Top 10 Notable People Who Died From AIDS - Listverse Top 10 Notable People Who Died From AIDS Bryan Johnson December 1, 2011 AIDS is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. As of 2009, it is estimated that there are 33.3 million people worldwide infected with HIV. However, the majority of people with the virus don’t know they have it. For this reason, major inaccuracies exist in certain statistics. Millions of people die from AIDS-related diseases every year. The disease is devastating Africa. The continent is home to about 14.5% of the world’s population and 72% of all AIDS deaths in 2009. In many areas of the world, the AIDS virus has become associated with the gay community. This is because a large percentage of notable people who have died from AIDS were homosexual. The link between being gay and AIDS is not well understood. In 1969, an American teenager from Missouri named Robert R. became the earliest confirmed victim of AIDS.

It remains unclear how Robert got the virus. The first person known to have contracted HIV and died outside of the United States is Arvid Noe. Since the spread of AIDS, hundreds of famous people have died from the disease. This article will examine ten notable cases (and, in time, will be followed up by a second list of ten). Everyone listed had an established and notable career before getting HIV. They were not made famous by the disease, like many activists that died during the 1980s and 1990s. For example, a woman named Kimberly Bergalis was the first person to get HIV from a clinical transmission. She received the virus from her dentist. Some notable people not included are broadcast journalist Max Robinson, disco singer Sylvester, choreographer Alvin Ailey, French philosopher Michel Foucault, fashion icon Tina Chow, designer Willi Smith, Italian writer Pier Vittorio Tondelli, CEO of Hasbro Stephen D. Hassenfeld, French writer Jean-Paul Aron, and Spanish poet Jaime Gil de Biedma. 10 Keith Haring In 1958, Keith Haring was born in Reading, Pennsylvania.

He achieved his first public attention with chalk drawings in the subways of New York. To make his art recognizable, Haring used a Radiant Baby symbol. He used bold lines, vivid colors, and active figures to carry strong messages of life and unity. In 1985, Keith started to paint canvas. He made an appearance on MTV in November 1985 and painted the set during a show hosted by his friend, keyboardist Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran. In 1986, Haring painted murals in Amsterdam, Paris, and Phoenix. He was also asked to paint a 350 foot mural on the Berlin Wall at Brandenburg Gate. Keith Haring spoke about his work on the Berlin Wall. “I decided on a subject, which is a continuous interlocking chain of human figures, who are connected at their hands and feet. The chain represents the unity of people against the idea of the wall. I painted in the colors of the German flag, black, red and yellow.” Toward the end of the 1980s, Keith’s art began to reflect socio-political themes, such as anti-Apartheid, AIDS awareness, and the crack cocaine epidemic.

In 1988, he was diagnosed with AIDS. It remains unclear exactly how Haring got HIV, but it has been speculated that he received the virus through unprotected sexual intercourse or drug use. A collection of people that Haring was acquainted with died from AIDS. This includes model Tina Chow, who was one of the first heterosexual women to become infected with the disease. Chow died from an AIDS related illness January 24, 1992. Haring was a homosexual man. In 1989, he established the Keith Haring Foundation to fund AIDS research and children’s programs. Keith Haring died on February 16, 1990, of AIDS-related complications. He was only 31 years-old. Keith’s last public work was painted on the rear wall of the convent of the Church of Sant’Antonio in Pisa, known as the mural Tuttomondo. His imagery has become a recognized visual language of the 20th century. 9 Howard Ashman In 1950, Howard Ashman was born in Baltimore, Maryland. In the 1970s, Ashman began to stand out as a talented playwright, lyricist and director.

He first worked with Alan Menken on a 1979 musical adapted from Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater. They also collaborated on the successful Little Shop of Horrors rock musical. Menken would compose the music, while Ashman wrote the lyrics. Towards the end of the 1980s, the pair turned their attention to animated features produced by Walt Disney. Howard Ashman wrote the lyrics for all the songs used in The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. At the time of his death, Ashman was in the middle of working on Aladdin. Three of his songs were featured, Arabian Nights, Friend Like Me, and Prince Ali. Along with Menken, Ashman is the co-recipient of two Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards. His second Academy Award, in 1992, was awarded posthumously for Best Original Song (Beauty and the Beast). In the middle of the 1980s, Howard Ashman was diagnosed with HIV. After a long fight with the disease, he passed away from complications on March 14, 1991. Howard Ashman was a homosexual.

His life partner was a man named William P. Lauch, who joined Menken in accepting Ashman’s posthumous Academy Award. In a moving speech, Lauch proudly declared, “Howard and I shared a home and a life together.” He went on to note that this was “the first Academy Award given to someone lost to AIDS.” In 2001, Ashman was named a Disney Legend. The movie Beauty and the Beast is dedicated in his honor. “To our friend Howard, who gave a mermaid her voice and a beast his soul, we will be forever grateful.” 8 Anthony Perkins In 1932, Anthony Perkins was born in New York City. He made his film debut in the movie The Actress (1953). In 1957, Perkins received an Academy Award nomination for his role in Friendly Persuasion. He also won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. In the late 1950s, Anthony Perkins released three pop music albums as “Tony Perkins.” His single Moon-Light Swim was a hit in the United States, peaking at #24 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Perkins also acted in theater and received a collection of Tony Award nominations. In 1960, Anthony Perkins landed his most notable role, as Norman Bates in the Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho. The movie was a critical and commercial success, and gave Perkins international fame for his performance as the homicidal owner of the Bates Motel. In 1961, Perkins won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role, in Goodbye Again. In 1976, he hosted television’s Saturday Night Live and was featured in his only science fiction film, the box office smash and space opus, Walt Disney’s The Black Hole in 1979. Perkins reprised the role of Norman Bates in three sequels to Psycho. The first, Psycho II (1983), was a box office success more than 20 years after the original film. He then starred in, and directed, Psycho III. In 1990, Perkins played Bates in the made-for-cable sequel Psycho IV: The Beginning. Anthony Perkins was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to honor his exceptional contributions to the motion picture industry.

