Famous People Who Died Of AIDS.

Even though it’s been decades since AIDS surfaced the earth, it still remains as one of the frightening realities that the world just can’t cope with. There was a time when it was believed that AIDS would affect only a certain kind of people. But as the years flew by, it has proven that it shows no bias and will strike anyone with no discrimination when it comes to race or sexuality. Initially considered a stigma that needed to keep the victim aloof, now it is more open for acceptance and space to learn to live with the disease without the fear of disapproval from the masses. Now with a boom in technology, people have a better understanding and approach toward this life-altering disease and have even gone to spread awareness about its gravity. There are a number of agencies that are even related to the government that work tirelessly to support advocacy efforts that will help both the victims and the general public about HIV and AIDS. This gruesome disease didn’t spare the lives of the artists and game-changers in Hollywood either! Legendary singer Freddie Mercury fell victim to HIV which claimed his life at the age of 45. American actor Rock Hudson, model Gia Carangi, author Isaac Asimov, and singer/actor Antony Perkins are some of the many who succumbed to this deadly disease. Keep reading and you will probably be blown away by the number of artists you never knew were affected by HIV!
Vote for Your Favourite People Who Died Of AIDS.

Right IconThis ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

 1 
Freddie Mercury
(One of the Greatest Rock Singers and the Lead Vocalist of the Rock Band 'Queen')
Freddie Mercury
240
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 5, 1946
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Stone Town, Tanzania
Died: November 24, 1991

Legendary singer, songwriter and lead vocalist of the British rock band, Queen, Frederick Bulsara adopted the name Freddie Mercury which aptly suits his on-stage vibrant and exuberant persona. A four-octave vocal range musician, Mercury owned every stage he set foot on as much with his vivid performance as with his superhuman voice modulation.  

 2 
Eazy-E
(Rapper Known as the 'Godfather of Gangsta Rap')
Eazy-E
143
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 7, 1964
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Compton, California, United States
Died: March 26, 1995

Widely regarded as the godfather of gangsta rap, Eazy-E was a rapper and record producer. He played a major role in popularizing gangsta rap and West Coast rap by forming N.W.A, which is considered one of the most influential and greatest hip hop groups of all time. Eazy-E died at the age of 30 after being diagnosed with AIDS.

 3 
Halston
(Fashion Designer)
Halston
14
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: April 23, 1932
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Died: March 26, 1990

Designer Halston began his career designing hats for American milliner Lilly Daché. He is primarily remembered for pioneering cashmere, or Ultrasued, in the mid-1970s. Known for his party-loving personality, he popularized the halter dress for women. He was also known for his homosexual relationship with Victor Hugo.

Recommended Lists:
 4 
Robert Reed
(Actor)
Robert Reed
14
Birthdate: October 19, 1932
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Highland Park, Illinois, United States
Died: May 12, 1992
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 5 
Howard Rollins
(Actor)
Howard Rollins
8
Birthdate: October 17, 1950
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: December 8, 1996
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 6 
Sylvester
(Singer-songwriter)
Sylvester
7
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: September 6, 1947
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Watts, California, United States
Died: December 16, 1988
Recommended Lists:
 7 
Dan Hartman
(Singer)
Dan Hartman
6
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: December 8, 1950
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: March 22, 1994
 8 
Pedro Zamora
(Cuban-American HIV/AIDS Activist and Reality TV Personality )
Pedro Zamora
8
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 29, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba
Died: November 11, 1994
Recommended Lists:
 9 
Derek Jarman
(Film director, Actor, Screenwriter, Diarist, Painter, Costume designer, LGBT rights activist)
Derek Jarman
7
Birthdate: January 31, 1942
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Northwood
Died: February 19, 1994
 10 
Paul Shenar
12
Birthdate: February 12, 1936
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Died: October 11, 1989
Height: 6'1" (185 cm)
 11 
Brad Davis
(Actor)
Brad Davis
8
Birthdate: November 6, 1949
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Tallahassee, Florida, United States
Died: September 8, 1991
 12 
Roy Cohn
(American Lawyer and Prosecutor)
Roy Cohn
16
Listed In: Lawyers & Judges
Birthdate: February 20, 1927
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: New York City, New York, United States
Died: August 2, 1986

Roy Cohn was an American lawyer who played a major role during the 1954 Army–McCarthy hearings where he served as Senator Joseph McCarthy's chief counsel. He also mentored Donald Trump during his early business career. After his death, Roy Cohn inspired the development of several fictional characters.

