HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) has been a silent killer and a taboo topic in societies around the globe for many years now. While the infection caused by the virus has never picked and chosen its victims, there have been numerous celebrities who have raised much-needed awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Some have died battling AIDS early, some have ferociously fought it for years, and some still struggle with it on a daily basis, with HIV treatment, HIV drugs and therapy. We’ve now listed some of our favorite celebrities who have battled their mortal condition over the years; more than a few of them are bound to shock you!
Jerry Herman.
Jerry Herman became famous for his extraordinary music and his Broadway musical theater. The popular composer and lyricist was diagnosed with HIV back in 1985, and he was one of the first to use the experimental drug therapies. Up to this day, Herman is still full of life and continues to create magical music – even performing on Broadway. Good for him!
Greg Louganis
Famous Olympic Diver Greg Louganis is very active in the LGBT community in raising awareness about HIV and AIDS. Being open to the fact that he is gay, Louganis also admitted that he was diagnosed with HIV back in 1988. He made it his mission to help people deal with HIV and educate people about the illness.
Elton John
Iconic singer Elton John became one of the most influential people raising awareness about AIDS after the death of his friends Rock Hudson and Freddie Mercury. Educating people about the disease, he also held many concerts to help raise funds for HIV-positive patients.
Believing that the best way to help people avoid this disease is through education, John collected an enormous amount of money through charity concerts, and he continues to do so until today!
Jim J. Bullock
American actor Jim J. Bullock was diagnosed with HIV back in 1985, but he kept a positive mind and still lives with the disease. When his partner died of AIDS, Bullock decided not to give in to this horrible sickness, and he still continues to undergo antiretroviral therapy.
Although the sickness had an impact on his life and mental health, Bullock remains hopeful that one day he’ll be cured.
Charlie Sheen
One of the most controversial celebrities for years now, Charlie Sheen recently admitted he has been HIV-positive since 2011. Although he tried to keep his condition a secret, eventually he gave up and publicly announced that he has it.
Aside from HIV, Sheen is also struggling with alcohol and drug addiction that is also having a significant impact on his well-being. Despite his condition, he tries to maintain a positive attitude, and with therapies and rehab, he believes he can have a normal life. We all hope he’ll manage!
Mykki Blanco
In 2015, American rapper Mykki Blanco admitted on his Facebook page that he had been HIV-infected since 2011. Fearing that it will ruin his career, he kept it a secret for some time. But after he confirmed his condition, a lot of his fans showed their support.
An active supporter of the LGBT community, Blanco revealed that after he was diagnosed, it took him some time to process but says that he later learned to love and accept himself.
Taina
Puerto Rican model-host, Noris Díaz Pérez (La Taína) openly admitted she was HIV-positive in 2011. Her condition had a significant impact on her mental health, but she has kept an optimistic attitude. After she retired from television in 2007, she turned her life around and now lives as a born-again Christian.
She preaches in churches, and she is more spiritual than she ever was, being grateful to God for her new chance in life.
Paul Lekakis
Paul Lekakis became famous after he showed his musical and dancing talents while he was modeling in Italy. He was diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1989, but he didn’t announce his condition publicly until the mid-1990s. Since then, Lekakis talked openly about HIV and AIDS, and he also played HIV-positive characters in several movies
Mondo Guerra
Fashion designer Mondo Guerra was diagnosed with HIV in 2000 but managed to keep his illness a secret for ten years. In 2010, he publicly announced that he is HIV-positive and since then, he has been outspoken about AIDS.
He designed shirts dedicated to World AIDS Day and to those who lost their lives to this dreadful disease. With his dedicated work, he continues to give hope to AIDS patients.
Alicia Keys Battling HIV/AIDS
World famous singer Alicia Keys gives her best to support those who have AIDS. She is a co-founder of the organization Keep A Child Alive that provides children who are HIV-positive with the medical care that they need.
