The CDC guidelines put in place to curb the coronavirus pandemic have sent a ripple effect of delays and cancellations across the entertainment and sports industries. With over 72.9 million cases of the virus worldwide, celebrities and civilians alike are still trying their best to to hunker down at home, even as restrictions are being eased on a state by state basis. On March 11, Tom Hanks announced that he and his wife, actress and musician Rita Wilson, caught the virus while traveling for work, marking Hollywood’s first high-profile case of the outbreak. Other actors, such as Idris Elba and Daniel Dae Kim, soon followed with their respective diagnosis experiences, as did performers including Pink, Sara Bareilles, and Doja Cat.
As the virus continues to spread at an alarming rate, those in the public eye afflicted with the coronavirus, who often have access to testing through private physicians, are urging fans and followers to self-isolate. Tragically, the death toll continues to rise — and good-faith attempts to restart the entertainment and sports industries are being met with mixed success. Here are all the celebrities who have tested positive for the coronavirus so far.
Entertainers
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
On March 11, the internationally beloved actor shared on Twitter that he and his wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson, contracted coronavirus in Australia. Hanks was Down Under to prepare for shooting Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic when he and Wilson started to feel cold and flu symptoms. The couple subsequently tested positive for the virus and assured they are isolating themselves during their recovery period. According to a March 16 report from People, after a five-day stay at a Queensland hospital, the couple is now recuperating at a rented home in Australia. They made it back to Los Angeles on March 27, after their two-week quarantine. Upon recovering, Hanks and Wilson announced that they volunteered to donate blood and plasma toward a COVID-19 vaccine on an April 18 episode of Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!
Olga Kurylenko
On March 15, Olga Kurylenko, who starred opposed Daniel Craig in the 2008 James Bond film Quantum of Solace, said she tested positive for the coronavirus. The Ukrainian–born French actress shared the news on Instagram, where she urged followers to take the virus seriously.
Idris Elba
British actor and musician Idris Elba shared a video via Twitter on March 16 to announce that he had tested positive for coronavirus. While he said he remains asymptomatic, he decided to go for testing after discovering he was exposed to someone who had been diagnosed with the virus. Elba appears in the video with his wife, Sabrina Dhowre, who had yet to be tested. He urges viewers to take up global solidarity, social distancing, and soap to combat the spread of the virus.
Kristofer Hivju
On March 16, Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju said he tested positive for the virus, sharing a photo on Instagram to announce the news. Hivju, best known for his role on Game of Thrones, is self-isolating at home with minor symptoms.
Rachel Matthews
Actress Rachel Matthews, who voiced the character of Honeymaren in Frozen 2, said she tested positive for coronavirus on March 16. In a series of Instagram stories, Matthews shared that she had been in self-quarantine for several days. “I’m feeling better, but I will be posting some info that I hope will be helpful to some,†she wrote. “Please feel free to reach out and ask me any questions.â€
Charlotte Lawrence
On March 17, singer Charlotte Lawrence took to Instagram to share she had tested positive for coronavirus. The 19-year-old artist, whose song “Joke’s on You†appeared on the Birds of Prey soundtrack, urged her followers to keep up with the latest information about the virus: “We have the power to slow this down. So please, please isolate yourself. Stay clean. Stay informed. Stay aware and make others aware. And for the love of God, self fucking quarantine or you’ll be on my shit list.â€
Manu Dibango
Cameroonian jazz legend Manu Dibango died on March 24 of COVID-19, according to an announcement on his Facebook page. “It is with deep sadness that we announce you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove,†the post read. “His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible.†The 86-year-old was admitted to the hospital to receive treatment for the coronavirus on March 18. Dibango, who was a member of the legendary Congolese ensemble African Jazz, is best known for his 1972 hit “Soul Makossa.â€
Mwana FA
Tanzanian rapper Mwana FA, born Khamis Mwinjuma, confirmed on March 19 that he had tested positive for coronavirus. Mwana FA, one of the most popular artists in his home country, shared a video on Instagram, assuring his followers he was recovering and calling on them to “take care of each other.â€
Daniel Dae Kim
On March 19, actor Daniel Dae Kim announced he had tested positive for coronavirus, posting a video on Instagram to share the news. Prior to his diagnosis, Kim was in New York on the set of NBC’s series New Amsterdam. Production of the show has since been postponed. Kim addressed his followers from his home in Hawaii. “Today, even though I’m not 100 percent, I’m pretty close,†he said. He posted on April 23 that he donated plasma after fully recovering. “Glad to be able to donate in the hopes that the antibodies I’ve built up will help others in their fight against #Covid19,†he wrote.
Colton Underwood
On March 20, former Bachelor star Colton Underwood posted a video to his Instagram telling followers that he had tested positive for coronavirus and that the virus has “been kicking my ass.†The 28-year-old reality star wanted to get the information out that followers should “stay at home, do your part.†Underwood had been practicing social distancing at his girlfriend Cassie Randolph’s parents’ house in California. On Good Morning America to promote his new memoir on March 31, Underwood said he was “feeling so much better.â€
Andy Cohen
The host of Watch What Happens Live posted to his Instagram on March 20 to say that he, too, has tested positive for COVID-19. The Bravo show was on pause until March 30, when Cohen announced he would return to his SiruisXM radio show and Bravo show. “THANK YOU TO EVERYONE ON THE FRONT LINES OF COVID-19!†he wrote.
Debi Mazar
On March 21, Younger actress Debi Mazar announced on Instagram that she had tested positive for coronavirus. She wrote that she had started feeling ill on March 15 and that so far, her symptoms appear to come and go. Mazar recommended that fans stay at home to combat spread of the virus.
David Bryan
David Bryan, keyboardist and songwriter for Bon Jovi, wrote on Instagram that he tested positive for the coronavirus. “I’ve been sick for a week and feeling better each day. Please don’t be afraid! It’s the flu not the plague,†he wrote. (Uh, we may disagree with that.) “I’ve have been quarantined for a week and will for another week. And when I feel better I’ll get tested again to make sure I’m free of this nasty virus.â€
Plácido Domingo
The famed opera singer wrote in a March 22 Facebook message that it was his “moral duty†to announce he has the coronavirus. “My family and I are all in self isolation for as long as it is deemed medically necessary,†he explained. “Currently we are all in good health but I experienced fever and cough symptoms therefore deciding to get tested and the result came back positive.†Domingo also “begged†people to “follow the basic guidelines†in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus. On March 29, seven days after he announced his positive test, Domingo was hospitalized due to COVID-19, his spokesperson told CNN. “He is doing well and is responding to treatment,†his spokesperson said. In a statement on March 30, Domingo said he was “at home and I feel fine.â€
Aaron Tveit
The actor, currently taking time off from Moulin Rouge! as Broadway is dark, announced on March 23 on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID-19. “I’ve been in quarantine since Broadway shows shut down on Thursday, March 12, and I’m feeling much better,†Tveit wrote. “I consider myself extremely lucky that my symptoms have been very mild — cold like with no fever — as so many are experiencing much more symptoms, as this is a very dangerous virus.†He shared the news alongside a photo of his dog Miles because, he wrote, dogs are “loving all this extra time at home with their Humans!†Since recovering, Tveit has performed on livestreams, including the 90th birthday celebration for Stephen Sondheim.
Natalie Horner
The Cascada singer announced on Instagram on March 23 that she tested positive for COVID-19. She has “a temperature, a bit of a headache†and plans to quarantine for two more weeks after eight days of self-isolation. “My case will most likely be mild, so the most important thing is to protect everyone else who may be at risk,†Horner wrote. “So please continue to STAY HOME!â€
Slim Thug
The “Like a Boss†rapper posted to Instagram on March 24 that he tested positive for the coronavirus. “As careful as I been self-quarantined and staying home — I might have went and got something to eat, stayed in my truck, mask, gloves, everything on — my test came back positive,†he said in a video, adding that he had a fever and cough before he was tested. “Y’all gotta take this stuff serious,†he told fans.
