While some celebrities are lucky enough to recover from the disease, some others unfortunately lost the battle with the COVID-19, which first originated in Wuhan, China.
- Apr 12, 2020
AceShowbiz - Coronavirus has claimed thousands of lives amid its rapid spread around the world. A lot of prominent people came out to reveal that they contracted the virus, which first originated in Wuhan, China. Among them were Harvey Weinstein, Idris Elba and wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba as well as Tom Hanks and wife Rita Wilson.
While some celebrities were lucky enough to recover from the disease, some others unfortunately lost the battle with the virus, which is known to be more dangerous for elderly people especially those who have health issues. During the Coronavirus outbreak, we have lost some talented musicians, actors, comedians and even royal family member.
Check the list of famous figures who died of the novel Coronavirus below.
1. Joe Diffie
Veteran country music star Joe Diffie died on Sunday, March 29, just two days after it was revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19. According to his publicist, the musician, who scored his big break in 1988, when Hank Thompson recorded his track "Love on the Rocks", died due to complications related to the novel Coronavirus at the age of 61.
Following news of his death, fellow music veteran Travis Tritt took to social media to pay tribute to Joe. "Joe was a friend and touring partner with me in the 90's (sic). This comes as a huge shock to all of us in the country music community. Deepest condolences to Joe's family, friends and fans," so he wrote. Also mourning his death were Charlie Daniels, Trace Adkins, Eli Young Band, Granger Smith and Cole Swindell.
2. Lee Fierro
"Jaws" actress Lee Fierro was among the stars who lost battle with Coronavirus. The actress, who was known for her role as Jeffrey Voorhees' mother Mrs. Kinter in the 1975 movie, died on April 4 from complications of the Coronavirus. She was 91.
"The one word I would think of when I think of Lee is dedication," Kevin Ryan, artistic director and board president of Martha's Vineyard Times, remembered the late actress, whose credits included "The Mistover Tale". "I've watched her as a performer, director and businesswoman and then we became friends. She was my teacher and mentor. I would still call Lee for artistic discussion and commentary… She was fiercely dedicated to the mission of teaching. She, no matter what it was, would stay at it and get the job done."
3. Wallace Roney
News of the death of Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter Wallace Roney hit the web on April 1. The musician, who was celebrated for his interpretations of Miles Davis' work, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, in hospital in Paterson, New Jersey, at the age of 59 after contracting the Coronavirus, Covid-19.
His publicist Lydia Liebman confirmed the news in a statement which read, "I am saddened to confirm that the iconic trumpeter and jazz legend Wallace Roney passed away due to complications of Covid-19 this morning just before noon." She added, "Working with Wallace was and will remain one of the greatest privileges of my life. It was an honor to represent him and to be part of his musical world. I cannot even begin to express how much I will miss him and his music."
Roney is survived by two children from his marriage to late pianist Geri Allen, Barbara and Wallace Jr.
4. Hal Willner
The world also mourned the death of Hal Willner, a music producer and music supervisor. He died on April 7 due to complications of Coronavirus at the age of 64. The Pennsylvania native passed away on Monday, April 6, with reports suggesting the "Saturday Night Live" supervisor was suffering from symptoms consistent with the Coronavirus in the days before his death.
Judd Apatow was among those who paid tribute to Willner. "Some people are such a gift to the world," the actor tweeted. "They just put good stuff out there and make our lives better." "SNL" alum Julia Louis-Dreyfus" also mourned his death, writing, "Absolutely devastated to get this news about my weird and lovely pal, Hal. We are heartbroken."
5. Adam Schlesinger
Emmy and Grammy Award-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger died on April 1 of complications from Coronavirus. Prior to his death, the "Stacy's Mom" singer was hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 in March, and one fan suggested he had been placed in a medically-induced coma.
"Thank you for the outpouring of love for Adam and his family," a family statement read at the time. "Adam has been hospitalized with COVID-19. He's on a ventilator and has been sedated to facilitate his recovery. He is receiving excellent care, his condition is improving and we are cautiously optimistic. His family appreciates all of the love and support." Schlesinger, who was nominated for an Oscar for the title track of Tom Hanks' 1996 film "That Thing You Do", was 52.
6. Ken Shimura
Japanese comedian Ken Shimura was another victim of Coronavirus. The star, who was called Japan's Robin Williams, passed away on Sunday, March 29, nine days after he was hospitalized with a fever and pneumonia, which was later diagnosed as COVID-19.
