Sepsis and Celebrities

Many celebrities and public figures have been affected by sepsis. Some survived their bout with the disease, but others died. Sepsis is an equal opportunity illness – it can affect anyone of any social status, age, ethnicity, or beliefs.

All too often, however, the media that report celebrities illnesses or deaths from sepsis fail to say the word. They often say that the person has died of complications of pneumonia, surgery, or cancer, for example. If someone has died of an infection, such as pneumonia or the flu, or an infection from surgery, he or she has died from sepsis. If someone develops an infection serious enough that they must be treated in the hospital with IV fluids and antibiotics, chances are that they have sepsis.

Below is a list of celebrities who Sepsis Alliance knows have had sepsis or believes they did due to the news reports. If you know of any celebrities that you feel should be added to this list, please send the information to info@sepsis.org.

Suggested Citation:
Sepsis Alliance. Sepsis and Celebrities. 2024. https://www.sepsis.org/sepsisand/celebrities/

Updated January 21, 2024.

 

Likely Sepsis Cases By Illness:

Bacterial Infection
  • Ashley Park, actress – treated for tonsillitis that progressed to sepsis
Cancer
  • Paul Allen, Co-Founder of Microsoft – died
  • Ron Piche, former Montreal Expo pitcher – died of “cancer and blood poisoning” in 2011 (baseball)
  • Ray Price (Country star Ray Price back in hospital with sepsis) – died
  • Charlie Robinson, actor – died
  • Lura Lynn Ryan, Illinois former first lady – survived first bout with sepsis, later died of “complications from cancer”
  • Susie Steiner, author – died
  • Cory Wells, musician – died
  • John Wetton, musician – died
Cellulitis
COVID-19
Dental Infection
Diabetes
E coli
HIV
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Infected Wound
Influenza
Intestinal Infection or Perforated Bowel
Maternal Sepsis
Meningitis
Other
Pancreatitis
Peritonitis
Pneumonia
Surgery
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Unknown
Upper Respiratory Infection
UTI

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Dannie Singleton

March 3rd, 2023, is a blur. I had a doctors appointment to get checked up before my wife and I went on our 15th anniversary weekend getaway. I was not feeling well all week, but I asked my wife to drive me which should have been an indication something was wrong on my part. My wife had to take me inside in a wheelchair because I couldn’t make it. The doctor thought I had a bug and told me to rest and relax. My wife called my best friend who is a doctor and he coached her to take my ... Read Full Story

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Ingrid Halvorsen

I had laparoscopic bariatric revision (RNY>RNY) surgery on 12/21/21 which appeared to be successful. On 12/28/21 I had a follow-up visit with my surgeon during which a drain tube was removed. My vitals were normal and I appeared to be recovering as expected, but still very tired. Three days later, on the afternoon of 12/31/21, I lay down for a nap. I woke up coughing up blood. I immediately called 911. When the EMTs arrived I was able to tell them that I had surgery 10 days previously. (Sepsis and Surgery) This was a key piece of information, because I ... Read Full Story

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Sarah Hardy

October 2019 my family and I had come away to my in-laws’ caravan. The plan was to take our 4 year old out for the day. Monday we arrived, by the Wednesday I had began feeling poorly. I didn’t want to let my son down so put on a brave face and off we went for our day out. The train journey I felt shivery and sick. I remember looking for handles on the walls to hold on to when we walked around. When we got back I went straight to bed, feeling feverish thinking I had the flu coming. ... Read Full Story

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Linda Trigueros

Linda was born with cystic fibrosis, and was sick for 18 years. (Sepsis and Cystic Fibrosis) Linda was going to be approved for a double lung transplant at age of 7 or 8, but showed improvement so doctors hesitated. At that time she was positive for MRSA, and aspergillus. She carried on but not normal she was bed ridden, and was able to go to work, since she had just turned 18 she stopped working and was applying for SSI on her own. Yet, she became ill, we thought a normal hospitalization was due, which she did 3-12 times a ... Read Full Story

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Robert Harrison

Before last year I was very healthy and hadn’t taken a sick day in over 15 years. Outside of the occasional head cold or touch of flu I never got sick. Extremely active. Most of my career has been in the restaurant business in upper management frequently traveling. Avid outdoorsmen and for my 57 years in better than average condition. No previous hospitalizations (a few minor outpatient procedures) and not on any meds. I contracted Covid in Early August 2021. (Sepsis and COVID-19) Had a cough and general flu-like symptoms on Sunday. I tested positive on Monday. Worked from home ... Read Full Story

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Other Topics

Celebrities

Many celebrities and public figures have been affected by sepsis. Some survived their bout with the disease, but others died. Sepsis is an equal opportunity illness – it can affect anyone of any social status, age, ethnicity, or beliefs.