Tragic Fight: Celebrities Who Have Secretly Battled AIDS & HIV
Dec. 1 2016, Published 3:22 p.m. ET
Almost 37 million people worldwide have died since the deadly AIDS virus first appeared over 20 years ago. To honor World AIDS Day, RadarOnline.com has compiled a list of 11 famous stars who have battled HIV, including some who lost the fight. Click through the shocking photos.
Today – Season 64
Actor Charlie Sheen, 51, shocked the world when he disclosed that he was HIV positive. As first reported by The National ENQUIRER, Sheen claimed to have contracted the virus through sexual intercourse and opened the door for discussions on what it means to be HIV-positive with an “undetectable” diagnosis.
Chicago Sky v Los Angeles Sparks – Game Two
In 1991, NBA legend Magic Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive, changing the way that the world viewed HIV and AIDS. Since then, Johnson, 57, has been a huge activist for HIV and AIDS awareness.
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation And The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project Co-host A Special #GenEndIt Sex Squad Performance At UCLA For World AIDS Day
Danny Pintauro, 40, who is best known for his role as Jonathan Bower on the long-running hit sitcom, Who’s The Boss, revealed to Oprah Winfrey in 2015 that he contracted HIV through oral sex with his longtime partner. Currently working as a restaurant manager in Las Vegas, Pintauro assured his fans that he was, in fact, vey healthy with an undetectable status.
(FILE) Previously Unheard Duets Recorded By Freddie Mercury And Michael Jackson To Be Released
Unlike the previous three celebrities, Queen lead singer, Freddie Mercury, lost his life in 1991 from a reported battle with the AIDS virus.
DYNASTY
Rock Hudson was a huge star in Hollywood’s Golden Age and, when he became infected with HIV in the early 1980’s, little was known about the deadly disease. Hudson lost his life in 1985 at age 60.
1975 US Open Tennis Championship
Considered to be the greatest tennis player in the last century, Arthur Ashe contracted HIV during a heart bypass surgery in the early 1980’s. Hiding his diagnosis for years, Ashe passed away on February 6, 1993, from pneumonia that was caused by AIDS.
Portrait Of Gia Carangi
Gia Carangi was best known as ‘The World’s First Supermodel.’ After becoming addicted to heroin in the 1980’s, Carangi’s modeling career, which included multiple covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan, rapidly declined. She became the first well-known woman to die of AIDS at the age of 26. Her life was later dramatized by Angelina Jolie in HBO’s 1998 film, Gia.
Portrait of Robert Reed
Robert Reed is known worldwide from his iconic role as the late Florence Henderson’s husband on The Brady Bunch. Although his death in 1991 at age 59 was originally thought to be caused by colon cancer, his death certificate revealed his secret — the cancer was caused by AIDS.
Actor Anthony Perkins
Known best for his role in the iconic fil, Psycho, Anthony Perkins was an Academy Award nominated actor who died of AIDS related pneumonia in 1992.
8th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, 1993
Tom Fogerty and his brother, John, were founding members of the huge 70’s band, Creedence Clearwater. Like Arthur Ashe, Fogerty contracted HIV in the early 1980’s from a blood transfusion that began as a routine back surgery. On September 6, 1990, at 49 years old, Fogerty died from a tuberculosis infection caused by AIDS.
Rapper Eazy-E of NWA
Eric Lynn Wright, known as Eazy-E, was a founding member of the rap group, N.W.A. with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube. In February 1995, the rapper was admitted to Cedar’s Sinai Hospital in L.A. with what he believed to be asthma. He was diagnosed with AIDS and died one month later on March 26, 1995.
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