Her dedication to HIV patients and her charity concerts raised great money to help people cope with HIV the best way they can. Giving them hope for a normal life, Keys’ compassion for those people has earned her respect globally.
Andy Bell
Singer of the pop duo Erasure Andy Bell has always been openly gay and, in 2004, he admitted to his fans that he was HIV-positive since 1998. Since then, he has been talking tirelessly about HIV-related issues, and he dedicated himself to help those with AIDS fully understand what they are going through. His charity performances raised big money for those in need!
Timothy Patrick Murphy
Timothy Patrick Murphy, the star of the 1980s soap opera Dallas, suddenly died at the age of 29 from AIDS-related complications and shocked all of his fans back in 1988. The circumstances under which the actor got the disease are unknown, and even though he never came out publicly, there were rumors that he was gay. One thing is sure – he was missed by millions of his fans.
Andrew Sullivan
Famous British journalist and Blogger, Andrew Sullivan is openly gay and admits to having AIDS. Even though he considers himself a Catholic, he doesn’t follow all the rules of the church, believing in gay marriage but not tolerating the trade of physical gratification.
Sullivan keeps his condition under control and continues to make outstanding blogs every day for which he has won numerous awards.
Gene Anthony Ray
Gene Anthony Ray was an American actor and dancer best known for his role as a dancer named Leroy Johnson in the movie Fame (1980). He showed great acting and dancing skills throughout his career which unfortunately ended after he suffered a stroke and died at the age of 41. In 2003, soon after his death, Ray’s mother stated that he was HIV-positive.
Chris Smith
The first member of the British Parliament in history to openly admit to being gay is British Cabinet Minister Chris Smith. It took a lot of courage for the politician, as he has also admitted to being HIV-positive since 1987 and that the virus progressed to full-blown AIDS. Luckily, Chris Smith underwent antiretroviral therapy, and he is keeping his condition under control. With the right treatment and lifestyle, Smith feels better than ever for being true to himself.
Danny Pintauro
Danny Pintauro is an American actor known for his role in the popular TV show Who’s the Boss?. He openly admitted that he was gay in 1997 and recently appeared on Oprah’s show announcing that he’s HIV-positive since 2003.
Although it wasn’t easy for him, Pintauro has been fighting the disease from the start, and with the correct treatment, he is keeping his condition under control and advising everyone who is HIV-positive to do the same.
Rob Astbury
Rob Astbury is an award-winning former Australian television sports journalist, and today, he is in the real estate business. Astbury announced he has AIDS in his published text King & I. Not letting his condition affect him in any way; he got the correct medical treatment.
He still keeps advancing in his new career; showing how the right attitude can go a long way, and earning the respect of many with his positive energy and bravery.
Viktor Luna
The star of Project Runway Viktor Luna publicly announced that he is HIV-positive for almost seven years now and that it took him a long time to cope with his disease. Nowadays, he has been outspoken about HIV-related problems stating it is not only a “gay” problem but rather an issue or concern of every person entering intimate relationships.
He maintains his positive thoughts and continues to spread them around to all AIDS patients, giving them motivation for a normal and happy life.
Dave Brindle
The first TV personality from Canada to publicly announce that he was HIV-positive is journalist Dave Brindle. He is known as an AIDS activist and is a great supporter of the LGBT community. He gives his best to help people infected with HIV as he feels that they are helping him as well.
The LGBT community in Canada owes a lot to Brindle, now boosting his strength and will to live his life to the fullest.
Kevin Peter Hall
Kevin Peter Hall was an American actor who became famous after his amazing role in Predator, acting alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. With a great acting talent, Hall died at the age of only 35 back in 1991 from AIDS-related pneumonia. The actor was extremely unfortunate since he contracted the virus from a blood transfusion!
Josh Robbins
Josh Robbins is a famous American blogger and HIV activist who announced on his YouTube channel that he has been HIV-positive since 2012. Robbins is a great supporter of the LGBT community and now openly discusses problems related to AIDS.