Perkins was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989, and kept his illness a closely-guarded secret for fear that he would not be able to get an acting role. Despite his illness, Perkins worked until the very end. He died on September 12, 1992, from pneumonia related to AIDS. At the time of his death, Anthony had been married to photographer Berry Berenson for 19 years and had two children. Perkins was reported to have been bisexual, and had a close relationship with actors Rock Hudson and Tab Hunter, and dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Anthony’s widow, Berry Berenson, was killed on American Airlines Flight 11 during the September 11 terrorist attacks. 7 Rudolf Nureyev In 1938, Rudolf Nureyev was born, on a train near Irkutsk, Siberia, USSR. By the late 1950s, he had become a dancing sensation in the Soviet Union. Nureyev was chosen as part of the Kirov ballet European tour. While in Paris, his performances electrified audiences and critics.

Rudolf Nureyev was a free spirit and he was known for breaking Soviet rules about mingling with foreigners. For this reason, he was under investigation by the KGB and faced possible arrest. On June 16, 1961, at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris, Nureyev defected, with the help of French police. Within a week of his defection, he was signed by the Grand Ballet du Marquis de Cuevas. Nureyev was openly gay. While on tour in Denmark, he met Erik Bruhn, a fellow dancer who became his lover and closest friend. In 1962, Nureyev was signed by The Royal Ballet as their Principal Dancer. He continued to perform regularly with The Royal Ballet until he joined the Paris Opera Ballet, in the 1980s. When AIDS appeared in France around 1982, Nureyev took little notice and did not change his lifestyle. He simply denied anything was wrong with his health. In 1990, Rudolf became undeniably ill. His last performance was in the production of La Bayadère at the Palais Garnier.

In 1993, Rudolf Nureyev died in Levallois-Perret, from an AIDS-related illness. He was 54-years-old. Rudolf is considered one of the most celebrated ballet dancers of the 20th century. He provided a new role for the male ballet dancer who once served only as support to the women. 6 Esteban De Jesús In 1951, Esteban De Jesús was born, in the town of Carolina, Puerto Rico. He debuted as a professional boxer in 1969, beating El Tarita by a knockout. De Jesús won his first 20 amateur fights in the lightweight division, 13 by knockout. In 1971, De Jesús boxed Josue Marquez and beat him in a ten round decision. By the end of 1972, De Jesús’ had won six professional fights in a row. Despite all those wins, he was virtually unknown to most fans. That changed when Esteban faced undefeated Roberto Durán, in November 1972. The fight was at Madison Square Garden arena in New York. It marked the beginning of the Duran vs.

De Jesús trilogy, De Jesus dropped Duran in round one and went on to give Duran his first professional defeat with a ten round decision. Esteban De Jesús began 1974 by knocking out former world Jr. Welterweight champion Alfonso Peppermint Fraser in 10 rounds. He then faced Duran for the second time and knocked him down in the first round, but this time Duran rebounded and dominated the fight. In 1976, the WBC’s world Lightweight champion Ishimatsu Suzuki of Japan traveled to Puerto Rico to defend his title against De Jesús. It was the third world title chance for Esteban. He won the fight by beating Suzuki in a 15 round decision. He then retained the title against Hector Medina by a knockout in seven. As a world champion, De Jesús defended his title over the next couple years. In early 1978, he faced Duran for the third time. It was a WBC Lightweight title bout in Las Vegas, which displayed Duran’s talents at their peak. Duran systematically broke down De Jesús and won in a 12th round knockout.

Esteban De Jesús was the WBC Lightweight World Champion from May 1976 to January 1978. Esteban retired from boxing with a record of 57 wins and 5 losses, with 32 wins by knockout. The next stage of Esteban’s life began on Thanksgiving weekend, 1981. In what became a famous case in Puerto Rico, De Jesús was convicted of murder after shooting and killing a 17 year-old over a traffic dispute. He was sentenced to life in jail. While in prison, De Jesús was infected with HIV. It is unclear exactly how he got the disease, but unprotected sex or drug use is likely. After it became public that De Jesús had acquired HIV, Governor Rafael Hernández Colón pardoned him. De Jesús returned to his house and was visited by many celebrities in his final days, including Duran. “It was a compassionate moment when Duran lifted De Jesús out of his bed and kissed him.” On May 11, 1989, Esteban De Jesús died from AIDS-related complications. He was only 37 years-old. 5 Arthur Ashe Arthur Ashe was a professional tennis player, born and raised in Richmond, Virginia.

During his career, Ashe won three Grand Slam titles, putting him among the best players ever from the United States. In 1963, Arthur became the first black player ever selected to the United States Davis Cup team. He won the inaugural US Open in 1968, the Australian Open in 1970, and Wimbledon in 1975. Arthur had heart surgery in 1979 and retired in 1980. Arthur Ashe remains the only black man to ever win the singles title at Wimbledon, the US Open, or Australian Open. He is one of only two black men to win a Grand Slam singles title, the other being France’s Yannick Noah, who won the French Open in 1983. Arthur was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1979, he suffered a heart attack and underwent a quadruple bypass surgery, performed by Dr. John Hutchinson. In 1983, Ashe underwent a second round of heart surgery to correct the bypass. Five years later he fell ill and it was discovered that Arthur had contracted HIV.