Jackson Browne
The 71-year-old singer-songwriter revealed he tested positive for the virus in an interview with Rolling Stone. “My symptoms are really pretty mild, so I don’t require any kind of medication and certainly not hospitalization or anything like that,†Browne said. The singer was able to seek out and obtain a test immediately after he developed “a small cough and a temperature.†Browne is spending his time in quarantine listening to music and catching up with friends and family, according to Rolling Stone.
Laura Bell Bundy
Broadway’s original Elle Woods in Legally Blonde the Musical and Amber Von Tussle in Hairspray tested positive for COVID-19, she said in an Instagram video on March 25. “Do not be alarmed: I am okay, I am taking everything in stride,†Bundy told followers. She began self-isolating on March 12 after having a headache, and has been taking herbs recommended by her acupuncturist. On April 30, she joined the original cast of Legally Blonde for a parody performance of “Omigod You Guys Sanitize for Corona!â€
Terrence McNally
The legendary playwright died on March 24 from complications related to the coronavirus. He was 81 and had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had survived lung cancer. McNally won four Tonys, along with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award, and wrote beloved plays such as Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (revived on Broadway in 2019) and popular musicals like Ragtime. “I was always in awe of the superabundance of Terrence’s imagination — it was a fountain of plays and ideas and plots and books for musicals,†Angels in America playwright Tony Kushner told Vulture’s theater critic Helen Shaw.
Floyd Cardoz
The iconic New York and Mumbai chef, who won season three of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters, died March 25 after a positive COVID-19 test. He was 59. Cardoz had previously posted to Instagram about going to the hospital after experiencing a fever. He ran restaurants including Bombay Canteen in Mumbai and the since-closed Tabla in New York, and was one of the preeminent chefs in bringing Indian cuisine to American dining.
Mark Blum
The Desperately Seeking Susan star died March 26 from COVID-19 complications, SAG-AFTRA executive vice-president Rebecca Damon announced on Twitter. He was 69. Also active onstage, Blum won an Obie Award in 1989 for the play Gus and Al and acted on Broadway in plays by Neil Simon and Gore Vidal. He more recently appeared in TV series such as Succession, You, and Mozart in the Jungle.
Scarface
The famed rapper said in a new interview with Willie D that he has been battling a long and difficult bout with COVID-19. “Don’t play no games with it,†Scarface impressed upon listeners, saying his symptoms included vomiting, fever, pneumonia, and even kidney failure. “I haven’t been nowhere. I’ve been in my house. I ain’t been on no planes, I ain’t been in no restaurants… People out there thinking this shit is a game? You don’t want to play with this.†He added that he hopes he is on the tail end of his illness now since he has been dealing with it “for so long,†saying of the experience, “It’s been to the point where I’d be laying down and I couldn’t get comfortable because it was like an elephant sitting on my chest, bro. I could not breathe, I couldn’t sit up.â€
Doris Burke
The ESPN NBA announcer told Adrian Wojnarowski that she tested positive for COVID-19 on his Woj Pod on March 27. “I could not be out of bed for more than five minutes,†she said of her symptoms, which began to arise March 14. Burke has worked for ESPN since 1991 and also covers the NBA for ABC.
John Prine
The folk-music icon died due to the coronavirus on April 7, after previously being hospitalized, his family confirmed. He was 73. “I sat with John — who was deeply sedated — in the hours before he passed and will be forever grateful for that opportunity,†his wife Fiona, who had also tested positive for COVID-19 and quarantined separately, wrote on Instagram. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the outpouring of love we have received from family, friends, and fans all over the world. John will be so missed but he will continue to comfort us with his words and music and the gifts of kindness, humor and love he left for all of us to share.†Prine released his first album in 1971 and became beloved for his emotionally honest, often humorous lyrics. He recovered from squamous cell cancer in 1998, which affected his singing afterward. He won a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award this year and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jan Howard
The Grand Ole Opry stalwart who made songs like “Evil on Your Mind†famous in the ’60s died on March 28 due to the coronavirus, the Opry announced in a statement. A member of the Opry since March 1971, she had celebrated her 91st birthday on March 13. She also wrote poems and the autobiography Sunshine and Shadow.
Joe Diffie
A hit-making country songwriter and performer who began recording his own music in the 1990s, Diffie died of COVID-19 complications on March 29, according to Rolling Stone. He had announced his positive test on March 27. He was 61 years old. Diffie hot No. 1 on Billboard’s country songs chart five times, for songs including “Pickup Man,†“Home†and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).†He later became a host for Tulsa’s country station KXBL, and most recently released the vinyl compilation Joe, Joe, Joe Diffie in 2019.
Ken Shimura
The popular Japanese TV comedian died on March 29 due to the coronavirus at age 70, according to Japanese media. He had first been hospitalized with fever and pneumonia on March 20 and tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23. Shimura had been a member of comedy band the Drifters for over a decade and later became a popular solo performer.
Adam Schlesinger
The 52-year-old Emmy and Grammy Award–winning Fountains of Wayne member and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend music supervisor was hospitalized for more than a week and on a ventilator before dying of complications to COVID-19 on April 1.
Wallace Roney
The jazz trumpeter, who had performed with Chick Corea and learned from Miles Davis, died due to COVID-19 complications on April 1. His fiancé, Dawn Felice Jones, confirmed the news to NPR. Roney, who was 59, was hospitalized in New Jersey on March 25. He had earned a Grammy in 1994 for the album A Tribute to Miles, on which Roney played Davis’s trumpet parts alongside the four surviving members of the Miles Davis Quintet.
Brian Stokes Mitchell
A Tony Award winning Broadway performer and screen actor, Mitchell announced on Twitter on April 1 that he was positive for the coronavirus, but was not experiencing acute symptoms. He has since joined Broadway stars on livestream performances like Stephen Sondheim’s 90th birthday tribute.
Cristina
New wave pop singer Cristina died on April 1st after being diagnosed with coronavirus, according to The Guardian. Cristina, born Cristina Monet-Zilkha, was best known for her 80’s era dance-pop songs like “Disco Clone†and “Things Fall Apart.†She was 61 years old.
Ellis Marsalis Jr.
Ellis Marsalis Jr., a celebrated New Orleans jazz pianist who raised and mentored four jazz musician sons, died on April 1st at the age of 85. Marsalis had been hospitalized earlier this week and tested for coronavirus, with son Branford confirming the cause of death was due to complications stemming from COVID-19, according to the New York Times. Marsalis rose to prominence as a jazz pianist in the 50’s and 60’s before becoming a music educator in the 70’s. He served as a music mentor to his four sons: Branford, a saxophonist; Delfeayo, a trombonist; Jason, a drummer; and Wynton, a trumpeter and composer who currently serves as the managing and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marsalis was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame in 2008.
Ali Wentworth
The 55-year-old comedian told Instagram on April 1 that she tested positive for the virus and that she was experiencing a “high fever. Horrific body aches. Heavy chest.†She had to be quarantined from her family, including her husband Good Morning America anchor George Stephanopoulos. “I am one of the lucky ones,†she wrote on Instagram on April 13, when she exited her self-quarantine.
Ray Benson
The leader of country band Asleep at the Wheel announced on March 31 he’d tested positive for COVID-19. “Been feeling tired for about 10 days!†he wrote on Facebook, explaining that he’d tried to get a test since March 21. “Hoping for the best don’t have the usual symptoms but feel tired head ache no fever no cough!! I’ll be ok sure do miss playin music and seein everyone! Stay well this shits serious!!â€
YNW Melly
Rapper YNW Melly has tested positive for COVID-19 in Broward County Jail. His official Instagram account announced the news and states that he’ll be filing a motion for early release due to his diagnosis. Melly is in jail awaiting a double murder charge to which he pleaded not guilty in 2019. He was denied release from prison on April 14.
Julie Bennett
The voice actor known for playing Cindy Bear in The Yogi Bear Show died March 31 due to COVID-19, her friend Mark Scroggs confirmed to Variety. Bennett was 88. She later worked on shows like Bugs Bunny, The Bullwinkle Show, and the animated Spider-Man, on which she voiced Aunt May from 1997–98. Later, she had a 20-plus-year career as a personal manager under the name Marianne Daniels.