His blog helps many people coping with this disease because Robbins himself can truly know what they are going through – actively helping them not to get depressed and to fight the illness and have a happy, joyful life.
Mark Patton
Mark Patton is an American actor who became famous for his role in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge. Patton is openly gay and a supporter of the LGBT community. He has been diagnosed with the HIV and suffered pneumonia and tuberculosis in the process.
Even though it seemed that he wouldn’t make it, Patton fought back and put his condition under control. Today, he is even making new movies with the support of many of his fans and gives his best to help people with AIDS.
Tina Chow
Tina Chow was an American model and designer who began her career back in the 1970s. She was also the second wife of the owner of Mr. Chow restaurant chain.
After their marriage had ended, Tina Chow retired from her public lifestyle, announcing that she was HIV-positive in 1989 and wanted to raise awareness about the AIDS after losing so many friends to this dreadful disease. Sadly, she died from AIDS-induced complications in 1992.
John Grant
John Grant is an American singer and songwriter who publicly announced at the 2012 Meltdown festival that he is HIV-positive. Afterward, he sang about his condition in the track Ernest Borgnine, describing his youth and singing about his ex-boyfriend. With the right treatment and lots of positive energy, Grant is keeping his disease in check and living a happy life.
Holly Johnson
Holly Johnson is an English musician and artist who was diagnosed with HIV back in 1991. Having a huge effect on his mental health, Johnson decided to withdraw himself from the public lifestyle for quite some time. Dealing with his disease and accepting his being gay wasn’t easy for the famous singer.
Luckily, after overcoming his fears, Johnson started creating music again and finding a new meaning in life despite his condition, trying to help others deal with AIDS the best way they can.
Fred Hersch
Fred Hersch is an American jazz pianist who was diagnosed with HIV in 1986 – a time when there wasn’t much known about the disease, and there was no proper therapy to treat it. Living with AIDS for a long time, Hersch developed HIV-induced dementia in 2008, but after slipping into a coma for two months, he woke up and miraculously made a full recovery!
Unfortunately, as a result of his inactivity, he lost fine motor skill functionality, and he’s unable to play the piano anymore.
Magic Johnson
Former basketball star Magic Johnson was diagnosed with HIV back in 1991. Johnson then devoted himself to help others cope with the disease and raise awareness about AIDS. With proper medical treatment, Johnson is still alive and keeps his condition under control – continuing to inspire others with a great spirit despite living with his condition.
Freddie Mercury
Magnificent singer and one of the biggest artists who ever lived, Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with HIV but kept it a secret from his fans until the day he died. Although there were speculations he was gay, Mercury never confirmed any of those stories even though it was known that he lived with his partner Jim Hutton.
In 1991, Mercury died of bronchial pneumonia in a deadly permutation with AIDS.
Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson was a popular movie star in the 1950s and 1960s. When he suddenly died in 1985, it was a huge shock for all of Hudson’s fans. The famous actor died of complications caused by AIDS which brought forth many questions and rumors about his personal orientation. Although there were strong speculations that Hudson was gay, this was never confirmed.
Paul Shenar
Paul Shenar was an American actor who started his career in the 1970s and continued to act during the 1980s until his death. Although it was never confirmed publicly, Shenar allegedly was in a five-year relationship with British actor Jeremy Brett during the ’70s. On October 11, 1989, Paul Shenar died of AIDS-related complications.
Andreas Lundstedt
Andreas Lundstedt is a Swedish musician and singer best known as a member of the pop-disco group Alcazar. Alcazar, together with Andreas Lundstedt, represented Sweden on Eurovision 2014, reaching the third place with their song Blame It On The Disco. Lundstedt confirmed in December 2007 that he had tested positive for HIV.
Gil Scott-Heron
Gill Scott-Heron was an American jazz poet and musician who reached enormous fame during the 1970s and 1980s. In 2008, Scott-Heron confirmed in an interview with New York Magazine that he was HIV-positive for several years and that he was admitted to the hospital for pneumonia. H, unfortunately, died in 2011, at the age of 62, in a New York hospital.