Ashe apparently got HIV from a tainted blood transfusion he received during his second heart procedure. Arthur and his wife decided to keep his illness private, until April 8, 1992, when reports on his health were published. By 1992, Arthur’s physical appearance was skinny and gaunt. In the last year of his life, Ashe started an AIDS foundation. He died from AIDS-related pneumonia on February 6, 1993. Arthur Ashe remains one of the most famous individuals to have received HIV from a tainted blood transfusion. 4 Perry Ellis Perry Ellis was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on March 3, 1940. In the middle of the 1970s, Ellis was approached by his then employer, The Vera Companies, famous for their polyester double-knit pantsuits, to design a fashion collection. Soon after that, Perry Ellis presented his first women’s sportswear line, called Portfolio, in November 1976. By 1978, Perry Ellis was internationally recognized. His clothing line became loved by female consumers for the clean-cut yet casual style.

In 1978, Ellis founded his own sportswear fashion house, Perry Ellis International. As the company’s chairman and head designer he developed a popular Menswear Collection. Step by step, Perry Ellis added shoes, accessories, furs and perfume. Throughout the 1980s, the company continued to expand and include various labels. In the early 1980s, the wholesale revenues for Perry Ellis International had figured at about $60 million. By 1986, that number had risen to about $250 million. Today the company is huge. Perry Ellis International is a leading designer, distributor and licensor of apparel and accessories for men and women. The company owns or licenses a portfolio of brands that includes 29 of the leading names in fashion. Perry Ellis became publicly shared in 1993, and annual sales have propelled to nearly $1 billion dollars. In the middle of the 1980s, Perry Ellis became seriously ill. He died on May 30, 1986, aged 46, from viral encephalitis – an AIDS-related disease. He was openly gay.

In November 1984, Barbara Gallagher, a Hollywood screenwriter and long-time friend of Perry gave birth to their daughter Tyler. However, a man named Laughlin Barker was his long-time partner. Barker also died in 1986. Perry Ellis was one of the first prominent American figures to succumb to AIDS. 3 Rock Hudson Rock Hudson was an American film and television actor. During the 1950s and 1960s, Hudson played the lead role in many romantic comedies, most notably acting with Doris Day. He was a tall man standing at 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m). Hudson appeared in nearly 70 motion pictures, and several television productions, during a career that spanned over four decades. From 1971 to 1977, Rock starred in the lighthearted American crime series McMillan & Wife. At this time, he was the highest paid actor on television. In the early 1980s, following years of heavy drinking and smoking, Hudson began to experience health problems which resulted in a heart attack. He underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery, in November 1981.

By 1984, Rock’s health began to get worse, which prompted rumors that he was suffering from liver cancer. He displayed an increasingly gaunt face and build. Rock was diagnosed with HIV on June 5, 1984. He kept his illness a secret while continuing to work and attend Hollywood gatherings. It was not until July 25, 1985, while in Paris for treatment, that Hudson issued a press release announcing that he was dying of AIDS. In another press release a month later, Rock speculated that he might have contracted HIV through an infected blood transfusion that occurred during his heart bypass procedure. Rock Hudson died on October 2, 1985, from an AIDS-related illness. He was a month and a half away from his 60th birthday. The disclosure of Hudson’s HIV status provoked widespread discussion on his sexual orientation, which was never made public. Rock and his agent, Henry Willson, kept his personal life out of the headlines. According to some colleagues, Hudson’s homosexuality was well known in Hollywood throughout his career. Rock Hudson was one of the first major Hollywood celebrities to die from an AIDS-related illness.

His death had an immediate impact on the visibility of AIDS and on the funding of medical research. 2 Liberace In 1919, Liberace, known as Lee to his friends, was born in West Allis, Wisconsin. Liberace began playing the piano at the age of four, and memorized difficult pieces of music by seven. As a youth, Liberace focused fiercely on the piano, and blossomed under the instruction of music teacher Florence Kelly. He showed an interest in draftsmanship, design, painting, and became a lover of fashion. Liberace had a knack for turning his eccentricities into attention-getting virtues, similar to Elton John, David Bowie, Madonna and, more recently, Lady Gaga. By 1947, Lee was billing himself as “Liberace – the most amazing piano virtuoso of the present day.” He bought a rare, over-sized, gold-leafed Blüthner Grand, which he hyped up as a “priceless piano.” Liberace created a very successful public image which helped rocket him to stardom.

His New York City performance at Madison Square Garden, in 1954, earned him a record $138,000 for one show. By 1955, he was making $50,000 per week at the Riviera Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Liberace was also making over $1,000,000 per year from public appearances, and millions from television. He was frequently covered by the major magazines and became a pop culture superstar. The pianist’s flamboyant personality made him the butt of jokes by comedians and the public. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Liberace’s live shows were a major box office attraction in Las Vegas, and he made $300,000 a week. During the 1950s–1970s, Liberace was the highest-paid entertainer in the world. In 1982, Scott Thorson, Liberace’s 24-year-old bodyguard, limo driver, and alleged live-in boyfriend of five years, sued the pianist for $113 million in palimony.

