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 June 30, 2025.

 

Likely Sepsis Cases By Illness:

Bacterial Infection
  • Ashley Park, actress – treated for tonsillitis that progressed to sepsis
  • Donald Norcross, U.S. Congressman – treated for a gallbladder infection that progressed to sepsis

To learn more about bacterial infections and how they can cause sepsis, visit Sepsis and Bacterial Infections.

 

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

To learn more about how people with cancer can be at higher risk of contracting infections and developing sepsis, visit Sepsis and Cancer.

Cellulitis

To learn more about what cellulitis is and its connection to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Cellulitis.

COVID-19

To learn how COVID-19 can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and COVID-19.

Dental Infection

To learn how infections in your mouth can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Dental Health.

Diabetes

To learn about how diabetes increases your risk of developing infections that can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Diabetes.

E coli

To learn more about intestinal E. coli and how it can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Intestinal E Coli Infections.

HIV

Learn more about HIV and how it can increase your risk of developing sepsis at Sepsis and HIV/AIDS.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Learn more about how IBD can increase your risk of developing infections that can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

Infected Wound

 

Learn more about bacterial infections at Sepsis and Bacterial Infections.

Influenza

 

Learn how the flu can cause sepsis at Sepsis and Influenza.

Intestinal Infection or Perforated Bowel

 

Learn how a perforated bowel can lead to infection and sepsis at Sepsis and Perforated Bowel.

Maternal Sepsis

 

Learn about how pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum infections can cause sepsis at Sepsis and Pregnancy & Delivery.

Meningitis

Learn how bacterial, viral, and fungal meningitis can cause sepsis at Sepsis and Meningitis.

Necrotizing fasciitis

Lynn Collins, actress – also had pneumonia

Other
Pancreatitis
Peritonitis
Pneumonia

 

Learn how pneumonia can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Pneumonia.

Surgery

 

Learn how surgery can cause infections, during and after the procedure, that can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Surgery.

Toxic Shock Syndrome

 

Learn how toxic shock syndrome can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome.

Unknown
Upper Respiratory Infection
UTI

 

Learn how the common UTI can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections.

Related Resources

Teresa Heidenreich

My journey with sepsis began unexpectedly, unfolding over several months filled with intense, recurring pain in my upper right abdomen and stomach. Despite undergoing numerous ultrasounds and CT scans, the doctors were at a loss. It wasn’t until a procedure called ERCP that the mystery was finally solved: I had several stones lodged in my bile duct, igniting a painful bout of pancreatitis. After the procedure in May 2021, which removed all but one stone, I found myself hospitalized for six exhausting days, clinging to hope as I prepared to recover at home. As I settled back into my routine, ... Read Full Story

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Elexa Ferguson

My sepsis story is long, but I’ll try and keep it short. The week of Thanksgiving 2024 I felt fine, slight sore throat but nothing extreme. Day before Thanksgiving I had some lethargy but managed to help make dinner with my mother in law. Then on Thanksgiving day, in the morning my body aches set in. Extreme all over body aches, nothing could stop them. I was in tears I was in so much pain. I tried to eat thanksgiving dinner with my family, but it was cut short by my body aches and pain. I spend evening, while everyone ... Read Full Story

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Gary Wozniak

My dad struggled with many health issues including an autoimmune disease and heart issues for most of his adult life. He had a UTI that went bad and he was rushed to the hospital. (Sepsis and Autoimmune Diseases, Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) He started to show signs of getting better but in the end he lost his fight with sepsis. There’s no one way to describe my dad. He was a pastor, professor and friend to just about everyone. We were able to make sure he was comfortable and not alone. I held his hand as he left this ... Read Full Story

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Catherine Benton

Hi! My name is Cat. I’m a sepsis survivor. On January 9, 2025, there was a snowstorm headed towards Arkansas which I must admit, doesn’t happen often. The 3 weeks prior I had experienced urinating pain, fever, rapid breathing, and swelling. It didn’t matter what I did, it just got worse. I had no medical insurance at this time so I shrugged it off. I’m also a diabetic. So on that day while en route to finally see my doctor that my mother was going to pay for. I collapsed at his office. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections, Sepsis and ... Read Full Story

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Catherine Garrett

In February of 2022, my husband and I planned a trip with my sister and brother-in-law to South Carolina to get away for a few days. I remember complaining to her about an annoying UTI. In the past, I always treated them at home just fine, but when I got home from the trip, I wasn’t improving, and I was experiencing back pain. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) I thought I had just pulled a muscle, but I was wrong. In 2019, I nearly lost my life to an amniotic fluid embolism, and ever since then, I feel like my ... 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.