The TV star, who got his big break with Japanese rock band and comedy group The Drifters, was the first Japanese celebrity to reveal that he tested positive for Coronavirus despite the country's impressive success to date in limiting transmission amid the global pandemic. As of April 10, there are 5,347 people who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus in Japan.
7. Alan Merrill
Another star who lost the battle with COVID-19 was Alan Merrill, who died on Sunday, March 29 in New York. Merrill, most famous for penning Jett's smash hit "I Love Rock 'N' Roll", passed away aged 69 with his daughter Laura announcing the sad news on Facebook. "I've made a million jokes about the 'Rona' and how it'll 'getcha'...boy do I feel stupid. If anything can come of this I beg of you to take this seriously. Money doesn't matter," she wrote.
Following the announcement of Merrill's death, Joan Jett took to Twitter to pay her respects, penning a tribute post which saw her remembering the very first time she heard "I Love Rock 'N' Roll". Meanwhile, Meat Loaf, whose band Merrill played in for four years, tweeted, "Let this be a lesson to all of us, try to stay in touch with the people you really love and care about. Life is very short. Alan I am sorry that I didn't reach out to you years ago. I love you very much."
8. Allen Garfield
"Nashville" veteran Allen Garfield, passed away on April 7. The heartbreaking news of the actor's death was made public by his sister and only immediate survivor Lois Goorwitz, who confirmed that the cause was complications of COVID-19. He was 80.
It was said that after suffering a stroke back in 2004, he had been living at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Home, a retirement facility, where several staffers and some residents tested positive for the Coronavirus. During his life, Garfield appeared in such films as "The Conversation" and "Irreconcilable Differences."
9. Julie Bennett
Julie Bennet was most known for voicing Cindy Bear, Yogi Bear's love interest on the hit TV cartoon. She was revealed to be passing away on March 31 at the age of 88 due to Coronavirus. According to her longtime agent and friend Mark Scroggs, Bennett passed away at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Beginning her acting career with onscreen appearances on 1950s series like "Adventures of Superman", "Leave It to Beaver", "Highway Patrol", "The George Burns" and "Gracie Allen Show", she continued to portray Cindy in a variety of Hanna-Barbera Productions-related projects, such as 1973's "Yogi's Gang", "Scooby's All Star Laff-A-Lympics" in 1977 and "The New Yogi Bear Show" in 1988.
10. Spain's Princess Maria Teresa
Princess Maria Teresa of Borbon-Parma, who was the cousin of Spain's King Felipe IV, passed away on Thursday, March 26 of COVID-19, making her the first royal to die from the virus. The 86-year-old died in Paris, France with her brother Prince Sixto Enrique de Borbon, the Duke of Aranjuez, announcing she was a "victim of the Coronavirus COVID-19."
"On this afternoon… our sister Maria Teresa de Borbon Parma and Borbon Busset, victim of the Coronavirus COVID-19, died in Paris at the age of eighty-six," he said of Maria Teresa, who was known for advocating for women’s rights and socialist ideas. Meanwhile, other royals who contracted Coronavirus included Britain's Prince Charles and Prince Albert of Monaco.
11. Jay Benedict
Another victim of Coronavirus was British actor Jay Benedic. The "Aliens" star died at the age of 68 after contracting COVID-19 on April 4, according to a statement posted on his official website. "It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jay's death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a COVID-19 infection," the statement read.
In "Aliens", he portrayed Russ Jordan, a character who only appeared in a significant role in the Special Edition release of the film. However, he was best known for his role as John Kieffer, a U.S. Army officer and friend of Michael Kitchen's Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle in two episodes of the ITV period drama "Foyle's War". " 'Allo 'Allo!" actress Vicki Michelle and John Challis took to Twitter to mourn his death.
12. John Prine
Country and folk world also mourned the death of John Prine. The 73-year-old Grammy winner passed away on Tuesday, April 7 at Nashville's Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Tennessee due to Coronavirus. Prior to his death, the musician was hospitalized and placed in intensive care for 13 days after testing positive for COVID-19.
Following the heartbreaking news, fellow folk and country stars paid the Songwriters Hall of Famer respects with heartfelt social media posts. Among them was Bruce Springsteen, who became friends with Prine after meeting backstage at a Bob Dylan show in the 1970s. He wrote on Twitter, "Over here on E Street, we are crushed by the loss of John Prine. John and I were 'New Dylans' together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the loveliest guy in the world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send love and prayers to his family."