In response, Liberace denied he was gay. Confusion over Liberace’s true sexuality was further muddled in the public’s mind by his romantic links with a collection of famous personalities. Liberace’s final stage performance was at New Yorks’ Radio City Music Hall, on November 2, 1986. His final 21 day tour grossed $2.5 million. Liberace died at the age of 67 on February 4, 1987, from cardiac arrest due to congestive heart failure. He never officially gave a statement saying that he was HIV positive or a homosexual. The pianist was diagnosed with AIDS in 1986, and was hospitalized in January of 1987 with suspected anemia. An autopsy following his death confirmed that Liberace had HIV. 1 Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) was born in the British protectorate of Zanzibar, East Africa (now part of Tanzania). In April 1970, Mercury joined guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor to form the band Queen. Despite reservations from the other members, Mercury is the one who chose the band’s name.

He later said about the decision, “I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.” As a performer, Freddie Mercury was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range. His speaking voice fell in the baritone range, but Mercury delivered most songs in the tenor range. Mercury wrote 10 of the 17 songs on Queen’s Greatest Hits album, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Somebody to Love, We are the Champions and Killer Queen. He was known for his live performances, which were often given to stadium sized audiences. Over the course of his career, Mercury performed an estimated 700 concerts. He played the piano in many of Queen’s most famous songs. To date, Queen has released a total of 18 number one albums, 18 number one singles, and 10 number one DVDs. Queen has sold over 150 million albums worldwide, with some placing the estimate closer to 300 million. When Freddie Mercury was not performing he was a very shy and retired man. Mercury was a bisexual, but he did not like to speak about his relationships.

He was diagnosed with HIV in April of 1987. Freddie decided to hide his HIV status from the public for several years. By 1990, his physical appearance began to change. On November 23, 1991, Mercury gave a public statement indicating that he had contracted the AIDS virus. A little over 24 hours later, Freddie Mercury died, on the evening of November 24, 1991, at the age of 45, at his home in Kensington. The official cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS. Mercury was the first major rock star to die of AIDS. There is little doubt that he has one of the greatest voices in music history. More Great Lists Famous People Who Died of AIDS | List of Celebrity AIDS Deaths Famous People Who Died of AIDS 1.1M views 178 items tags f t p @ When the AIDS epidemic first gained notice, the world was terrified. A gruesome and deadly disease, it even managed to infect some of the most famous actors, musicians, and other celebrities in the world. This is a list of famous people who died of AIDS, including pictures, birth dates, professions, and other information.

These celebrities who died by AIDS are listed alphabetically and include the famous aids victims’ hometown and biographical info about them when available. List is made up of many different people, including Robert Chesley and Marlon Riggs. These notable aids deaths include modern and long-gone famous men and women, from politicians to religious leaders to writers. Although AIDS treatment has made many strides in the past few years, that doesn't it mean that people are immune from the disease if they aren't careful. Legendary Queen singer Freddie Mercury fell victim to it, as did tennis great Arthur Ashe, yet both contracted it in entirely different ways. Everyone on this list has has AIDS as a cause of death somewhere in their public records, even if it was just one contributing factor for their death. 10 Famous People Who Died of AIDS - EnkiVillage 10 Famous People Who Died of AIDS 10 Famous People Who Died of AIDS AIDS is a disease that affects the human immune system and is caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This condition gradually compromises the immune system, leaving the individual susceptible to various opportunistic tumors and infections.

As of the year 2009, it was estimated that there are over 3.3 million people living with HIV around the world. However, the harsh truth is that many people do not even know that they are infected with this virus. It is, then, rather apparent that the statistics are flawed. Each year, there are millions of people who die from AIDS-related complications. This article takes a look at ten high profile cases of AIDS. Everyone who has been listed here had a notable and established career before contracting HIV. 10 Famous People Who Died of AIDS 1 Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar (now a part of Tanzania), East Africa. Zanzibar was then a British protectorate. He was a singer, songwriter, producer, lyricist and lead vocalist of Queen, a rock band. As a performer, he had powerful vocals and a colorful stage persona. Off stage, Freddie was a retired, shy bisexual man. In 1987, he was diagnosed with HIV, and he hid his status for several years.

His physical appearance, however, started changing in 1990, and in November 23rd the following year, he gave a public statement about his condition. About 24 hours later, he died from bronchial pneumonia that resulted from AIDS. He is one of the most famous people who died of AIDS. It is not known who gave Freddie Mercury AIDS. 2 Liberace (1919 - 1987) Władziu Valentino Liberace, better known as Liberace or Lee, was an American entertainer and pianist. He was born in Wisconsin's West Allis. At age the age of 4, he started playing the piano. By age 7, he was able to memorize some difficult music pieces. He fiercely focused on his piano playing and eventually blossomed to a successful music career. He had a way of taking eccentricities and turning then to virtues that would demand attention. Between the 50's and 70's Liberace ranked as the highest paid entertainer globally. Even though there were rumors of him being gay, Liberace denied it publicly.