Sara Bareilles
Weeks after her show Waitress closed early in London, the singer-songwriter said in an April 2 Instagram Story that she had the coronavirus and is “fully recovered.†She had a “couple of rough days,†she later clarified, “but I promise I’m fine.†Bareilles’s castmate Gavin Creel previously told Rosie O’Donnell that he thought he had the virus during her March 22 online benefit, and that another Waitress castmate (who wasn’t Bareilles) had tested positive. “I am just thinking about all the people who are walking through this really tricky time and sending a lot of love,†Bareilles said. “And just really grateful for every easy breath and every day that I get to be walking around.â€
Christopher Cross
The pop-rock singer posted to Facebook on April 3 that he had tested positive for COVID-19. “This is possibly the worst illness I’ve ever had,†Cross wrote. “For those of you who still do not believe the COVID-19 virus is real, or think it is a ‘hoax’ or part of some conspiracy, my advice to you is to understand right now that this is a deadly illness spreading like wildfire throughout the world.†Known for his No. 1 hits “Sailing†and the theme to the 1981 movie Arthur, Cross was the first of two performers to win all four general-category Grammy Awards in a single night (before Billie Eilish this year).
Pink
The singer discussed her coronavirus diagnosis on Instagram Friday, April 3, saying she had visited her doctor after she and her three-year-old son started experiencing COVID-19 symptoms in March. After quarantining for two weeks, she subsequently tested negative. “It is an absolute travesty and failure of our government to not make testing more widely accessible,†she wrote. “This illness is serious and real. People need to know that the illness affects the young and old, healthy and unhealthy, rich and poor, and we must make testing free and more widely accessible to protect our children, our families, our friends and our communities.â€
Marianne Faithfull
The singer and actress was hospitalized in London for coronavirus, her management confirmed on Saturday. Faithfull, who is 74, is “stable and responding to treatment,†according to Rolling Stone. Performance artist and friend of Faithfull Penny Arcade told Rolling Stone that Faithfull had checked herself into the hospital last Monday. She then tested positive for COVID-19 and developed pneumonia. Faithfull has a history of health issues, including hepatitis C and breast cancer, in addition to struggles with addiction and anorexia. On April 22, she announced on Instagram that she had checked out of the hospital. “She is also very grateful to all the NHS staff who cared for her at the hospital and, without doubt, saved her life.â€
Lee Fierro
The Jaws actress, whose grieving mother character Mrs. Kintner memorably slapped Roy Schneider’s Chief Brody in the film, died at the age of 91 due to complications from coronavirus.
John Taylor
The Duran Duran bassist revealed on Instagram April 5 that he had tested positive for COVID-19 back in March after experiencing symptoms, but says, “I came out of it feeling okay.â€
John Benjamin Hickey
On break from directing a Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, Hickey told fans during an April 2 Broadway.com performance that he had tested positive for the virus and experienced two weeks of symptoms. “I clearly came through it and am two and a half weeks now symptom-free and feel great,†he said. “Given everything we’re hearing and understand about it now, I consider myself profoundly lucky.â€
Jay Benedict
The actor, who appeared in Aliens and The Dark Knight Rises among other movies and TV roles, died of coronavirus-related complications at 68, his manager told USA Today on April 6. Benedict also had a role on Emmerdale in the U.K. during the ’90s. Pierce Brosnan posted an Instagram tribute to Benedict, whom he had been friends with for “forty years and change.†“Life was so much fun with Jay, on stage and off, we laughed a lot at the world around us, at our selves, saw the funny side of life always,†he wrote.
Allen Garfield
The character actor with roles in Nashville, The Stunt Man, The Conversation and Beverly Hills Cop II died at 80, his sister confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter on April 7. Garfield’s Nashville co-star Ronee Blakely said in a Facebook tribute he had died of COVID-19. “I hang my head in tears; condolences to family and friends,†she wrote.
Jennifer Aydin
Real Housewives of New Jersey star Jennifer Aydin revealed that she has tested positive for COVID-19. In an Instagram video, Aydin revealed that she has contracted coronavirus and is quarantining in Paramus, NJ away from her husband, Bill Aydin, and their 5 children. She began feeling symptoms including extreme fatigue and a cough on March 30th. “I hope everyone is well and staying home, ’cause right now that’s what we have to do,†says Adin, in the video. “We have to stay home to prevent the spread of this awful disease. Remember guys, we’re in this together. Stay safe, be well.†She spoke with HollywoodLife on an Instagram Live Q&A about “beating the coronavirus†on April 24.
Ahmed Ismail Hussein
The icon of Somali music died at 91 due to the coronavirus, according to an April 8 statement from Kayd Somali Arts and Culture. Performing since the 1950s, he was known as the “King of Oud†for playing the guitarlike Middle Eastern instrument. “He was one of the founding fathers of modern Somali music,†writes Hanna Ali, Kayd’s artistic director.
Todd Chrisley
The star of TLC’s Chrisley Knows Best revealed he had recently been hospitalized for COVID-19 on the April 8 episode of his podcast, Chrisley Confessions. He was hospitalized for over four days, he said, and experienced symptoms for three weeks. “It has been the sickest that I have ever been in the 52 years I’ve been on this earth,†Chrisley said. “I cannot ever tell you a time in my life where I have ever been as sick as what I had been with the coronavirus.â€
Sturgill Simpson
Country singer Sturgill Simpson announced he contracted COVID-19 in a lengthy Instagram post in which he expressed disappointment and anger with the American healthcare system. According to his caption, a doctor refused to test Simpson for the virus despite his symptoms and recent travel to Western Europe. He later tested positive for COVID-19 after finding a drive-through testing facility with his wife. Simpson wrote that a nurse told him that “the information they are providing is basically pure speculation causing fear and that the only thing anybody knows is that we don’t really know much yet,†referring to the CDC and the White House. Simpson is currently recovering in quarantine.
Tim Brooke-Taylor
The comedian and actor, who’s perhaps best known for his roles in The Goodies and panel show I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, died at the age of 79 due to coronavirus complications. Tim Brooke-Taylor’s career in the English entertainment industry was prevalent for more than half a century.
Nick Cordero
The Waitress actor died from COVID-19 on July 5, after being in the hospital since early April with an initial case of pneumonia. On April 6, his wife, Amanda Kloots, announced he tested positive for COVID-19 after two negative tests. He was put on an ECMO machine to help breathing, she said on April 11, and then put on a ventilator and kidney dialysis, as well. That same day, he went into emergency surgery after the ECMO stopped blood flow to his right leg. On April 18, Kloots shared on her Instagram Story that Cordero would need to have his right leg amputated due to blood clotting. Days after that procedure, Cordero went into septic shock and developed a fever, which is then became controlled, Kloots said on April 28, and delayed plans to remove him from his ventilator. Cordero showed “early signs†of waking up from his coma on May 6, his wife said, adding on May 11 that he had become able to understand commands. On May 13, Cordero awoke from his coma, although Kloots added that doctors were still trying to fight an infection in his lungs. A week later, on May 20, Kloots said on her Instagram Story that “things are going downhill at the moment†with Cordero, although she did not specify about his condition. Kloots told CBS This Morning on July 2 that Cordero would have needed a double-lung transplant to survive.
George Stephanopoulos
The ABC anchor announced his positive test on an April 13 episode of Good Morning America, saying he has been largely asymptomatic. His wife, Ali Wentworth, announced her positive test on April 1 and said she’d “never been sicker.†Stephanopoulos had already been self-quarantining due to his wife’s diagnosis. On April 21, he tweeted that he had tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies and volunteered to donate plasma in a trial.
Danny Burstein
The Moulin Rouge! actor and six-time Tony nominee detailed his experience with COVID-19 in a Hollywood Reporter guest column on April 13. Days after Broadway closed on March 12, he felt symptoms including a fever “around 101.6†and days of coughing blood. He got tested along with other Moulin Rouge! company members, but never received his results. (Co-star Aaron Tveit announced a positive COVID-19 test on March 23.) On March 22, he went to the hospital after nearly fainting, where he then tested positive for the coronavirus, along with having double pneumonia. He left the hospital on March 27 and is still recovering at home. “I was surrounded by death and I knew that the longer I stayed in the unit, the greater my chances were that eventually it would be me the nurses were talking about,†he wrote of the experience.