Billy Newton-Davis
Famous Canadian R&B jazz singer and songwriter Billy Newton-Davis was diagnosed as HIV-positive back in 1986. Even though he has always been openly gay, he kept his condition a secret for many years. After almost fourteen years, in 2000, Newton-Davis went public with his status in a documentary that was aired on Vision TV, confirming he has the virus.
Madonna
Popular singer Madonna has always been a great benefactor and gives the best she can to provide help and medication for those in need, including HIV-positive and AIDS patients. Raising money for the organization, she helped millions of people with this condition, including children in Africa and all around the world.
Her dedication is so great that there are rumors that the iconic singer is HIV-positive herself! But that never stopped her mission as Madonna continues to call for changes!
Ji Wallace
Australian gymnast and Olympic silver medalist Ji Wallace admitted that he was gay in 2005. The famous athlete became the first Australian proclaimed as Gay Games Ambassador as well as a gay activist. Not long after, in August 2012, Wallace wrote a letter to the Sydney Star Observer publicly announcing that he was HIV-positive, becoming a role model to many with this condition.
Roy Simmons
Roy Simmons was a famous NFL player who publicly declared he was gay after he retired from the sport, becoming the second-ever NFL player to come out as gay. In 2003, Simmons also confirmed that he was HIV-positive, after keeping his condition a secret for six years. He died at the age of 57 due to complications related to pneumonia and AIDS.
Joe Average
Joe Average is a Canadian artist who is known for his colorful and cheerful pictures, mostly of flowers and animals. Average was diagnosed to be HIV-positive when he was only 27 years old and, after finding out about his condition, he decided to dedicate himself to art.
Living with HIV surely hasn’t been easy for the famous artist, but he manages to cope with it the best way he knows how: through his art!
Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins was an American actor best remembered for his role as Norman Bates in Hitchcock’s Psycho. While he was gay until his 30s, he married and had two kids with photographer Berinthia Berenson. The popular actor was diagnosed HIV while filming a sequel of Psycho and died shortly after from AIDS-related pneumonia in 1992.
Amanda Blake
American actress Amanda Blake became popular for her role in the TV series Gunsmoke. She died at the age of 60 in 1989 from AIDS-related complications, and even though there were speculations that the actress got the HIV from her late husband Mark Spaeth, those stories were never confirmed. Until today, it is a mystery how the famous actress got infected.
Rihanna
Rihanna is yet another good-hearted celebrity working to help people with HIV and AIDS in every way possible. She joined MAC Cosmetics to educate people about the disease. Rihanna continues to raise awareness about AIDS to this day, giving people comfort and support that they need to continue living their everyday life as happy as they can.
Arthur Ashe
American tennis player Arthur Ashe won three Grand Slam titles. After suffering a heart attack, Ashe underwent heart surgery and contracted HIV during his operation through a blood transfusion. He kept his condition a secret for some time but eventually went public because he didn’t want to lie about his illness anymore.
He also started a foundation to raise awareness about AIDS. In 1993, Ashe died from AIDS-related pneumonia.
Elizabeth Taylor
World famous actress and humanitarian Elizabeth Taylor began helping and raising awareness about AIDS from the very start when there was little known about the disease. She was a co-founder, together with a group of doctors, of the American Foundation for AIDS Research providing the help and medical care needed for those who were HIV-positive.
She continued raising money for her charitable institutions to educate and help people until her death.
Robert Reed
Robert Reed was an American actor best remembered for his role in the sitcom The Brady Bunch. Many of his co-workers from the show had said that they knew Reed was gay but never discussed it with the actor.
Robert Reed died in 1992 due to colon cancer, and though he kept his life and medical condition a secret, it was only later revealed that he was HIV-positive and that it had a serious impact on his other illness.
Denholm Elliott