It is still unknown as to when he contracted HIV, but in 1987 Liberace died from congestive heart failure from AIDS. 3 Perry Ellis (1940 - 1986) Perry Edwin Ellis was a fashion designer and the founder of eponymous sportswear house. He had a huge influence on the fashion industry with his introduction of new proportions and patterns. In 1981, Ellis started a romantic relationship with an attorney called Laughlin Barker. Later that same year, Barker was appointed as Perry Ellis International's president of licensing division. However, in 1984 Ellis and television producer and long-time friend Barbara Gallagher had a child together through artificial insemination. The baby was born in November of 1984 - it was a girl named Tyler Alexandra Gallagher Ellis. In mid-1980, Ellis got seriously ill and in May 1986, he died from an AIDS related disease – viral encephalitis. 4 Rock Hudson (1925 - 1985) Roy Harold Scherer, Jr.

also known as Rock Hudson was a leading man in many romantic comedies that ran from the 1950's through the 1960's. He was among the most popular movie stars of that time. Unknown to anyone (the public), Rock Hudson had been diagnosed with HIV back in 1984. He kept his illness a secret and kept on working and traveling to various countries looking for a cure or treatment that would slow the progress of the disease. Rock Hudson died in his sleep from an AIDS-related illness. 5 Arthur Ashe (1943 - 1993) Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was a World No. 1 tennis player. In his time, he won 3 Grand Slam Titles making him one of the best tennis players in America. He was also the first African-American player to be selected to be part of the US Davis Cup team. He is also the only African-American man to ever win the singles title at Wimbledon. During a blood transfusion, he contracted the HIV virus in early 1980's. He passed away in early 1993 at the age of 49. Today, measures have been taken to curb this form of transfusion.

People with AIDS are discouraged from donating blood, and all donated blood is screened for AIDS. 6 Alvin Ailey (1931 - 1989) Alvin Ailey is a renowned choreographer and is widely credited for making modern dance popular. A Dance Theater in his name was founded back in 1958, and it combines African dance, modern dance, jazz, and ballet. He also played a major role in popularizing African-American participation and interest in professional dancing. His life and achievements were, however, cut short when he contracted AIDS. At that time, he was aware of the stereotype and stigma that was associated with AIDS. So, to keep his mother from being stereotyped and stigmatized after his death his doctor said that he died from dyscrasia, which is a terminal blood disease. 7 Robert Reed (1932 - 1992) Robert Reed is one of the famous people who died of AIDS. He was an American television, film and stage actor as well as a TV director. For about 5 long years, he was part of one of the most loved cast of "The Brady Bunch".

Reed was gay, and even though most of the cast knew it, he kept it private from the public. He feared the public knowing he was gay would ruin his successful career. He went on to marry Marilyn Rosenberger and together had a daughter. The marriage did not last. Reed passed away in 1992 from colon cancer. HIV was, however, listed as the main contributor of his death. 8 Fela Kuti (1938 - 1997) Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti more commonly known as Fela Kuti was an afro-beat pioneer, composer, musician, multi-instrumentalist, political maverick and human rights activist from Nigeria. His songs were upbeat and drew international attention and acclaim. He mostly sang about government corruption in Nigeria and European colonialism. Fela loved women, having married 27 different women who were also his dancers. Fela Kuti died at the age of 58 back in 1997. He died from Kaposi's sarcoma that was brought about by AIDS.

9 Franklyn Seales (1952 - 1990) Franklyn Seales was an American stage, television, and film actor. He was born in St. Vincent Island and attended Juilliard prior to his TV appearances. He is remembered for his role in the hit TV series called "Silver Spoon". He played the role of Dexter Stuffins, a family friend and business manager. He also made an appearance in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Star Trek: The Taming of the Shrew". Seales died from AIDS related complications in 1990 in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 37. 10 Gia Carangi (1960 - 1986) Gia Carangi was an American fashion model in late 70's and early 80's and among the hottest supermodels of her time. She appeared in the covers of Cosmopolitan and Vogue and was the face of many famous designers like Versace, Christian Dior and Armani. Along with fame and a successful career, came a troublesome lifestyle. She became a heroin addict and soon her career started to decline at a rapid rate.

She later on contracted HIV and died from AIDS-related complications when she was only 26 years old. ANY IDEAS ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Please Log In or add your name and email to post the comment. NAME: Tragic: 30 Stars Who Died Shockingly Young From AIDS (Slide #92) - Stars Give us feedback About Celebrity romances, breakups, weddings, weight loss, fashion, and style...you name it, we've got the Hollywood highlights for you. Can't stay up-to-date on every breaking celeb news story? We also offer year's end roundups of celebrity gossip, red carpet fashion, blockbuster movie and TV trivia, previews of new releases, and more!

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He was 49. A New York Hospital administrator, Judith Lilavois, said Ashe died at 3:13 P.M. of pneumonia, a complication of AIDS. He was admitted to the hospital on Friday. Yesterday, Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder said that Ashe's body would lie in state at the executive mansion in Richmond tomorrow from 5 to 9 P.M. Ashe's wife, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, said that her husband's funeral would be Wednesday at 1 P.M. at the Arthur Ashe Youth Center in Richmond, where he was born, and that he would be buried at Woodland Cemetery. Ashe was the only black man to win Wimbledon and the United States and Australian Opens. Militant in his convictions but mild in his manner, this slim, bookish and bespectacled athlete never thought himself a rebel and preferred information to insurrection. Dedicated to Helping Others Since he believed his singular success carried inherent responsibilities, Ashe, during his decadelong professional tennis career and beyond it, dedicated himself to dismantling the barriers of poverty, privilege, racism and social stereotyping.

Even the fact of his own mortality became a cause celebre, and Ashe, in the headlines again, conducted his final campaign against the ravages of AIDS. Ashe, who said he believed he contracted H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, through a transfusion of tainted blood during his second round of heart-bypass surgery in 1983, first learned of his infection after he entered New York Hospital for emergency brain surgery in September 1988. He was hospitalized after he suffered paralysis of his right arm, the one that served up 26 aces the day he became the 1968 United States Open champion. The surgery and a subsequent biopsy revealed the presence of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection linked to AIDS. In recent weeks, Ashe had been hospitalized with pneumocystis pneumonia, according to an AIDS researcher. Two weeks ago, he stayed in Manhattan, where he lived, rather than travel to Boston to receive an award. He appeared short of breath in a videotape that he made to be shown in the place of his appearance.