Ann Sullivan
The former Disney painter and animator, who worked such films as The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and Lilo & Stitch, has died at the age of 91 due to COVID-19, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Babyface
Ahead of his April 18 Instagram beat battle with Teddy Riley, Kenneth Edmonds, a.k.a. Babyface, revealed that he and his family had tested positive for COVID-19. “I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate another birthday,†he wrote on April 10, his 62nd birthday. “It’s an incredible scary thing to go through, my friends,†he added of the virus. His family has now tested negative and is recovering.
Philippe Nahon
The French actor, who’s perhaps best known for his cinematic collaborations with director Gaspar Noé, died at the age of 81. This was due to “a long illness†that was further aggravated by a positive coronavirus diagnosis. Nahon’s wife confirmed his passing to Le Monde.
Gene Shay
Philadelphian folk DJ Gene Shay died due to coronavirus complications on Friday, April 17, according to the Associated Press. WXPN-FM station manager Roger LaMay, where Shay’s weekly “Folk Show†ran until 2015, confirmed that the DJ had been hospitalized in the weeks leading up to his death. “He was a giant in terms of his impact on artists and the music. And to do it for close to 60 years is extraordinary,†LaMay said.
Henry Grimes
The free jazz icon died on April 15 at 84 due to COVID-19, WBGO reports. Known for playing bass, he began his career in the late 1950s working with Sonny Rollins, Don Cherry, and Cecil Taylor, before losing his instrument in a hard financial situation at the end of the 1960s. He returned to music in 2002 thanks to the work of Margaret Davis, an advocate of jazz, who gave him a new bass.
Matthew Seligman
The bassist and former Soft Boys member who performed with David Bowie died due to the coronavirus on April 17, Variety reports. Seligman had been in a coma for two weeks in a London hospital. Seligman notably performed with Bowie at the 1985 Live Aid show, and also performed with Morrissey, the Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde, and the Thompson Twins. “I’m profoundly grateful to have played music with him — you could really see his face light up like a full moon when he listened back to a take he enjoyed,†Soft Boys singer Robyn Hitchcock wrote on Facebook.
Wreckless Eric
The English rock singer-songwriter has tested positive for COVID-19, he wrote on his blog on April 19. “I felt deeply disturbed when I got the news and quite emotional,†he wrote. “If I’m honest about this I’m vaguely / acutely worried in the back of my mind that I might suddenly go downhill and die, but I find getting older is a business of constantly facing up to one’s own mortality.â€
Jennifer Wayne
The country musician and granddaughter of John Wayne posted on Instagram about her experiences with the coronavirus. “I’ve been struggling with whether or not to share, because to be honest it’s kind of rocked me and I wasn’t sure that putting it on a public platform was right for me,†she wrote. In the photo, she holds a card reading, “3 Things I’m grateful for … 1. My parents did not get the virus. 2. My body, which I have so harshly judged in the past, fought it off and kept me healthy. 3. I have had incredible family and friend support. I am a lucky girl.â€
Fred the Godson
The New York rapper died due to COVID-19, according to an April 23 Instagram post by his friend DJ Self. The prolific rapper was 35 years old and had released his most recent mixtape, Payback, in late March — his second project of 2020, after the Jay Pharoah collaboration Training Day. “Was loved by many,†DJ Self wrote in a tribute. “Never heard one bad thing about you.â€
Roy Horn
The illusionist and half of the duo Siegfried and Roy, died due to the coronavirus on May 8, his publicist told CNN, at 75 years old. Horn performed his act in Las Vegas with Siegfried Fischbacher for four decades, until being attacked by a tiger during a 2003 performance and subsequently retiring. “Roy was a fighter his whole life including during these final days,†Fischbacher said in a statement. “I give my heartfelt appreciation to the team of doctors, nurses and staff at Mountain View Hospital who worked heroically against this insidious virus that ultimately took Roy’s life.â€
Tony Shalhoub
The actor, currently on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, said on the Peacock At-Home Variety Show that he and wife Brooke Adams had recovered from COVID-19. “It was a pretty rough few weeks,†he said. “But we realize that so many other people have and had it a lot worse.†Shalhoub had appeared on the special to perform his germaphobic character Adrian Monk from the USA show Monk.
Ty
The Nigerian and British rapper, nominated for a Mercury Prize in 2004 for his album Upwards, died due to the coronavirus, the Guardian reported on May 7. He was 47. Ty had worked with rappers De La Soul and Speech, and released his final album, A Work of Heart, in March 2018. He was working with rappers Rodney P and Blak Twang in the supergroup Kingdem.
Damian Kulash
The OK Go singer wrote in a letter to fans that he and his wife had recovered from the coronavirus. “I caught the coronavirus early, when there were only six known cases in California, all of them hundreds of miles from L.A., where I live,†he revealed. “My symptoms lasted forever, but were only genuinely scary for a day and a half.†Kulash’s wife, he wrote, spent days “bedridden†in the hospital.
Zoey Deutch
The Politician actor told Vulture about her experience in quarantine, including that she had tested positive for COVID-19. Deutch tested positive “before the shutdown,†she said. “I continued testing positive for a month, which is longer than they’re saying you’re supposed to,†she added. “I’m okay now. I’m so grateful for my health and I also feel guilty, in a way, for making it out okay.â€
Andrea Bocelli
The Italian opera singer shared on Facebook that he had tested positive for the virus back in March, but had made a “swift and full recovery†by the end of the month. Bocelli went on to perform a “Music for Hope†concert on Easter Sunday, which broke YouTube records with 28 million views in its first 24 hours. In his post, Bocelli explains that he did not want to “unnecessarily alarm†his fans with his diagnosis, nor violate his family’s privacy. Now that he has recovered, Bocelli plans to donate his blood plasma to aid treatment of the coronavirus.
D.L. Hughley
The comedian shared in a video on Twitter that he had tested positive for COVID-19, following his collapse during a stand-up set at Nashville’s Zanies comedy club. After initially being treated for dehydration and extreme exhaustion, Hughley eventually tested positive for COVID-19 despite being asymptomatic. “They ran a battery of tests, and I also tested positive for COVID-19, which blew me away,†Hughley said in the video. “I was what they call asymptomatic. I didn’t have any symptoms, the classic symptoms I didn’t have. Flu-like symptoms, I didn’t have. Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, I didn’t have. A cough, a low-grade fever, I still don’t have a fever. I didn’t have a loss of smell or taste. Apparently, I just lost consciousness. So, in addition to all the other stuff you have to look out for, if your ass pass out in the middle of a show on stage, you probably need to get tested.â€
Shanna Moakler
In an Instagram Story on July 2, the former Miss USA revealed she tested positive for COVID-19, saying, “I’m just really exhausted in a way I can’t even describe.†Moakler said doctors explained that she was “around about day seven†at the time. “On this date in July last year, I broke my foot and then this year I got COVID,†she added. “So, you know, I’m just going to officially just remove Julys from my calendar because [it’s] not my month.â€
Prince Royce
The singer said in a July 3 Twitter video that he tested positive for the coronavirus nearly two weeks prior, despite “washing my hands and wearing a mask.†“I’m concerned for people that do have preexisting conditions and low immune systems,†he added. “If you don’t have to go out, don’t go out. Let’s protect our families; let’s protect our parents; and let’s be mindful of other people.â€
Amitabh Bachchan
The Bollywood legend confirmed in a tweet that he tested positive for the coronavirus today and has been transferred to a hospital. His son, fellow prolific Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, also tested positive for the virus, tweeting, “Earlier today both my father and I tested positive for COVID 19. Both of us having mild symptoms have been admitted to hospital. We have informed all the required authorities and our family and staff are all being tested. I request all to stay calm and not panic. Thank you.â€
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, one of Bollywood’s most prominent stars and a former Miss World, has been hospitalized after testing positive for the coronavirus in early July. The BBC reports that her eight-year-old daughter, Aaradhya, also tested positive for the virus, but is not in hospital care. Aishwarya’s father-in-law, Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan, as well as her husband, Abhishek Bachchan, were also hospitalized. Their symptoms are detailed in the above paragraph.
