Living With HIV/AIDS And Celebrities
Rock Hudson was the first celebrity to come forward with his HIV positive status. He was a huge film star in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He had done over seventy motion pictures and died of AIDS in 1985. His death was not in vain; America began to realize anyone could end up living with HIV/AIDS.
Arthur Ashe was a famous tennis star who became HIV positive after a blood transfusion during a heart attack. While living with HIV/AIDS, he championed for hospitals to test their blood supplies and now all donated blood is tested and screened before use.
Probably the most famous celebrity to become HIV positive is Magic Johnson, sports superstar. He is still alive at this time, and has shown that living with HIV/AIDS is not a requisite for becoming a hermit. Magic Johnson truly made the world aware that anyone could be HIV positive, but still have a productive life. He has promoted AIDS awareness rallies and seminars and will continue to be a role model, even though he is living with HIV/AIDS.
Liberace, the famous pianist, died of AIDS in 1987. He was a very flamboyant character and sued many magazine publications for slander after he was accused of being a homosexual. It was never determined when he exactly became HIV positive.
Anthony Perkins was best known for his role in the cult classic, Psycho. He was a tremendous actor, and it is believed he was living with HIV/AIDS for many years before he went public with the disease. He died in 1992.
Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991 from complications from AIDS. He was the lead singer of Queen, which had such hits as “We Are the Champions” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”. He died only one day after acknowledging that he was HIV positive. His long term, live-in partner, Jim Hutton has stated Mercury was diagnosed in 1987.
Tim Richmond, a NASCAR racecar driver, died of complications from AIDS in 1989. Known for being somewhat of a playboy, he found out he was HIV positive in 1986. He continued to race in several events, but eventually NASCAR refused to allow him to drive in any further races because he was living with HIV/AIDS.
Rudolf Nureyev, a famous Russian ballet dancer, died in 1993. He was 54 and for many years refused to admit he was ill. His last performance was in France, and he died a few months later in Paris. He was living with HIV/AIDS for many years and still performing.
Max Robinson was first African American broadcast news anchor in the United States. He found out he was HIV positive when he was hospitalized for pneumonia in 1988. He did not disclose he was HIV positive until months later, and died shortly thereafter.