But Ashe was as passionate as ever, speaking of a visit to South Africa he had made and how a young boy had told him that he was the first free black man he had ever seen. Disclosed Illness Under Duress Ashe chose not to publicize his condition, preferring to protect his family's privacy and being well aware of the inevitable demands such a disclosure would place on a man of his celebrity. He did not disclose his condition until April 8, 1992, and then only after being told that USA Today intended to publish an article about his illness as soon as it could confirm it. But after making his public admission, Ashe spent the rest of his days campaigning for public awareness, including a speech on the floor of the United Nations on World AIDS Day on Dec. 1. When he made his reluctant admission, Ashe said: "I have good days and bad days. My ratio of good days to bad days is about six to one. I don't think anybody in my stage of this would be able to go through with no bad days. But I didn't want to go public now because I am not sick." Sick, in Ashe's terminology, meant being bedridden and nonfunctional.

As an avid golfer, prominent speaker, occasional columnist for The Washington Post, television commentator for HBO and ABC, author of a three-volume history of the black athlete in America, and a noted participant in countless civic projects and protests, Ashe hardly went into retreat in the four years that followed his AIDS diagnosis. Compiling the 1,600-page treatise "A Hard Road to Glory," published in 1988, was a major project. Ever in icy control on the tennis court, Ashe was just as assiduous about remaining in control of himself and his emotions in his off-court life. Foundation Fights AIDS Just before being stricken by a mild heart attack, his third, last September, Ashe assembled tennis luminaries at the United States Open to begin a 15-month, $5 million fund-raising effort on behalf of his namesake foundation to combat AIDS. With that project safely in the works, he traveled to Washington, where he was part of a group whose members were arrested while protesting the Bush Administration's treatment of Haitian refugees.

For Ashe, the handcuffs were nothing new; this longtime friend to Nelson Mandela and the first black athlete to be granted a visa (but not hotel accommodations) to compete in South Africa, in 1973, was arrested in 1985 as he protested South Africa's policy of apartheid. But devoting himself to becoming a human billboard in the fight against AIDS was something Ashe always understood he would eventually accept with his usual poise. Only the fact that the timing of his public pledge to help eradicate AIDS was beyond his control bothered him. As the father of a daughter -- Camera, now 6 -- Ashe didn't want his limited time to be spent working overtime, which happened to be his only way of working, to help halt the spread of this disease. He did not want his to become a one-issue existence. But once the announcement was a fait accompli, Ashe's initial anger dissipated and he seemed almost relieved: nothing like a valid cause to set Ashe's competitive juices simmering.

"The foundation was something I always knew I wanted to do, long before I went public on April 8," said Ashe, who continued to refer to that date as the beginning of his life as an AIDS activist and the end of his relatively "unfettered" existence as a former tennis champion with a sports, business and family agenda. Gonzalez Is Role Model The shy yet eloquent Ashe, who listed the tennis star Pancho Gonzalez as his only sports idol, did not set out to become a role model for young black athletes. But because he dared to stand by his convictions, that is precisely what happened. Unlike baseball's Jackie Robinson, who acted as conduit for the rites of passage of a stream of deserving black baseball players, Ashe was the only prominent black tennis player of his era. It was a position that left him feeling ostracized at times, he said, by both blacks and whites. "It's an abnormal world I live in," he told Sports Illustrated's Frank Deford in 1966. "It's like I'm floating down the middle. I'm never quite sure where I am.

It does bother me that I'm in this predicament, but I don't dwell on it, because I know it will resolve itself." But Ashe served as a beacon for future generations of black tennis players. "He's always been for black players someone to look up to and someone who says, 'You can do it, it doesn't matter where you come from or how you look,' " said Zina Garrison-Jackson, a product of Houston's public parks system who reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 in the world in 1989. "Arthur showed you what is possible to be accomplished," she said. "I always wanted to follow in his footsteps, and nobody can forget that he made the footsteps: I can really appreciate the time that he made his breakthrough in. It was harder then for a minority player to break in, especially in our sport, but he did it to the hilt." According to Pam Shriver, a many-time Grand Slam doubles champion and herself a frequent commentator on a wide range of topics, Ashe's example of grace under pressure was not lost on the women players campaigning for equality in their workplace. "He was a voice for all the minorities, and that goes for women, too," she said.

"He brought a level of conscience to the game, whether he was speaking on South Africa or inner-city minorities or exclusionary policies anyplace. Arthur's influence on tennis didn't fade after he left the sport." Began Tennis at Age 7 Arthur Ashe, the son of a parks policeman, was born in Richmond on July 10, 1943. His mother died when he was 6. His father died in 1989. He played his first tennis at the age of 7 on the courts at Brookfield Park, the segregated playground adjacent to his home. By the time he was 14, he had found a patron in Dr. Walter Johnson, a Lynchburg, Va., physician with two decades of experience in assisting black tennis prodigies. Ashe reached the semifinals of the junior national championships on his first attempt in 1958. He won the indoor singles title in 1960 and 1961, and completed his high school years at Sumner High School in St. Louis in order to train full-time there with Richard Hudlin.