Anna Camp
Doja Cat
Doja Cat, the controversial singer-songwriter, revealed on July 24 that she recovered from COVID-19 months after she disputed the severity of the virus. “Honestly, I don’t know how this happens but I guess I ordered something off of Postmates and I don’t know how I got it but I got it,†she explained. “I’m okay now. It was a four-day symptom freakout but I’m fine now.†In March, Doja Cat likened COVID-19 to a flu and insisted that she wasn’t “scared†of contracting it.
Lena Dunham
On July 31, Lena Dunham wrote on Instagram about her ordeal with COVID-19, which she says she contracted mid-March and battled for 21 days. Afterward, she still experienced lingering symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of clinical adrenal insufficiency and chronic migraine, which she says she did not have prior to contracting the novel coronavirus.
“When you take the appropriate measures to protect yourself and your neighbors, you save them a world of pain,†she writes. “You save them a journey that nobody deserves to take, with a million outcomes that we don’t yet understand and a million people with varying resources and varying level of support who are not ready for this tidal wave to take them.â€
Bryan Cranston
The Breaking Bad actor revealed on July 30 that he suffered from the coronavirus “a little while ago,†and that he’s “very lucky†because he only had “mild symptoms.†Cranston, who said he got the virus despite being “strict†with quarantine, also said that he donated plasma for vaccine efforts.
Antonio Banderas
The actor had the worst 60th birthday ever, revealing on August 10 that he contracted the coronavirus. “I would like to add that I feel relatively good, just a little more tired than usual, and am confident that I will recover as soon as possible following medical instructions that I hope will allow me to overcome the infectious period that I am suffering, and that is affecting so many people around the planet,†Banderas wrote on social media. “I will take advantage of this isolation to read, write, rest and continue making plans to begin to give meaning to my 60 years, to which I arrive full of enthusiasm. A big hug to everyone.†Banderas tweeted on August 25 that he was “cured†after 21 days of isolation. “My thoughts go to those who weren’t as fortunate as me, and to those who suffered more than I did,†he wrote. “I also wish strength to the ones who are in the middle of the fight.â€
J Balvin
The popular Colombian musician revealed on August 13 that he’s recovering from the coronavirus, and urged his fans to take the virus seriously. “At this moment, I’m just getting better from COVID-19. These have been very difficult days, very complicated. Sometimes we won’t think that we’ll get it but I got it and I got it bad,†he explained. “My message to those that follow me, young fans and people in general is to take care. This isn’t a joke. The virus is real and it’s dangerous.â€
Alyssa Milano
The actress revealed in early August that she tested positive for the coronavirus in April. “I had never been this kind of sick. Everything hurt. Loss of smell. It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t keep food in me. I lost 9 pounds in 2 weeks,†Milano wrote on social media. “I thought I was dying. It felt like I was dying. I will be donating my plasma with hopes that I might save a life.†She also encouraged her fans to take COVID-19 seriously and seek out free tests.
Kevin Hart
The comedian claimed he tested positive for the coronavirus early into the pandemic during his set at one of Dave Chappelle’s “An Intimate Socially Distanced Affair†shows. “The problem is that I had it around the same time as Tom Hanks, and I couldn’t say anything because he’s more famous than I am,†Hart said, according to a “Page Six†report from August 24.
Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert
Reggae legend Frederick ‘Toots’ Hibbert of the band Toots and the Maytals has been put in a medically induced coma while awaiting the results of a coronavirus test. Per his publicist Claude Mills, the 78-year old singer had been showing symptoms associated with coronavirus and went to University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI) to receive a coronavirus test, where he has since been put into a medically induced coma. “Toots is fighting for his life and his family is asking for prayers,†said Mills. Just last week on August 25, Toots and the Maytals released their latest album, Got To Be Tough.
Michael Rooker
The Walking Dead actor shared on Facebook that he has recovered from COVID-19 after an “epic battle†with the virus. “If ya’ll aint figured out by now why I’ve been isolating in this crazy awesome Airstream of mine, let me help y’all out by saying I’ve been fighting off COVID-19. I have to let y’all know it has been quite a battle. And as in any war, ALL is fair,†he wrote. Rooker has now tested negative for the virus, but wrote that “Covid put up a pretty good fight.â€
Brian Cox
The Succession icon revealed on August 17, during a virtual interview on The Late Late Show, that he was very surprised when his doctor told him he had the coronavirus. “I’m a diabetic, and I went from my usual bloods that I usually have between months,†Cox explained. “I went there, and they took my bloods, and they took the COVID test. Then my doctor called me and said, ‘Oh, congratulations. You’ve had it.’†Cox insisted that he “never felt anything†and was asymptomatic the entire time.
Dwayne “The Rock†Johnson
Johnson posted an impassioned video to Instagram on September 2, revealing that he, his wife, and their two young daughters tested positive for the coronavirus over the summer. “I could tell you that this has been one of the most challenging and difficult things we have ever had to endure as a family, and for me, too, personally as well,†he explained. “I wish it was only me who tested positive, but it wasn’t, it was my entire family, so this one was a real kick in the gut.†He also encouraged his robust fan base to take the virus seriously and self-isolate as much as possible.
Robert Pattinson
On September 3, Pattinson effectively shut down production of The Batman after he tested positive for the coronavirus. He hasn’t commented on the virus and has been subsequently spotted out of public with his girlfriend.
Tiffany Haddish
During a YouTube interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci on August 31, the actress and comedian revealed that she contracted the coronavirus in the early spring during a film shoot. Haddish explained that she was asymptomatic before and after taking the test, and enjoyed quarantining at home with her dogs in the subsequent weeks.
Jillian Michaels
The Biggest Loser fitness trainer said on September 8 that she tested positive for the coronavirus over the summer. She admitted that she likely contracted the virus after “letting my guard down†and going to a public gym with a close friend. “I’m fortunate to have gone into it being healthy and I was able to get on the other side of it pretty quick, but not everyone is that lucky as we know,†Michaels explained. “All I can tell you is if you are afraid of getting COVID, a public gym is probably a place where you will get it.â€
Neil Patrick Harris
The actor revealed on September 15 that his entire family (himself, his husband David Burtka, and their two young children) tested positive for the coronavirus in the spring. “We were doing our best before, and I thought I had the flu, and I didn’t want to be paranoid about it,†he explained. “And then I lost my sense of taste and smell, which was a big indicator, so we holed up.†Harris added that the experience “was not pleasant,†but they’re all “feeling good†now. “We want to make sure everyone’s doing their best to slow this down every way possible, for sure,†he explained.
Giuliana Rancic
The E! host revealed, at the start of this year’s Emmy Awards, that she tested positive for the coronavirus. As such, she was unable to provide red carpet fashion commentary for the awards ceremony. “As far as my health, I’m doing well. My husband Bill and our son also did test positive, but we’re all doing well and taking care of each other so I’m going to get back to doing that,†she explained in a pre-taped segment. “But I just want to say I’m wishing you all the best and please protect yourselves and protect those around you. Take good care and I’ll see you on the next red carpet.â€
Jim Parsons
The Big Bang Theory star told Jimmy Fallon during a September 28 Tonight Show appearance that he, as well as his husband, had the coronavirus in mid-March. ″We didn’t know what it was. We thought we had colds. And then it seemed less likely, and then finally we lost our sense of smell and taste,†he explained. ″It defied the descriptions for me. I didn’t realize how completely taste and smell could be gone And when you’re in quarantine and there’s really nothing to do but eat, oh my God, that was brutal.â€
Trey Songz
On October 5, the singer confirmed in an Instagram video that he recently tested positive for the coronvirus. “I’ve taken many tests as I’ve been out protesting, food drives, of course I have a very young son at home,†he explained, “so I get tested periodically and this time unfortunately it came back positive.†Trey Songz said that he won’t be leaving his home until he receives a negative test, and urged fans to not “be like†President Trump.
Kanye West
In an interview with Grazia, Kim Kardashian revealed that her husband, Kanye West, tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-March after showing symptoms for several weeks. “It was so scary and unknown. I had my four babies and no one else in the house to help,†she explained. “I had to go and change his sheets and help him get out of bed when he wasn’t feeling good. It was a challenge because it was so unknown. Changing his sheets with gloves and a face shield was really a scary time.â€
Arie Luyendyk Jr.
