Brian Jones

Profession: Musician (Rolling Stones)

Brian Jones in the locker room of the gym of Georgia Southern College Steve Denenberg, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Hedy Lamarr

Profession: Actress

Hedy Lamarr publicity photo for the film The Heavenly Body eBay, Wikimedia Commons

Mel Allen

Profession: Sportscaster

Grayscale Portrait Photo of the American sportscaster Mel Allen Al Ravenna, Wikimedia Commons

Lauren Bacall

Profession: Actress

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Lauren Bacall for Swedish press Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis

Profession: First lady and socialite

Jacqueline Kennedy in the Diplomatic Reception Room wearing red dress necklace smiling to the camera Robert Knudsenderivative, Wikimedia Commons

Ingrid Bergman

Profession: Actress

Press release publicity photo of Ingrid Bergman for film Gaslight (1944). MGM photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Leonard Bernstein

Profession: Conductor and composer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Leonard Bernstein Fred Palumbo, Wikimedia Commons

Bette Davis

Profession: Actress

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Bette Davis, smiling, facing the camera Warner Bros., Wikimedia Commons

Humphrey Bogart

Profession: Actor

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Humphrey Bogart in a dark suit Archive Photos, Wikimedia Commons

Andy Williams

Profession: Singer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Andy Williams in a white shirt William Morris Agency, Wikimedia Commons

Yul Brynner

Profession: Actor

Grayscale Portrait Photo of actor Yul Brynner Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Maria Callas

Profession: Opera singer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Maria Callas in a light colored outfit Fotopersbureau De Boer, Wikimedia Commons

Alfred Hitchcock

Profession: Director

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Alfred Hitchcock Fred Palumbo, Wikimedia Commons

Truman Capote

Profession: Author

Grayscale Portrait Photo Of the Writer Truman Capote Wearing a Jacket Hat and glasses Eric Koch for Anefo, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Van Cliburn

Profession: Pianist

Grayscale Portrait Photo of concert-pianist Harvey Lavan Anefo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Montgomery Clift

Profession: Actor

Portrait Photo of the American actor Montgomery Clift Studio Publicity, Wikimedia Commons

Rosemary Clooney

Profession: Singer and actress

Portrait Photo of Rosemary Clooney wearing a hat Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Bob Cummings

Profession: Actor

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Robert Cummings CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

Mark Shaw

Profession: Presidential photographer

Photography by Mark Shaw Jackie, JFK and Caroline relax in Hyannis Port in 1959 manhhai, Flickr

Maya Deren

Profession: Avant-garde artist

Maya Deren From The Still In The Film At Land Hella Heyman, Wikimedia Commons

Cecil B. DeMille (Jacobson travelled to Egypt to act DeMille's personal physician during The Ten Commandments)

Profession: Director

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Cecil B. DeMille. facing the camera Albert Witzel, Wikimedia Commons

Marlene Dietrich

Profession: Actress

Publicity photo of Marlene Dietrich for Paramount Pictures, 1936 Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

Harry Belafonte

Profession: Singer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Harry Belafonte, smiling, looking to the right Brazilian National Archives, Wikimedia Commons

Eddie Fisher

Profession: Actor

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Eddie Fisher looking to the left. eBay, Wikimedia Commons

Alan Jay Lerner

Profession: Composer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Alan Jay Lerner facing to the right. Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

Oscar Levant

Profession: Pianist

Actor, composer, and pianist Oscar Levant in a directors' chair Vintage-Stars, Flickr

Edie Sedgwick

Profession: It girl

Artist Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgwick, who wears a black feather boa, sit on a staircase chatting John Springer Collection, Getty Images

Otto Preminger

Profession: Director

Portrait Photo of Otto Preminger in a blue suit facing the camera Allan warren, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Hugh Martin

Profession: Composer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of composer Hugh Martin PA Images, Getty Images

Liza Minnelli

Profession: Actress

Publicity photo of American entertainer Liza Minnelli, circa 1973. Creative Management Associates (CMA), Wikimedia Commons

Thelonious Monk

Profession: Jazz musician

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Thelonious Monk at Minton's Playhouse William P. Gottlieb, Wikimedia Commons

Marilyn Monroe

Profession: Actress

Actress Marilyn Monroe poses for a portrait laying on the grass in 1954 Baron, Getty Images

Bob Richardson

Profession: Fashion photographer

Portrait of American fashion photographer Bob Richardson (1928 - 2005) John Kisch Archive, Getty Images

Zero Mostel

Profession: Comedian

Publicity photo of Zero Mostel as Tevye in stage play Graphic House, Wikimedia Commons

Anthony Quinn

Profession: Actor

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Anthony Quinn in gray suit eBay, Wikimedia Commons

Paul Robeson

Profession: Singer and football player

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Paul Robeson Gordon Parks, Wikimedia Commons

David O. Selznick

Profession: Movie producer

Grayscale Portrait Photo of David O. Selznick smiling World Telegram staff photographer, Wikimedia Commons

Kay Thompson

Profession: Singer

Kay Thompson, Fred Astaire, and Audrey Hepburn in a publicity photo Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

Grace Lee Whitney

Profession: Actrees

Photo of Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand from the television series Star Trek NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons

Billy Wilder

Profession: Director

Studio publicity photo of Billy Wilder and Gloria Swanson.