In 1962, as the fifth-ranked junior in the nation, Ashe received a full scholarship to U.C.L.A. While a student there, he attracted the attention of Gonzalez and Pancho Segura, both of whom helped refine Ashe's serve-and-volley game and the unflappable temperament that vaulted him to three Grand Slam tournament singles titles. They also encouraged his penchant for experimentation: At one time, Ashe accumulated 16 variations of the backhand in his stroke repertory. In 1963, he joined the United States Davis Cup Team, and by 1966, the year of his graduation from U.C.L.A. with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, he was described by the renowned tennis teacher, Harry Hopman, as "the most promising player in the world." Ashe, while still a 25-year-old amateur fulfilling a three-year Army stint, ushered in the Open era by winning the 1968 United States Open at Forest Hills. He defeated Tom Okker in the final, marking the first time a black man had won a Grand Slam event, one of the sport's four major tournaments. In 1970, he won the Australian Open.

In 1975, making his final-round opponent even more manic than usual by calmly closing his eyes and meditating through every changeover, he defeated Jimmy Connors in the Wimbledon final. Ashe also collected doubles titles at the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon. The Grand Slam titles and ensuing endorsement contracts helped make Ashe, who earned $1,584,909 in prize money, tennis's first black millionaire, but wealth didn't distract him from the social issues of his day. In 1973, on his third attempt, he was granted a visa to South Africa, and helped integration efforts there. In 1974 he helped found the Association of Men's Tennis Professionals, a players union, and served as its president until 1979. He played on the Davis Cup team for 10 years, won three championships, and later served as its captain from 1981-84 after heart problems forced his retirement in 1980. Ashe suffered his first heart attack in July 1979, just after conducting a clinic for underprivileged children in New York City.

In December of that year, he underwent a quadruple-bypass operation, and in 1983 he underwent a double bypass, at St. Luke-Roosevelt Hospital. Ashe discovered he had AIDS 18 months after Federal health officials recommended the testing of any patients who had received blood transfusions between 1978 and 1985. In 1988, the same year he learned he had AIDS, Ashe helped create inner-city tennis programs for youths in Newark, Detroit, Atlanta, Kansas City and Indianapolis. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I., in 1985, and last year Mayor David N. Dinkins, a longtime friend, proclaimed Aug. 30, the date of Ashe's kickoff for his $5 million AIDS fund-raiser, Arthur Ashe Day in New York City. Ashe served on the board of directors of Aetna Life & Casualty and the United States Tennis Association, as chairman of the National Heart Association in 1981-82, and had recently rejoined the Board of Trustees of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

He also held corporate posts with Head Sports USA and Le Coq Sportif USA. A memorial service will be held in New York City on Friday. Details have not been completed. Chronology: "Arthur Ashe in the Spotlight" Aug. 1, 1963: Becomes the first black to be named to a United States Davis Cup team. June 21, 1965: Leads U.C.L.A. to the N.C.A.A. tennis championship. Aug. 25, 1968: Becomes the first black to win United States men's singles championships. Sept. 9, 1968: Wins the first United States Open title. Dec. 12, 1968: Is ranked No. 1 by the United States Lawn Tennis Association. June 30, 1969: Is banned from South African championships. Jan. 26, 1970: Becomes the first black to win the Australian Open. Nov. 24, 1973: Becomes the first black to reach final of the South African Open. 1974-1979: President of the Association of Tennis Professionals.

July 5, 1975: Becomes the first black to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon. Dec. 21, 1979: Undergoes quadruple bypass heart surgery. April 16, 1980: Announces his retirement from competitive tennis. Sept. 7, 1980: Named captain of the Davis Cup team. The United States wins championships under him in 1981 and 1982. June 21, 1983: Undergoes double bypass heart surgery. March 21, 1985: Named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. 1988: His three-voloume history "A Hard Road to Glory: A History of the African Athlete" is published. April 8, 1992: Announces he contracted the AIDS virus from a blood transfusion during heart bypass surgery. He said he tested positive for H.I.V. three and a half years earlier while hospitalized for a bacterial invection in his brain.

(Source: The Associated Press) Arthur Ashe - Celebrities with HIV/AIDS - Pictures - CBS News Celebrities with HIV/AIDS Next Charlie Sheen Charlie Sheen announced on Nov. 17, 2015, that he is HIV-positive. The actor revealed he was diagnosed about four years earlier. "It's a hard three letters to absorb. It's a turning point in one's life," Sheen said. Click through for more stars living with HIV, along with celebrities who died from complications related to AIDS. Credit: Brad White/Getty Images Danny Pintauro Former child star Danny Pintauro told Oprah in September 2015, that he had been living with HIV for 12 years. "I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn't ready. I'm ready now," Pintauro told Winfrey. "I'm HIV-positive, and I have been for 12 years." He added that he was doing crystal meth at the time of diagnosis. He is now married to partner Wil Tabares and he is now dedicated to HIV/AIDS activism. Credit: Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Magic Johnson Former NBA Player Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced in 1991 that he was diagnosed with HIV.

He created the Magic Johnson Foundation to help combat HIV and raise awareness about the virus. Johnson worked with the White House and the United Nations in the fight against HIV/AIDS, and continues to advocate for HIV/AIDS prevention and safe sex. Credit: Isaac Brekken/Getty Images Chuck Panozzo Chuck Panozzo, of the band Styx, announced in 2001 that he is gay and living with HIV. He has acted as an advocate for gay rights and HIV awareness. Credit: Getty Rock Hudson A leading man in the romantic comedies of the 1950s and 1960s, actor Rock Hudson was among the first celebrities to die of AIDS-related diseases. His Oct. 2, 1985, death at age 59 led his friend and "Giant" co-star Elizabeth Taylor to spend the rest of her life raising funds for AIDS research. Credit: AP Photo Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group Queen, is seen here on Sept. 18, 1984, during a concert at the Palais Omnisports in Paris. Mercury was 45 when he died on Nov.

