List of people with hepatitis C

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an alphabetical list of people who have or had the infectious disease hepatitis C. This disease, four times more infectious than HIV, has infected roughly 3% of the world's population. More than 170 million are chronic carriers (most of whom are symptomless and unaware of their infection) and are at risk of developing liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure. It is the leading cause of liver transplant in the United States. Organisations such as the American Liver Foundation encourage celebrities to speak openly about their infection to raise awareness and encourage those who at risk to get tested.[1]

Name Life Comments Reference
Stew Albert (1939–2006) A co-founder of the Yippies. He died of liver cancer and had previously been diagnosed with hepatitis C. [2]
Pamela Anderson (1967—) TV actress famous for her role as C.J. Parker on the series Baywatch. Went public in March 2002 after being diagnosed a year earlier. Anderson claimed that she contracted it after sharing a tattoo needle with her ex-husband Tommy Lee, who denied he had the virus. [3][4][5]
Penny Arcade (1950—) A performance artist and playwright, who was diagnosed in 2003. [6]
David Marks] (1948- ) An early member of The Beach Boys, Marks believes he contracted the disease through drug use, as discussed in a Reader's Digest interview.
Jeannine Parvati Baker (1949–2005) A midwife, herbalist, author and homebirth advocate. [7]
Lawrencia Bembenek (1958—) A former Playboy bunny, convicted of murdering her husband's ex-wife. [3][8]
Rolf Benirschke (1955—) A former placekicker in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers. Diagnosed in 1998, we was infected by the blood transfusions he received in 1979 to treat ulcerative colitis. He actively campaigns to raise awareness and encourage people to get tested. [3][9]
David Crosby (1941—) A guitarist, singer, and songwriter, well known for being a founding member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. In 1995, he became seriously ill from hepatitis C. A liver transplant restored his health. [3][10][11]
Willie Dixon (1915–1992) A blues bassist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Diagnosed shortly before his death, he caught hepatitis C from blood transfusions during bypass surgery in 1987. [3]
Alejandro Escovedo (~1951—) A musician. Diagnosed in April 2003, various benefit concerts and tribute albums covered his medical bills. [12][13]
Freddy Fender (1937–2006) A country, and rock and roll musician. Diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2000, he received a liver transplant in 2004. [3][14][15]
"Superstar" Billy Graham (1943—) A former professional wrestler. Had a liver transplant after his was destroyed by hepatitis C, which he suspects was caught through blood spilt during a match. [3][16]
Larry Hagman (1931—) An actor who is famous for playing J.R. Ewing in the television soap opera Dallas [3]
Dusty Hill (1949—) Bassist and vocalist with rock group ZZ Top. Their tour was cancelled when he was diagnosed in 2000. After undergoing treatment, they resumed touring in 2002. [3][17]
Diamanda Galás (1955—) An avant-garde performance artist, vocalist, and composer. [18]
Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997) A Beat poet best known for the poem Howl. He died of liver cancer after suffering for many years with hepatitis C. [3][19]
Naomi Judd (1946—) A country music singer and songwriter who retired in 1991 after being diagnosed with hepatitis C. She started the Naomi Judd Research Fund to help find a cure for the disease, which has raised over a million dollars for the American Liver Foundation. [3][20]
Ken Kesey (1935–2001) An author, best known for his novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Died of liver cancer, caused by hepatitis C. [3][21]
Jack Kevorkian (1928—) A controversial pathologist, noted for publicly championing a terminal patient's "right to die". He is currently serving a prison service for second-degree murder. His attorney claims Kevorkian contracted hepatitic C after testing blood transfusions during the Vietnam war. [3][22][23]
Evel Knievel (1938—) A stuntperson, best known for his public displays of long distance, high-altitude motorcycle jumping. Had a liver transplant as a result of hepatitis C, which he believed was contracted during an operation. [3][24]
Phil Lesh (1940—) A musician and founder member of rock band Grateful Dead, in which he played bass guitar. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1992 and received a liver transplant in 1998. [3][25]
Lance Loud (1951–2001) A journalist, best known for his role in An American Family, a 12-part 1973 documentary. Died of complications from hepatitis C. [3][26]
Linda Lovelace (1949–2002) A pornographic actress, notable for the 1972 film Deep Throat. She contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion after a car accident in 1969 and had a liver transplant in 1987. [3][27]
Natasha Lyonne (1979—) An actress, best known for her roles in the first two American Pie films. [28]
Mickey Mantle (1931–1995) A baseball player for the New York Yankees. Hepatitis C lead to cirrhosis and cancer. He underwent a liver transplant in June 1995 but the cancer had spread to other parts of his body and he died in August. [3][29]
David Marks (1948- ) An early member of The Beach Boys, Marks believes he contracted the disease through drug use, as discussed in a Reader's Digest interview.
Chuck Negron (1942—) A singer, best known as one of the three lead vocalists in the band Three Dog Night. [3]
Martin Phillipps (1962—) Lead singer of New Zealand indie band band The Chills. Successfully treated with interferon, he resumed his music career in 2004. [30]
James Earl Ray (1928–1998) The confessed assassin of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Died of liver disease due to hepatitis C. [3][31]
Chopper Read (1954–) An iconic Australian criminal and author, who claims to have contracted Hepatitis from his time in prison, along with other prisonmates, through using a blood-stained shaver.
Curtis Salgado (1954—) A Blues, R&B, and Soul singer-songwriter-musician. Developed cirrhosis and liver cancer because of hepatitis C. [32]
Jerry Stahl (~1954—) A novelist and screenwriter. His autobiography, Permanent Midnight, was adapted into a movie starring Ben Stiller. [33]
Lucy Saroyan (1946–2003) An actress who had minor roles in over 20 movies. She died from cirrhosis of the liver complicated by hepatitis C. [34]
Steven Tyler (1948—) A musician and songwriter in the rock band Aerosmith. In September 2006, he announced that he had been diagnosed three years ago and had just completed eleven months of treatment with interferon. [5]
Francisco Varela (1947–2001) A biologist and philosopher who, together with his teacher Humberto Maturana, is best known for introducing the concept of autopoiesis to biology. Hepatitis C caused cirrhosis and liver cancer. He wrote about his liver transplant in the Journal of Consciousness Studies. [35]
Gene Weingarten (1951—) A humour writer and journalist on The Washington Post. [36]
Elizabeth Young (1950–2001) A literary critic and writer. [37]
Chet Helms (1942–2005) A music producer who helped create the vibrant San Francisco rock music scene in the 1960s. He was undergoing interferon treatment for hepatitis C when he suffered a stroke. [38]

