Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. but changed his name after converting to Islam according to the Nation of Islam in 1965. Because of his Islamic beliefs, Ali would not fight in the Vietnam War when the army tried drafting him. This made him an international figure around the world. Ali retired from boxing in 1981. In the early 1980s, it was learned that Ali had Parkinson's syndrome. He became well known for his social work and charity.