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.
People
Name Year of birth Year of death DescriptionDevorah Baron18871956Hebrew author Syd Barrett 1946 2006 English singer-songwriter, former leader of the band Pink Floyd Marlon Brando 1924 2004 American actor Maria Callas 1923 1977 Greek opera singer Huguette Clark 1906 2011 American heiress and philanthropist Margaret Clement 1881 1952(?) Eccentric Australian pauper who sensationally disappeared under mysterious circumstances John Deacon 1951 English musician, songwriter and former member of the band Queen Eileen Derbyshire 1931 English actress Emily Dickinson 1830 1886 American poet Steve Ditko19272018American Comic Book illustrator, best known for being the co-creator of Spider-Man and sole creator of Doctor Strange. Eliza Emily Donnithorne 1826 1886 Australian eccentric, rumored model for Miss Havisham in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Rod Evans 1947 English singer who was the original lead singer of the band Deep Purple Bobby Fischer 1943 2008 American former world chess champion Greta Garbo 1905 1990 Swedish-American actress Glenn Gould 1932 1982 Canadian pianist Alexander Grothendieck 1928 2014 German-French mathematician Gene Hackman19302025American actorSetsuko Hara19202015Japanese actress Mark Hollis 1955 2019 British singer, instrumentalist and songwriter who was the lead vocalist of the band Talk Talk Howard Hughes 1905 1976 American business magnate, record-setting pilot, engineer, film director, and philanthropist Ted Kaczynski 1942 2023 American domestic terrorist known as the Unabomber Harper Lee 1926 2016 American author, wrote To Kill a Mockingbird Arthur MacArthur IV 1938 Only child of US Army General Douglas MacArthur Jeff Mangum 1970 American singer, songwriter, and musician Lee Mavers 1962 English singer-songwriter and the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The La's Pordenone Montanari 1937 Italian painter, sculptor and philosopher Kentaro Miura 1966 2021 Japanese manga artist, creator of Berserk Jimmie Nicol1939 English drummer, fill-in for Ringo Starr on eight Beatles tour dates in 1964 Richard O'Sullivan 1944 2026 English comedy actorWilliam Onyeabor19462017Nigerian funk musician Marcel Proust 1871 1922 French novelist of In Search of Lost Time Thomas Pynchon 1937 American novelistTommy Quickly1945British singer, known for hit song "Tip of My Tongue" J. D. Salinger 1919 2010 American author who wrote The Catcher in the Rye Phil Spector 1939 2021 American record producer, songwriter and convicted murderer Layne Staley 1967 2002 American singer and songwriter who was the original lead vocalist of the band Alice in Chains Sly Stone 1943 2025 American musician, songwriter and record producerPatrick Süskind1949German writer and screenwriter John Swartzwelder 1949 American comedy writer best known for his work on The SimpsonsAkira Toriyama19552024Japanese manga artist and character designer, creator of Dragon Ball Meg White1974 American musician best known as the drummer of the rock band the White Stripes. Brian Wilson 1942 2025 American musician, songwriter and record producer who led the Beach BoysJocky Wilson19502012Scottish former world darts championPeter Wilson1947Australian former footballer Ida Wood 1838 1932 American socialite who later chose to remain in seclusion in a New York City hotel suite with two relatives for nearly a quarter century
Fictional characters Name Work Author Notes Miss Havisham Great Expectations Charles Dickens Lestat de Lioncourt The Vampire Chronicles Anne Rice A recluse for extended periods throughout the series. Boo Radley To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee A recluse created by a famous recluse. The Grinch How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and its adaptations Dr. Seuss Shrek Shrek and its adaptations William Steig Gilliat Toilers of the Sea Victor Hugo
References
Derbyshire: https://www.cotswoldjournal.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/25076160.update-coronation-street-icon-eileen-derbyshire-shared/