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ American Liver Foundation. The American Liver Foundation Applauds Steven Tyler for His Frank Discussion About Hepatitis C. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-10-16.
  2. ^ Simmons, Michael. "Stew Lives!", Pasadena Weekly, 2006-02-16. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Celebrities with hepatitis C", The Kansas City Star, 2003-11-09. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  4. ^ "Milestones", TIME Magazine, 2002-04-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  5. ^ a b Associated Press. "Steven Tyler Reveals He Has Hepatitis C", Washington Post, 2006-09-26. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  6. ^ Kaysen, Ronda. "Artist takes on new role: Hepatitis C educator", The Villager, 2005-10-12. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  7. ^ Obituaries: Jeannine Parvati Baker. E-News Volume 8, Issue 1. Widwifery Today (2006-01-04). Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
  8. ^ Barton, Gina. "Bembenek seeks DNA testing", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2002-08-24. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  9. ^ Associated Press. "Former Chargers kicker helps launch hepatitis program", CBS News, 2006-10-26. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  10. ^ Alsop, Bryan. David Crosby. David Crosby and CPR web site. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  11. ^ Silberman, Steve (1995-01-30). An Egg Thief in Cyberspace: An Interview with David Crosby, 1995. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  12. ^ Snow, Mat. "Alejandro Escovedo, The Boxing Mirror", The Guardian, 2006-05-19. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  13. ^ Petridis, Alexis. "Power play", The Guardian, 2005-04-13. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  14. ^ Dodson, Brad. "Resurrected Days, Resurrected Nights", Hepatitis Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  15. ^ Associated Press. "Freddy Fender Has Incurable Cancer", ABC News, 2006-08-02. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  16. ^ Martin, Adam. "Superstar Billy Graham interview talks about steroids, his health issues, Flair and current scene", Wrestling Observer, 2004-04-20. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  17. ^ Guillmette, Sean. "A Boogie with the Beast", Hepatitis Magazine. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  18. ^ Trew, Jonathan. "Hard as Diamanda", Scotland on Sunday, 2001-11-11. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  19. ^ "Poet Allen Ginsberg dead at 70", CNN.com, 1997-04-05. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  20. ^ Henkel, John (March 1999). Hepatitis C. FDA Consumer magazine. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  21. ^ Appelo, Tim. "Shameless Shaman", Seattle Weekly, 2004-01-21. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  22. ^ Setrakian, Lara. "Dying 'Dr. Death' Has Second Thoughts About Assisting Suicides", ABC News, 2006-05-26. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  23. ^ Attorney Mayer Morganroth (2005-12-06). Dr. Jack Kevorkian Losing Fight With Hepatitis C. Press release. Retrieved on 2006-10-03.
  24. ^ "Milestones", TIME Magazine, 1999-02-01. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  25. ^ Gatta, John Patrick. "New Lesh On Life", Pittsburgh City Paper, 2001-04-18. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  26. ^ "Milestones", TIME Magazine, 2002-01-14. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  27. ^ Briggs, Joe Bob. "Linda's Life", National Review Online, 2002-04-25. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  28. ^ "'American Pie' star's fight for life", MSNBC.com, 2005-08-19. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  29. ^ Barnes, Bart. "Mickey Mantle, Legend of Baseball, Dies at 63", Washington Post, 1995-08-14. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  30. ^ The Chills' official website. Retrieved on 2006-10-16
  31. ^ "Friend of Dr. King Aids Ray's Bid for New Liver", New York Times, 1997-11-28. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  32. ^ Yeager, Angela. "Music for the fight", Variety, 2006-05-31. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  33. ^ Epstein, Dan (2002-03-11). I Wouldn't Be Here If I Hadn't Been There.. Gadfly. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  34. ^ "Lucy Saroyan", Variety, 2003-06-19. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  35. ^ Varela, Francisco J.. Intimate Distances - Fragments for a Phenomenology of Organ Transplantation. Associazione Oikos. Retrieved on 2006-10-04.
  36. ^ "Just the FAQs: A Guide to the Ever-Expanding Universe Known as Chatological Humor", Washington Post, 2006-02-02. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
  37. ^ Williams, John. "Elizabeth Young", The Guardian, 2001-03-23. Retrieved on 2006-11-01.
  38. ^ Vazari, Aidin. "Chet Helms -- celebrated S.F. rock music producer", San Francisco Chronicle, 2005-06-26. Retrieved on 2006-11-07.