Tennessee Williams

Profession: Playwright

Grayscale Portrait Photo of Tennessee Williams, American playwright Orlando Fernandez, Wikimedia Commons

Nina Jacobsen

Dr. Feelgood's own wife, lost to a fatal overdose in 1964.

Purple Crocus in Bloom during Daytime in a graveyard Pixabay, Pexels

ACTORS

August 25, 2025 Sarah Ng

Celebrities With Tragic Childhoods

Even the most glamorous or funny stars can have utterly devastating beginnings. These are the celebrities with the most tragic childhoods.

ACTORS

August 26, 2024 Brendan Da Costa

Hidden Facts About Will Hay, Comedy's True Eccentric

Will Hay was an English comedian famous for his blundering schoolmaster character. But, off-screen, he hid many demons and shocking secrets.

ACTORS

September 19, 2024 Jesse Singer

Very Strange Food Combinations Celebs Love

There are some foods that we all know go so well together, and then there are other food combos that—if we're being honest—sound super strange. Well, these celebrities love those combos.

Black and white portrait of Sue Lyon looking at the camera

ACTORS

September 11, 2024 Sarah Ng

The Original Lolita’s Disturbing Backstory

Sue Lyon shot to fame for her performance in the film "Lolita." But the controversial nature of the role was closer to reality than anyone knew.

MUSIC

January 8, 2026 Allison Robertson

Vinyl Tracks That Baby Boomers Played Obsessively

These 20 timeless tracks helped define the golden age of vinyl and still resonate with music lovers today.

TELEVISION

January 7, 2026 Jack Hawkins

The Greatest Streaming Series You Can Watch In A Weekend

Discover the 25 greatest streaming miniseries you can watch in a weekend, from gripping true crime and prestige dramas to mind-bending sci-fi and emotional character studies. Perfect for binge-watching, these limited series deliver unforgettable stories without a long-term commitment.

HOME > ACTORS

June 7, 2024

Jamie Hayes

Jamie Hayes is a Senior Editor at Factinate Media Group. He came aboard in 2017, not long after receiving his Master's degree in the Literatures of Modernity from Ryerson University. While completing his graduate program, he worked as a teaching assistant, later returning as a course instructor. His work has appeared in Double Dialogues and Factinate Media Group, among others.

TRENDING

NEWSLETTER SIGN UP

Get the scoop on the newest movies, TV shows, music, and everything else entertainment, delivered straight to your inbox.

TRENDING

Most people think Hervé Villechaize was fired from “Fantasy Island” over money, but complaints from women on set played a major part in his dismissal.

The Celebrities Who Took "Magic Vitamins" From Dr. Feelgood

The Celebrities Who Took "Magic Vitamins" From Dr. Feelgood

Doctor Feelgood

John F. Kennedy

Judy Garland

Mickey Mantle

Elvis Presley

Nelson Rockefeller

Frank Sinatra

Elizabeth Taylor

Richard Burton

Sir Winston Churchill

Andy Warhol

Brian Jones

Hedy Lamarr

Mel Allen

Lauren Bacall

Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis

Ingrid Bergman

Leonard Bernstein

Bette Davis

Humphrey Bogart

Andy Williams

Yul Brynner

Maria Callas

Alfred Hitchcock

Truman Capote

Van Cliburn

Montgomery Clift

Rosemary Clooney

Bob Cummings

Mark Shaw

Maya Deren

Cecil B. DeMille (Jacobson travelled to Egypt to act DeMille's personal physician during The Ten Commandments)

Marlene Dietrich

Harry Belafonte

Eddie Fisher

Alan Jay Lerner

Oscar Levant

Edie Sedgwick

Otto Preminger

Hugh Martin

Liza Minnelli

Thelonious Monk

Marilyn Monroe

Bob Richardson

Zero Mostel

Anthony Quinn

Paul Robeson

David O. Selznick

Kay Thompson

Grace Lee Whitney

Billy Wilder

Tennessee Williams

Nina Jacobsen

READ MORE

Celebrities With Tragic Childhoods

Hidden Facts About Will Hay, Comedy's True Eccentric

Very Strange Food Combinations Celebs Love

The Original Lolita’s Disturbing Backstory

Vinyl Tracks That Baby Boomers Played Obsessively

The Greatest Streaming Series You Can Watch In A Weekend

Want to read more?