 13 
Howard Ashman
(Playwright, Lyricist & Stage Director)
Howard Ashman
6
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: May 17, 1950
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Died: March 14, 1991
 14 
Robert Mapplethorpe
(American Photographer Best Known for His Black-And-White Photographs)
Robert Mapplethorpe
60
Listed In: Photographers
Birthdate: November 4, 1946
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Floral Park, New York, United States
Died: March 9, 1989

Best known for his black and white photographs, Robert Mapplethorpe chose homoerotic themes to express himself. His male nudes reflected the gay BDSM subculture of New York. His works also included flowers, still lifes, and portraits of celebrities. The gay photographer-artist eventually died of aids.

 15 
Kevin Peter Hall
(Actor)
Kevin Peter Hall
10
Birthdate: May 9, 1955
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: April 10, 1991
Height: 7'3" (221 cm)
 16 
Steve Rubell
(Entrepreneur)
Steve Rubell
6
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: December 2, 1943
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
Died: July 25, 1989
 17 
Klaus Nomi
(German Countertenor Known for His Wide Vocal Range and an Unusual, Otherworldly Stage Persona)
Klaus Nomi
6
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: January 24, 1944
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Immenstadt, Germany
Died: August 6, 1983

Klaus Nomi was a German countertenor with a wide vocal range. He wore heavy makeup, unusual costumes, and a highly stylized signature hairdo. He had an otherworldly stage persona that was unique to him. His music was also considered unusual. He suffered from AIDS and was one of the earliest musicians known to die of the illness.  

 18 
Ian Charleson
(Scottish actor)
Ian Charleson
2
Birthdate: August 11, 1949
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Edinburgh, Scotland
Died: January 6, 1990
 19 
Dack Rambo
(Actor)
Dack Rambo
3
Birthdate: November 13, 1941
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Earlimart, California, United States
Died: March 21, 1994
 20 
Kenny Everett
(Comedian)
Kenny Everett
9
Birthdate: December 25, 1944
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Seaforth, Lancashire, England
Died: April 4, 1995
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 21 
Peter Allen
(Songwriter, Musician, Singer, Pianist)
Peter Allen
5
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: February 10, 1944
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia
Died: June 18, 1992

Peter Allen was an Australian musician, singer-songwriter, and entertainer. Best remembered for his flamboyant stage persona, Allen also enjoyed a concert and cabaret career. His life and career inspired a jukebox musical titled, The Boy from Oz ,which ran on Broadway. In 1993, Peter Allen was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

 22 
Perry Ellis
(Fashion designer)
Perry Ellis
2
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: March 3, 1940
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Virginia, United States
Died: May 30, 1986
 23 
Ricky Wilson (American Musician)
(American Musician, Guitarist and Founding Member of Rock Band 'The B-52's')
Ricky Wilson (American Musician)
3
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: March 19, 1953
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Athens, Georgia, United States
Died: October 12, 1985
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 24 
Frank Silva
(Actor)
Frank Silva
4
Birthdate: October 31, 1950
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Sacramento, California, United States
Died: September 13, 1995
Height: 5'7" (170 cm)
 25 
Tim Richmond
(One of the First Drivers to Change from Open Wheel Racing to NASCAR Stock Cars Full-Time)
Tim Richmond
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: June 7, 1955
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Ashland, Ohio, United States
Died: August 13, 1989
 26 
Jacques Demy
(French Director, Lyricist and Screenwriter)
Jacques Demy
0
Birthdate: June 5, 1931
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Pontchâteau, France
Died: October 27, 1990
 27 
Leonard Frey
(Actor)
Leonard Frey
0
Birthdate: September 4, 1938
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New York, New York, United States
Died: August 24, 1988
 28 
Glenn Burke
(Baseball player)
Glenn Burke
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 16, 1952
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Oakland, California, United States
Died: May 30, 1995
 29 
Marcelino Sánchez
(Puerto Rican Actor )
Marcelino Sánchez
5
Birthdate: December 5, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Cayey, Puerto Rico
Died: November 21, 1986
 30 
Bruce Chatwin
(Writer)
Bruce Chatwin
3
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: May 13, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK
Died: January 18, 1989
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 31 
Leigh Bowery
(Contemporary Artist & Fashion Designer Known for His Flamboyant & Outlandish Costumes & Makeup)
Leigh Bowery
2
Birthdate: March 26, 1961
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died: December 31, 1994
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 32 
Allan Bloom
(Philosopher)
Allan Bloom
1
Birthdate: September 14, 1930
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Indianapolis
Died: October 7, 1992
 33 
Félix González-Torres
(American Visual Artist Known for His Quiet, Minimal Installations and Sculptures)
Félix González-Torres
0
Birthdate: November 26, 1957
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Guáimaro, Cuba
Died: January 9, 1996