Former Bachelor star Arie Luyendyk Jr. shared that he tested positive for COVID-19 on his Instagram stories. Luyendyk Jr., who is married to Bachelor contestant Lauren Burnham, said that isolating from Burnham and their daughter has “been rough.†He continued, “I gotta say it’s not been easy being separated. I’ve been on the other side of the house. Lauren has been really sweet, she’s keeping me fed. She just slides some food outside and then I go get it.†In an Instagram caption, Burnham wrote, “Arie would be in this pic too, but he has covid so kisses & pics through windows only for now.â€
Jason Blum
Film producer and founder of Blumhouse, Jason Blum, tweeted that he tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, November 29, a week after announcing that both his kids had contracted the virus. “It’s Coronamania at my house,†he tweeted. “Symptoms mild so far but will keep ya’ll posted.â€
Sharon Osbourne
The Talk host Sharon Osbourne tweeted on Decemeber 14 that she tested positive for COVID-19 and briefly spent time in the hospital. “After a brief hospitalization, I’m now recuperating at a location away from Ozzy (who has tested negative) while “The Talk†is on scheduled hiatus,†she wrote. In November, Ozzy Osbourne told GQ he is at high risk due to his emphysema.
Dr. Drew Pinsky
Celebrity doctor Drew Pinsky announced on Instagram that he tested positive for COVID-19 five days ago and is currently recovering at home. Pinsky posted several updates on his condition to Instagram, explaining that since he is in at “at-risk category,†he got the “full syndrome.†He is receiving a monoclonal antibody infusion called Bamlanivimab after other treatments failed, he revealed in another Instagram video. Pinsky previously downplayed the pandemic back in February, calling it a “press-induced panic†and comparing COVID-19 with the flu. He apologized for his comments in April.
Angela Kinsey
The Office actress Angela Kinsey revealed on Instagram that she tested positive for COVID-19 after her children and husband tested positive for the virus as well. “I started not feeling well and went to get retested,†she wrote on an Instagram Story following her diagnosis, “I knew the odds were against me since I was living with four Covid-positive people. I really tried to quarantine and not get it.†Kinsey explained that her children felt “totally fine†and have “mild cases.†The actress is now recovering at home, and wrote in an Instagram update, “I am okay just really tired.â€
Grimes
On January 9, the singer-songwriter posted that she tested positive for COVID-19 on Instagram stories, writing, “Finally got COVID but weirdly enjoying the DayQuil fever dream … 2021.†Grimes’s partner, Elon Musk, tweeted that he may have had a “moderate case†of COVID-19 back in November.
Liv Tyler
The actress revealed she tested positive for COVID-19 on New Year’s Eve, writing on Instagram that she had spent the year “doing everything i could to protect my wolf pack and follow the rules to protect others.†Tyler wrote that the virus felt “like a locomotive†and that “it floored me for 10 days in my bed.†The purpose of sharing her COVID-19 diagnosis, Tyler explained, was to “gather facts and awareness and mostly to know we are not alone in this.†Tyler added that the rest of her family and bubble had tested negative. She is currently recovering at home.
Tricia Yearwood
Country singer Tricia Yearwood has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Her husband, Garth Brooks, revealed the news on Facebook on Wednesday, February 23, writing that he and Yearwood are “currently quarantining at home on the heels of a recent positive Covid test by a member of their team.†The 56 year-old “How Do I Live†singer is apparently already on the mend, as Brooks writes that Yearwood is “officially diagnosed as ‘on her way out of the tunnel.’†“We’re very lucky she is currently under the greatest care in the best city for treating and healing singers.â€
Athletes
Usain Bolt
, saidThe Olympic sprinter tested positive for COVID-19 with no symptoms, his agent confirmed to CNN on August 25 after Bolt addressed speculation in an August 24 Twitter video. The positive test comes shortly after Bolt held an in-person, maskless celebration for his 34th birthday in his home of Jamaica. “No one is going to be treated with any exemption or given any special treatment,†Prime Minister Andrew Holness said at a press conference. “All Jamaicans have a duty.â€
Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the first NBA player to catch coronavirus on March 11, prompting the NBA to suspend the 2019–2020 season. Prior to testing positive for the virus, Gobert purposely touched press conference microphones as a joke, a moment captured on video. He subsequently apologized for his actions in an Instagram post: “I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus.â€
Donovan Mitchell
On March 12, Rudy Gobert’s Utah Jazz teammate, all-star forward Donovan Mitchell, confirmed that he had contracted coronavirus. He took to Instagram to assure fans that he would actively monitor his health condition and the global status of the pandemic.
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta, the head coach of Arsenal Football Club, was diagnosed with the virus on March 12. The 37-year-old club manager and former player was the first in England’s football Premier League to test positive for coronavirus. According to an official club statement, the team’s training center has since been closed, and Arteta is self-isolating in line with public health guidelines.
Callum Hudson-Odoi
On the evening of March 12th, Chelsea Football Club striker Callum Hudson-Odoi tested positive for coronavirus. The 19-year-old player went for testing after coming down with a mild cold earlier in the week. A day after announcing his diagnosis, Hudson-Odoi tweeted to share that he has recovered from the virus and is isolating himself from the public. He hopes to be “back on the pitch very soon.â€
Fernando Gaviria
Colombian cyclist Fernando Gaviria shared a video on Instagram to announce he had tested positive for coronavirus on March 12. He contracted the virus after racing for Team Emirates as part of the UAE Tour. “I know there’s been a lot of rumors about my health,†Gaviria said. “Exams have found that I am positive for coronavirus, but I am feeling good.â€
Dmitry Strakhov
On March 12, it was confirmed that Russian ProTour cyclist Dmitry Strakhov had tested positive for coronavirus. Like Gaviria, Strakhov was diagnosed after participating in the UAE Tour. Strakhov was subsequently hospitalized in Abu Dhabi.
Christian Wood
Christian Wood became the first NBA player outside of the Utah Jazz roster to test positive for the virus, a source told ESPN on March 14. The Detroit Pistons power forward remains “in isolation and under the care of team medical staff,†per an official Pistons team statement.
Kevin Durant
Two-time NBA championship winner and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant said he tested positive for coronavirus on March 17, telling sports outlet The Athletic that he is feeling fine despite his diagnosis. “Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine,†he said. “We’re going to get through this.†Durant is one of four Nets players to contact the virus.
Blaise Matuidi
Blaise Matuidi became the second player from the Italian soccer team Juventus to test positive for coronavirus on March 17, nearly a week after fellow Turin club player Daniele Rugani announced he contracted the virus. Matuidi, who won the world cup with the French national team in 2018, has been in voluntary isolation since last week, according to an official Juventus statement.
Sean Payton
Sean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans Saints, became the first individual tied to the NFL to test positive for coronavirus. Payton confirmed the news to ESPN on March 19.
Marcus Smart
Celtics player Marcus Smart announced on Twitter on March 19th that he has tested positive for COVID-19. He was tested 5 days prior and has been in isolation since then. Smart maintains that he has “no symptoms†and “feels great.†On March 19th, the Los Angeles Lakers released a statement that two of their players have also tested positive for coronavirus. Both players “are currently asymptomatic, in quarantine and under the care of the team’s physician,†said the statement. The statement did not release the names of the players who tested positive.
