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.
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 July 14, 2025.
To learn more about bacterial infections and how they can cause sepsis, visit Sepsis and Bacterial Infections.
To learn more about how people with cancer can be at higher risk of contracting infections and developing sepsis, visit Sepsis and Cancer.
To learn more about what cellulitis is and its connection to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Cellulitis.
To learn how COVID-19 can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and COVID-19.
To learn how infections in your mouth can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Dental Health.
To learn about how diabetes increases your risk of developing infections that can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Diabetes.
To learn more about intestinal E. coli and how it can lead to sepsis, visit Sepsis and Intestinal E Coli Infections.
Learn more about HIV and how it can increase your risk of developing sepsis at Sepsis and HIV/AIDS.
Learn more about how IBD can increase your risk of developing infections that can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Learn more about bacterial infections at Sepsis and Bacterial Infections.
Learn how the flu can cause sepsis at Sepsis and Influenza.
Learn how a perforated bowel can lead to infection and sepsis at Sepsis and Perforated Bowel.
Learn about how pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum infections can cause sepsis at Sepsis and Pregnancy & Delivery.
Learn how bacterial, viral, and fungal meningitis can cause sepsis at Sepsis and Meningitis.
Lynn Collins, actress – also had pneumonia
Learn how pneumonia can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Pneumonia.
Learn how surgery can cause infections, during and after the procedure, that can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Surgery.
Learn how toxic shock syndrome can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome.
Learn how the common UTI can lead to sepsis at Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections.
I am a man of s64 years of age now. Generally speaking I am well, was very lucky health wise, all throughout my life. Never had been an inpatient in the hospital. Enjoyed been physically active for years, trying out a variety of physical pursuits, from kick boxing, to weight training , swimming, running, all of which I enjoyed for the most part. Trying my best to live a healthy lifestyle, but not always succeeding. Looking to eat well, alcohol in moderation. At home, on some days off from work, I noticed a burning sensation when I urinated. Thinking nothing ... Read Full Story
Submit Your StoryView More StoriesSeptember 13th has always been a special day for me—my dad’s birthday. This year, it holds even more significance as Sepsis Awareness Day, a cause that has become deeply personal to me. On July 7th, my world changed forever. I was woken up by a call from my mom, who was crying and asked me to come and check on Dad. Despite his insistence that he was “fine,” I could hear the concern in my mom’s voice—she’s a retired nurse, so I knew something was seriously wrong. I told her to call an ambulance and rushed over to their house. ... Read Full Story
Submit Your StoryView More StoriesIn October 2022, I was a happily married mother of three young children, all under the age of 10. At the time, I was in good health and actively engaged in various family activities. Although I was feeling slightly unwell, I did not consider it a cause for concern. The next thing I remember is waking up 12 days later in the ICU, where I was informed of my diagnosis: sepsis caused by Haemophilus influenzae. I had developed unexpected abscesses on my legs and experienced significant cognitive impairment due to a brain infection. I later learned that my husband had ... Read Full Story
Submit Your StoryView More StoriesTowards the beginning if this year, I came down with what was believed to be strep. My illness consisted of swollen lymph nodes, tonsils, and a sore throat. I was in bed for days. I began feeling better after I went to an urgent care in my town and started on antibiotics. Stupidly, I didn’t finish my round of antibiotics because I began to feel better. (Sepsis and Strep Throat) About a week later, I started experiencing extreme pain in my left lung. Thinking it was muscle spasms, I ignored it. After suffering from the pain for a week, I ... Read Full Story
Submit Your StoryView More StoriesThis is my journey of 37-days in hospital with Sepsis. August to September 2023 It must have all started for me when I got a sore neck and shoulders, about one week before I ended up in hospital. I went to our medical and injury centre since I could not see my GP for at least another week, and after waiting for about three hours finally got to see a doctor. However, they only sent me home to do some neck exercises…. no blood tests… otherwise they would have found what was really happening with me. What ended up being ... Read Full Story
Submit Your StoryView More StoriesMany 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.