Félix González-Torres was an American visual artist best remembered for his sculptures and minimal installations made out of everyday objects like lightbulbs, stacks of paper, clocks, and packaged hard candies. In 2010, his 1992 piece Untitled sold for $4.6 million at an auction. Félix González-Torres died at the age of 38 due to complications from AIDS.

 34 
Keith Haring
(American artist)
Keith Haring
13
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 4, 1958
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Reading
Died: February 16, 1990

Keith Haring was an American artist whose pop art contained sexual images, which he used to advocate for AIDS awareness and safe sex. In 1989, he set up the Keith Haring Foundation to provide imagery and funding to AIDS organizations. In 2019, 29 years after his death from AIDS-related complications, Haring was inducted into the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor.

 35 
Max Robinson
(Broadcaster)
Max Robinson
0
Birthdate: May 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Died: December 20, 1988
 36 
Tina Chow
(Model)
Tina Chow
52
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: April 18, 1950
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Lakeview
Died: January 24, 1992
 37 
Michael Peters
(Choreographer)
Michael Peters
2
Listed In: Dancers
Birthdate: August 6, 1948
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Brooklyn
Died: August 29, 1994
 38 
Nkosi Johnson
(Activist)
Nkosi Johnson
9
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: February 4, 1989
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Daveytown, South Africa
Died: June 1, 2001
 39 
David Wojnarowicz
(Painter)
David Wojnarowicz
4
Birthdate: September 14, 1954
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Red Bank, New Jersey, United States
Died: July 22, 1992
Height: 6'0" (183 cm)
 40 
Cazuza
(Singer-songwriter, Singer, Composer, Songwriter, Poet, Writer)
Cazuza
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 4, 1958
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Died: July 7, 1990

Cazuza was a Brazilian singer-songwriter remembered as one of the greatest exponents of Brazilian rock music. Over the course of his nine-year career, Cazuza sold over five million albums and achieved 18 Top 10 singles in Brazil. He died due to a septic shock triggered by AIDS at age 32. His life inspired the 2004 biopic Cazuza–O Tempo Não Pára.

 41 
Jerry Smith
(American Football Player)
Jerry Smith
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 19, 1943
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Eugene, Oregon, United States
Died: October 15, 1986
Height: 6'3" (190 cm)
 42 
Esteban de Jesús
(Puerto Rican Boxer)
Esteban de Jesús
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 2, 1951
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Carolina, Puerto Rico
Died: May 12, 1989
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 43 
René Enríquez
(Actor)
René Enríquez
1
Birthdate: November 24, 1933
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Granada, Nicaragua
Died: March 23, 1990
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 44 
Nestor Almendros
(Cinematographer)
Nestor Almendros
0
Birthdate: October 30, 1930
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Barcelona, Spain
Died: March 4, 1992
 45 
Sirpa Lane
(Actress)
Sirpa Lane
1
Birthdate: 1952 AD
Birthplace: Turku, Finland
Died: 1999 AD
 46 
John Boswell
(Historian, Philologist)
John Boswell
2
Birthdate: March 20, 1947
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Died: December 24, 1994
 47 
Franco Luambo
(Musician)
Franco Luambo
0
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: July 6, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Died: October 12, 1989
 48 
Paul Monette
(Author)
Paul Monette
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: October 16, 1945
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Lawrence, Massachusetts, United States
Died: February 10, 1995
 49 
Herve Guibert
(Journalist)
Herve Guibert
0
Birthdate: December 14, 1955
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Saint-Cloud, France
Died: December 27, 1991
 50 
Kurt Raab
(Actor)
Kurt Raab
0
Birthdate: July 20, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Bergreichenstein, Germany
Died: June 28, 1988