Paolo and Daniel Maldini
Paolo Maldini, the technical director of Italian soccer club powerhouse AC Milan, and his son, Daniel Maldini, a forward for AC Milan’s youth team, both tested positive for the coronavirus. “Paolo and Daniel are both well and have already completed two weeks at home without contact with others,†the club said in a statement. “They will now remain in quarantine until clinically recovered, as per the medical protocols outlined by the health authorities.â€
Sabrina Dhowre Elba
Idris Elba’s wife, Sabrina, confirmed during an interview with Oprah Winfrey that she also tested positive for the coronavirus. Elba said that she wasn’t “surprised†by the news and isn’t showing any symptoms. She also flew to New Mexico to be with her husband, who was in the state for work. “We didn’t change the way we interacted,†she explained. “I could have made a decision to put myself maybe in a separate room or stay away, and I’m sure that people are making those decisions that are tough decisions to make. But I made the decision to be with him and still touch him.â€
Jason Collins
The retired NBA player, who played 13 seasons on a number of teams, tested positive for COVID-19, TMZ reported on March 24. Collins told the outlet he first had a “terrible headache†and added, “A few days later I had a fever and then the cough. On Saturday I went to the ER and got tested and spoke with some docs about the tightness in my chest.â€
Patrick McEnroe
The ESPN broadcaster and decorated former doubles tennis player announced he had tested positive for COVID-19 in a March 31 Twitter video. After 11 days of self-quarantining due to “minor symptoms,†he got a drive-through test in Westchester County, New York. “It was very well-organized, very safe, and obviously I got the test back very quickly,†he said of the drive-through facility. “I feel fine, my symptoms have passed, I feel really 100 percent.â€
Brian Allen
The Los Angeles Rams center became the first NFL player to announce a positive COVID-19 test April 15 on Fox Sports. He felt symptoms during training in March, which have since subsided, but he has not regained taste and smell. A Rams statement clarified that Allen is “feeling good.â€
Von Miller
Broncos star Von Miller confirmed his positive diagnosis to Denver’s 9News on April 16. “I’ve just been here in the crib, and I started to get a little cough,†he explained. “You know, I have asthma, and I started getting a little cough a couple days ago. My girlfriend … she told me when I was asleep, she said my cough, it didn’t sound normal.†The linebacker says he’s “still Von,†and doesn’t feel “sick or hurting or anything like that.†So far, he is the first member of the Broncos’ organization known to test positive.
Grigor Dimitrov
The Bulgarian tennis player, the current 19th-ranked man, tested positive for the coronavirus after competing in the Adria Tour in Belgrade, Serbia, and Zadar, Croatia, he revealed on Instagram on June 21. His coach, Christian Groh, also later tested positive, Tennis.com reported. “I am so sorry for any harm I might have caused,†he wrote. “I am back home now and recovering. Thanks for your support and please stay safe and healthy.â€
Borna Coric
The Croatian player and current No. 33 tested COVID-19-positive after a match against Dimitrov in Zadar. He announced his results on Twitter on June 22. “I am really sorry for any harm I might have caused!†he wrote. “I’m feeling well and don’t have any symptoms.â€
Viktor Troicki
The Serbian tennis player also tested positive for the coronavirus after the Adria Tour, according to Tennis.com. He only played in Belgrade, before the match in Zadar between Dimitrov and Coric. His pregnant wife has also tested positive.
Novak Djokovic
The current men’s tennis No. 1 and organizer of the criticized Adria Tour announced his positive COVID-19 test in a June 23 statement. He previously canceled the final match of his tournament, where he was set to play Andray Rublev, after three other players tested positive for the virus. Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, also tested positive, according to his statement, while his coach, Marco Panichi, did as well, Tennis.com reported. “I am extremely sorry for each individual case of infection,†said Djokovic, who has no symptoms. “I hope that it will not complicate anyone’s health situation and that everyone will be fine.†On July 2, ten days after his positive test, Djokovic’s team said in a statement that he had tested negative.
31 MLB players
Ahead of the 2020 baseball season, 31 MLB players have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN and People. The league confirmed 31 players had tested positive but that only teams could reveal which players. The list includes Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, reliever Will Smith, right-hander Touki Toussaint, and infielder Pete Kozma; Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sanó, catcher Willians Astudillo, shortstop Nick Gordon, and right-handed reliever Edwar Colina; New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu and reliever Luis Cessa; Boston Red Sox pitchers Josh Taylor and Darwinzon Hernandez; St. Louis Cardinals pitchers Ricardo Sanchez and Génesis Cabrera; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Pérez; Cleveland Indians outfielder Delino DeShields; and San Diego Padres outfielder Tommy Pham. Additional positive tests include four unnamed Miami Marlins players and a number of unnamed Philadelphia Phillies players.
Cam Newton
The NFL star, who plays for the New England Patriots, tested positive for the coronavirus on October 3. “I NEVER WILL QUESTION GODs reasoning; just will always respond with, ‘YES LORD’‼ï¸,†the quarterback wrote on Instagram. “I appreciate all the love, support, and WELL WISHESâ€¼ï¸ I will take this time to get healthy and self reflect on the other AMAZING THINGS THAT I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR‼ï¸â€
Politicians
Boris Johnson
On March 27, U.K. prime minister Boris Johnson tweeted a video explaining that he himself was diagnosed with the virus. “Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus,†he captioned it. “I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus.†He was admitted to the hospital in early April, eventually spending three days in ICU, and was ultimately discharged on April 12.
Prince Charles
A spokesperson for the heir to the British throne said on March 25 that Prince Charles had tested positive for the coronavirus and was displaying mild symptoms. The Duchess of Cornwall tested negative and is now isolating with her husband in Scotland. The queen recently saw Prince Charles on March 12, but is herself “in good health,†according to the spokesperson.
Rand Paul
On March 22, Rand Paul became the first United States Senator to test positive for the coronavirus. The news was relayed on his official Twitter account, where a spokesperson said he’s “doing fine†and in self-quarantine. “He is asymptomatic and was tested out of an abundance of caution due to his extensive travel and events. He was not aware of any direct contact with any infected person,†the statement said. “He expects to be back in the Senate after his quarantine period ends and will continue to work for the people of Kentucky at this difficult time.â€
Masoumeh Ebtekar
The vice president of Iran was diagnosed with the virus on February 27, making her the seventh government official to test positive in a country afflicted with over 14,000 cases of coronavirus.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau
On March 12, the wife of Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a brief trip to the U.K. According to an official statement from the prime minister’s office, Grégoire Trudeau and her husband will be in self-isolation for a period of two weeks.
Francis Suarez
Miami mayor Francis Suarez announced he had contracted the virus on March 13, sharing a video in an effort to allay fears about his symptoms. Since his diagnosis, he has been sharing daily “digital journals†to update the public on his condition and local government efforts to fight the pandemic.
Begoña Gómez
The Spanish government announced that the wife of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez tested positive for the virus on March 14. The announcement came soon after Sánchez announced sweeping state measures to curb the spread of the virus. The country is currently on lockdown.
Karl von Habsburg
On March 17, Karl von Habsburg, the archduke of Austria, confirmed he had been diagnosed with coronavirus. The archduke, who heads the historic House of Habsburg-Lorraine, has been in self-quarantine since March 12 after testing positive for the virus. He called into Austrian TV network oe24 to inform the public of his condition: “It’s annoying, but I’m fine. It’s not the Black Plague. I thought it was the usual flu. When a friend called me that he had a positive test at a congress in Switzerland, I was also tested.â€
Prince Albert II
Prince Albert II of Monaco has become the second royal and the first head of state to contract the virus, testing positive on March 19. The 62-year-old prince is working from his home and receiving treatment, according to an official palace statement.
Mario DÃaz-Balart
On March 18, Mario Diaz-Balart, a Republican Representative for Florida’s 25th congressional district, was notified that he had tested positive for coronavirus. He was the first U.S. lawmaker to contract the virus.
Ben McAdams
Later in the evening on March 18, Utah Democrat Ben McAdams tested positive for the virus. McAdams, a representative for Utah’s 4th district, released a statement on Twitter to share the news. “I am still working for Utahns and pursuing efforts to get Utahns the resources they need as I continue doing my job from home until I know it is safe to end my self-quarantine,†he wrote.
Maria Teresa
The Spanish princess of Bourbon-Parma became the first royal to die due to the coronavirus on March 26. Her brother, Prince Sixto Enrique, confirmed her death at age 86. She was a distant cousin of King Felipe VI and had a funeral in Madrid on March 27.
Herman Cain
The businessman and former presidential candidate was hospitalized because of coronavirus symptoms, his team said on July 2. “There is no way of knowing for sure how or where Mr. Cain contracted the coronavirus,†the statement said, although Cain attended Trump’s not-distanced Tulsa rally on June 20. The day before his hospitalization, Cain tweeted supportively about the no-masks rule for Trump’s Mount Rushmore rally. “PEOPLE ARE FED UP!†he wrote.
