The stars lost to HIV/AIDS complications
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) damages the cells that help the body fight infection, making those who contract it vulnerable to multiple diseases. While there’s no cure for it, HIV can be controlled by getting accurate medical help. However, if left untreated, it can lead to chronic infections or reach the stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, which leaves most patients severely weak. Sadly, we've lost many stars to HIV/AIDS. Here are their stories...
Stars who battled AIDs/HIV
Updated
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) damages the cells that help the body fight infection, making those who contract it vulnerable to multiple diseases. While there’s no cure for it, HIV can be controlled by getting accurate medical help. However, if left untreated, it can lead to chronic infections or reach the stage of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, which leaves most patients severely weak. Sadly, we've lost many stars to HIV/AIDS. Here are their stories...
Robert Reed
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Known for playing Mike Brady in the series ‘The Brady Bunch’, actor Robert Reed died on May 12, 1992, at age 59. Initially, it was informed that the star had died following a colon lymphoma diagnosis, which he had received in November 1991. However, his medical team later said that Reed’s HIV contributed significantly to his death. Reed never shared anything about his illness, and he never talked about his personal life publicly either.
Pedro Zamora
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Pedro Zamora rose to fame after appearing in the reality TV show ‘The Real World: San Francisco’, in 1994, which was the first show of its kind that showed a person battling a disease in real life. According to The Advocate, Zamora (second from right to left) was diagnosed with HIV at age 17, and ever since he spent much time raising awareness of HIV and AIDS. After being diagnosed with progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, a brain infection that damages the material that insulates neurons, Pedro died on November 11, 1994, at age 22. In his case, the infection was a result of his AIDS diagnosis. The star died only a couple of hours after the ‘Real World’ final episode aired.
Amanda Blake
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Amanda Blake appeared in a total of 425 episodes of the series ‘Gunsmoke’, playing Miss Kitty. On August 16, 1980, it was announced that the TV star had passed away at age 60. Initially, it was announced that she had died of liver failure, but later her death certificate established that a partial cause of her passing was an AIDS-related condition called CMV hepatitis. How Amanda contracted HIV is still unknown, but it is known that her fourth and last husband, Mark Spaeth, died of AIDS complications, too.
Derek Jarman
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Filmmaker Derek Jarman, known for films including ‘The Garden’ and ‘The Tempest’, among others, died at age 52 on February 19, 1994, following AIDS complications. Unlike other celebrities, the film director -also known for collaborating with actress Tilda Swinton in many projects, discussed his disease, as well as his homosexuality with his fans and the public. Jarman was diagnosed with HIV in 1986, and ever since he went public about it, he made an effort of raising awareness and defending gay rights.
Brad Davis
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Alan Parker’s 1978 film ‘Midnight Express’ showed actor Brad Davis playing the main role of Billy. The actor (left) died on September 8, 1991, at age 41. Six years later, in 1997, his wife Susan revealed to the press that Brad had committed assisted suicide and that he probably was infected with HIV by the use of intravenous drugs, while battling substance abuse. Following his death, a book proposal written by Davis himself surfaced, in which he wrote that he had decided not to go public about his HIV diagnosis, as he believed it would affect his career.
Eazy-E
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On February 24, 1995, gangsta rap group N.W.A.'s frontman Eazy-E was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital with a severe cough. Following multiple medical tests, he was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, which he revealed to his fans on March 16. Sadly, only 10 days later, on March 26, the rapper died from AIDS-induced pneumonia, at age 30.
Elizabeth Glaser
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Elizabeth Glaser, a well-renowned activist, and the wife of actor Paul Michael Glaser (Detective Dave Starsky on ‘Starsky and Hutch’), had a quite turbulent life marked by an HIV diagnosis. In 1981, while giving birth to her daughter Ariel, Elizabeth received an HIV-contaminated blood transfusion. Little Ariel passed away later after contracting the illness through breastfeeding. After mourning the loss of her daughter, Elizabeth founded the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, an organization that helped raise awareness about children battling HIV. Sadly, Elizabeth lost the battle herself and died on December 3, 1994, from complications of AIDS. Her son Jake, born in 1984, contracted HIV as well, from his mother in utero. Fortunately, he has lived a healthy life due to a mutation of the CCR5 gene, that has been protecting his white blood cells.
Rock Hudson
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Rock Hudson, who earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in the 1956 film ‘Giant’, passed away in his sleep on October 2, 1985, following AIDS complications. The star, who is also known for films like ‘All That Heaven Allows’ and ‘Seconds’, had been diagnosed with HIV the year prior to his death, but decided to keep his illness a secret. The Hollywood star died at age 59, only one month before turning 60. Per his request, no funeral was held. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered in the channel between Wilmington, Los Angeles, and Santa Catalina Island.
Anthony Perkins
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Anthony Perkins, the actor who portrayed the famous character Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1959 film ‘Psycho’, died on September 12, 1992, of AIDS-related pneumonia. Perkins did know about his disease but decided to keep it a secret for almost two years. It wasn’t until two weeks before his death that he issued a statement that read: "I chose not to go public about [having AIDS] because, to misquote ‘Casablanca’, 'I'm not much good at being noble,' but it doesn't take much to see that the problems of one old actor don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. I have learned more about love, selflessness and human understanding from the people I have met in this great adventure in the world of AIDS than I ever did in the cutthroat, competitive world in which I spent my life." He was 60 at the time of his passing.
Freddie Mercury
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Queen frontman Freddie Mercury remains adored due to his great contribution to the music industry, both as part of the iconic band, as well as a solo artist. Mercury, known for songs like ‘Love Kills’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, died at age 45 on November 24, 1991, of bronchial pneumonia caused by his AIDS diagnosis. Only 24 hours before his passing was announced, Mercury issued a statement making his disease public. It read: “Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me. However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease. My privacy has always been very special to me and I am famous for my lack of interviews. Please understand this policy will continue."
Originally published on celebretainment.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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