24, 1991, just days after quelling rampant speculation by admitting that he was HIV positive and had contracted AIDS. Credit: Coutausse/AFP/Getty Images Anthony Perkins Anthony Perkins, who gave a career-defining performance as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho," died on Sept. 12, 1992, from complications of AIDS. He was 60 years old and was rumored to have had affairs with a number of Hollywood's male stars. Credit: Universal Pictures Amanda Blake Actress Amanda Blake, seen here with "Gunsmoke" co-stars Dennis Weaver, James Arness and Milburn Stone, was 60 when she died died on Aug. 16, 1989. Although she had throat cancer at the time at her death, it is widely believed that she had contracted the HIV virus from her ex-husband and had died of AIDS related complications. Credit: CBS Eazy-E Rapper Eazy-E of N.W.A died of AIDS-related complications in 1995. Eazy-E died only a month after learning he had AIDS; he and his wife Tomica Woods married just 12 days before his death.

His son Lil Eazy-E is also a rapper and advocates for HIV awareness. Credit: Ruthless Records Robert Reed Actor Robert Reed, seen in this 1981 photo, played father Mike Brady on the popular sitcom "The Brady Bunch." His death on May 12, 1992, at age 59, was widely attributed to AIDS, but while he tested positive for HIV, medial officials said he did not appear to have AIDS. Credit: AP Rudolf Nureyev Ballet legend Rudolf Nureyev, seen here in a 1988 photo, was suffering from an advanced case of AIDS when he died on Jan. 6, 1993, at age 54. The Russian-born Nureyev, considered one of the premiere dancers of his time, defected to the West in the middle of his career. Credit: AP Tony Richardson British actor and director Tony Richardson, ex-husband of Vanessa Redgrave and father of Joely Richardson and the late Natasha Richardson, died of AIDS in 1991.

He won Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for his 1963 movie "Tom Jones." Credit: AP Photo Arthur Ashe Former tennis player Arthur Ashe addresses a 1992 World Health Organization (WHO) meeting on the World AIDS Day. Ashe, who contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, spoke out on AIDS issues until his death on Feb. 6, 1993. He was 49. Credit: HAI DO/AFP/Getty Images Isaac Asimov Sci-fi author Isaac Asimov, seen in this 1984 photo, contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during heart bypass surgery. The cause of his April 6, 1992, death was listed as heart and kidney failure but 10 years later his widow revealed that both those causes were AIDS related. Credit: AP Robert Mapplethorpe Artist and photographer Robert Mapplethorpe was just 42 when he died on March 9, 1989, of AIDS complications. Since his death, his Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation has raised millions of dollars for medical research in the fight against AIDS and HIV.

Credit: Mapplethorpe Foundation Liberace Liberace, the piano virtuoso who became known as Mr. Showmanship, poses with a one-of-a-kind 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I used in a Radio City Music Hall show in 1985. His death at the age of 67 on Feb. 4, 1987, was not listed as AIDS related, but several years later, it became known that the performer had been HIV positive for several years before he died. Credit: AP Michael Jeter Actor Michael Jeter, seen at the Casting Society of America's Artios Awards Oct. 4, 2001, in Los Angeles, was a Tony-winning Broadway actor who also picked up an Emmy for his role in "Evening Shade." The HIV-positive Jeter was only 50 when he was found dead at home on March 30, 2003. Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images Tom Fogerty Tom Fogerty, part of the rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival, died in 1990 due to AIDS-related complications. He contracted HIV from blood transfusions.

Credit: Fantasy Records 10 Stars With HIV (PHOTOS) 10 Stars With HIV (PHOTOS) Truth rating: 10 By Michael Lewittes | 4:56 pm, November 16th, 2015 PHOTOS (Getty Images) Following the news that Charlie Sheen is set to reveal he’s HIV-positive, Gossip Cop is looking at 10 more stars who have also contracted the disease. Sheen joins a list of stars who have gone public with their diagnosis, including most recently Danny Pintauro from the show “Who’s The Boss?” Pintauro, who revealed he is HIV positive to Oprah earlier this year, is now committed to bringing more awareness to the disease. Among the first stars to reveal they had HIV was “Real World” cast member Pedro Zamora. Zamora, who was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease at 17, was open about his sexuality and AIDS diagnosis on the “Real World back in 1994, giving viewers an unprecedented look at the debilitating illness.

Half-way through filming, Zamora’s health rapidly declined, and while he was able to finish the season, he passed away a few months later on November 11, 1994. Similarly, NWA rapper Eazy-E shared his diagnosis with fans. The rapper was admitted to a hospital in February 1995 with what he believed to be asthma, but the singer soon found out he was HIV/AIDS positive. Eazy-E released a statement about his status the following month, but passed away two short weeks later on March 26th. Thankfully these days, an HIV diagnosis no longer means a death sentence. While there is still no cure for AIDS, between recent progress with new medications and research, more than 15 years have been added to the average life expectancy of people with HIV. Some like Magic Johnson , who was diagnosed in 1991, are even lucky enough to no longer detect the virus in their blood. Though Sheen will sit down for an interview on Tuesday’s “Today,” it remains to be seen how open he will be about his health. Click through the gallery to find out about more celebrities who are living with or contracted HIV. X

Question: What disease caused the deaths of Freddie Mercury, Liberace, and Arthur Ashe?
Answer: AIDS