Kimberly Guilfoyle
The Trump-campaign official and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr. tested positive for the coronavirus ahead of Trump’s Mount Rushmore rally, according to the New York Times and People. Outlets reported the news on July 3, saying Guilfoyle was tested as part of routine tests of close Trump officials, and that she would isolate accordingly. Don Jr. has tested negative, a spokesperson told People.
Jair Bolsonaro
The Brazilian president, who has spent the past months making light of the coronavirus pandemic, has tested positive for COVID-19, he announced on July 7. “Everyone knew that it would reach a considerable part of the population sooner or later,†Bolsonaro said. He previously called the virus a “media trick†and said he wouldn’t be at risk given his “athletic history.â€
Donald and Melania Trump
The president and First Lady confirmed their positive diagnoses in Twitter messages on October 2. It’s been an international news saga ever since.
Industry
Chris Cuomo
The CNN host, and New York state governor Andrew’s brother, confirmed on Twitter that he tested positive for the coronavirus on March 31. He will continue to host his evening show, Cuomo Prime Time, in the comfort of his basement. “I am quarantined in my basement, which actually makes the rest of the family seem pleased!†he joked. “We will all beat this by being smart and tough and united!†Cuomo left quarantine in his basement on April 20.
James Dolan
Madison Square Garden chairman and New York Knicks owner James Dolan announced his positive coronavirus diagnosis on March 28. “He has been in self-isolation and is experiencing little to no symptoms,†a statement confirmed. “He continues to oversee business operations.â€
Harvey Weinstein
The New York Post confirmed reporting by the Niagara Gazette that Harvey Weinstein had tested positive for COVID-19 in an upstate New York prison. His lawyers told Vulture March 23 that they had not been notified about his condition.
Jeff Shell
The CEO of NBC announced in an email that he had tested positive for coronavirus. “Although the virus has been tough to cope with, I have managed to work remotely in L.A. and am improving every day,†he wrote in an update about how the network is responding to the pandemic. He also acknowledged an NBC technician, Larry Edgeworth, who died from the virus, writing, “Our hearts go out to his family, friends and co-workers.â€
Lucian Grainge
Lucian Grainge, one of the most powerful music executives in the business, tested positive for coronavirus on March 15. Grange, the CEO of Universal Music Group Inc., is undergoing treatment at UCLA Medical Center. Two weeks prior to his diagnosis, he celebrated his 60th birthday in the company of Apple CEO Tim Cook and Irving Azoff, chairman of Azoff MSG entertainment, a talent management venture with Madison Square Garden.
Andrew Watt
On March 16, record producer and musician Andrew Watt announced that he had tested positive for coronavirus. The 29-year-old, who has worked with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Cardi B, shared the news in a series of notes posted on Twitter, writing about his struggle to obtain testing. Although he was denied testing at a hospital, he was able to receive a test from a private doctor. Watt implored young people to take the virus seriously: “To have the mentality ‘I’m young this can’t affect me’ is just straight up stupid and so dangerous to everyone around you,†he wrote. “Social distancing is to protect someone’s mom and dad, someone’s grandmother… it’s not about you. It’s about everyone together fighting this as a team.â€
Alan Merrill
The performer and songwriter known for the hit “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll,†made famous by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, died at 69 due to COVID-19 on March 29, according to a Facebook post by his daughter Laura. He first thought he had a cold and had been working on a new album, according to Laura. “We probably won’t be able to mourn him properly with a funeral,†she writes. “I just lost the greatest love of my life and won’t be able to hug anyone because I’ve been exposed and need to self quarantine for two weeks … alone.â€
Maria Mercader
CBS announced on March 29 that Mercader, who worked in talent development for the network, where she spent over 30 years of her career, died from the coronavirus at age 54. The winner of a 2004 Business Emmy for her work on CBS Sunday Morning, Mercader had covered breaking news for nearly three decades, from Princess Diana’s death to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “Even more than her talents as a journalist, we will miss her indomitable spirit,†said Susan Zirinsky, president and senior executive producer of CBS News. “I called Maria a warrior. She was. Maria was a gift we cherished.â€
Andrew Jack
The dialect coach for the Lord of the Rings movies, who also played Major Caluan Ematt in recent Star Wars films The Last Jedi and The Force Awakens, died March 31 due to the coronavirus, his rep told TMZ. Jack was 76 and set to work on The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson. His wife, who is quarantined away from his England home in Australia after a recent trip, tweeted that Jack tested positive two days before. “He was in no pain, and he slipped away peacefully knowing that his family were all ‘with’ him,†she wrote.
Brooke Baldwin
The CNN Newsroom anchor announced on April 3 that she had tested positive for COVID-19. She had previously been working in the network’s New York office. “I am OKAY,†she wrote on Instagram, describing recent symptoms, including “chills, aches, fever.†Baldwin added, “I’ve been social distancing. Doing ALL the things we’re being told to do. Still — it got me.†She reflected on her experiences with the virus for CNN on April 20, writing, “It took a full two-week beating on my body.â€
Hal Willner
Saturday Night Live’s longtime music producer died due to the coronavirus, Variety confirmed April 7. He was 64. Willner previously tweeted he was “In bed on upper west side†with a map of coronavirus cases on March 28. Along with his work on SNL, Willner made music with performers from Lucinda Williams to Lou Reed and brought musicians together for extravagant tribute performances, including to classic Disney music and Thelonious Monk. Various SNL stars remembered Willner on social media, including John Mulaney, who wrote, “I liked you in my life so much. When I got horrible reviews you sent me a full email of Lou Reed quotes on how to view critics. It meant so much to me. You changed my way of thinking on how to make stuff. You made what you wanted w/ the people you loved.â€
Allen Daviau
The five-time Oscar–nominated cinematographer died due to COVID-19 on April 15, his friend Colman Andrews announced on Twitter. Daviau had a long association with Steven Spielberg, beginning his feature film career on E.T. the Extraterrestrial in 1982. The movie earned him his first Academy Award nomination, and he would quickly earn two more working with Spielberg on The Color Purple and Empire of the Sun. In the early ’90s, he earned two more nominations for Avalon and Bugsy, both directed by Barry Levinson. His final feature film was the Hugh Jackman–starring horror Van Helsing in 2004, although he also shot many shorts and documentaries throughout his career. “RIP Allen Daviau, my friend of almost 60 years, cinematographer and bon vivant, five-time Academy Award nominee, dining companion extraordinaire, pure soul,†Andrews wrote.
Todd McShay
The ESPN football analyst will sit out draft coverage after contracting the coronavirus, he revealed on Twitter on April 23. “For now, I just want to say I miss you all,†McShay wrote. “I also want to assure you I’ll be back, thanks to the tireless work of healthcare workers and first responders. You are truly our nation’s heroes.â€
Lesley Stahl
The 60 Minutes anchor described her experience with COVID-19 on the May 3 episode of the newsmagazine show. Stahl had “almost every symptom you can imagine,†she said, including pneumonia, and was hospitalized but has since recovered. “One of the rules of journalism is ‘Don’t become part of the story,’ but instead of covering the pandemic, I was one of the more than 1 million Americans who did become part of it,†she said.
Influencers
Deray
Activist, educator, and podcast host Deray McKesson tweeted his COVID-19 diagnosis on April 15, about a week after he first lost his sense of taste. “The doc expects me to recover fully, told me to call if I have any chest pains,†McKesson said.
Arielle Charnas
Fashion and lifestyle influencer Arielle Charnas, who runs the popular Instagram account Something Navy, announced on March 18 that she had tested positive for the virus. In an Instagram post on her personal account, she shared her recovery plan and listed her symptoms. Her diagnosis comes a day after she shared a post revealing she wasn’t feeling well. “I’m dealing with the weirdest virus I’ve ever had since mono,†Charnas wrote. “I’m so happy my fever is gone but the body pain that I’m feeling today is unlike anything else. It feels like we’re all in a bad dream right now but I’m determined to bring back some normalcy to our lives.â€
Paul L. Vasquez
The internet star famous for his “double rainbow†YouTube video died on May 9 after being tested for COVID-19, according to People. He was 57 years old. Vasquez, nicknamed “Bear†by friends, posted a 2010 video of his shock at a double rainbow that led him to earn a People’s Choice Award nomination.
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