Notable figures around the world who are believed to have died of the coronavirus

Jay Johnstone, a former outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 74 on September 26. Johnstone won two World Series Championships with the team against the New York Yankees in 1978 and 1981.

Source: The New York Times, AP

Bruce Williamson, the former lead singer for The Temptations, died from the coronavirus on September 6, 2020. Williamson was a part of the R&B group from 2007 to 2015. He died in his Las Vegas home and was 49 years old. “There’s no words in the world that can express how I feel right now I love you Daddy,” his son wrote on Facebook.

Source: NBC, Facebook, WXYZ

William Pursell, a two-time Grammy-nominated music composer, died from coronavirus-induced pneumonia on September 3, 2020. He was 94. During his career, Pursell worked with musicians like Patsy Cline and Bob Dylan and composed “Our Winter Love.”

—Mandy Barnett (@mandybarnett) September 4, 2020

Source: LA Times

Frank Cullotta, a former mobster, died of health complications related to the coronavirus on August 20, the Associated Press reported. Cullotta was granted immunity for testifying against his former boss and spent his later years as a YouTuber and a mob museum tour guide.

—Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) August 20, 2020

Source: Associated Press

 

Trini Lopez, a pop singer, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 83 on August 11, per Mirror. The musician was known for starring in the film, “The Dirty Dozen.”

Source: Mirror

Herman Cain, a former Republican presidential candidate, has died from coronavirus, his website shared on July 30. He was hospitalized less than two weeks after attending President Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on June 20, and remained there for close to a month. Most recently, Cain was a contributor to the conservative website Newsmax TV and was set to launch a weekly show.

Source: Business Insider, NBC

Tony Award-nominated Broadway actor Nick Cordero died at the age of 41 due to complications from COVID-19.

God has another angel in heaven now. My darling husband passed away this morning. He was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth. ⠀ I am in disbelief and hurting everywhere. My heart is broken as I cannot imagine our lives without him. Nick was such a bright light. He was everyone’s friend, loved to listen, help and especially talk. He was an incredible actor and musician. He loved his family and loved being a father and husband. Elvis and I will miss him in everything we do, everyday. ⠀ To Nicks extraordinary doctor, Dr. David Ng, you were my positive doctor! There are not many doctors like you. Kind, smart, compassionate, assertive and always eager to listen to my crazy ideas or call yet another doctor for me for a second opinion. You’re a diamond in the rough. ⠀ ⠀ I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for the outpour of love , support and help we’ve received these last 95 days. You have no idea how much you lifted my spirits at 3pm everyday as the world sang Nicks song, Live Your Life. We sang it to him today, holding his hands. As I sang the last line to him, “they’ll give you hell but don’t you light them kill your light not without a fight. Live your life,” I smiled because he definitely put up a fight. I will love you forever and always my sweet man. ❤️

A post shared by AK! ⭐️ (@amandakloots) on Jul 5, 2020 at 6:05pm PDTJul 5, 2020 at 6:05pm PDT

Cordero’s wife, Amanda Kloots, confirmed the news on Instagram and said he was “was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth.” 

Cordero was being treated at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles for over 90 days. Over the course of his hospitalization, the 41-year-old was put into a medically induced coma and had his right leg amputated. 

The Canadian actor is best known for his performances on Broadway in “Rock of Ages,” “Waitress,” and “Bullets over Broadway.”

 

Dan Foster, a radio personality, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at age 61 on June 17. Foster was a radio host in Nigeria, where he has been referred to as “the God of radio.”

—THE OZOLUA (@WaleOzolua) June 17, 2020

 

Sources: Pulse, The New York Times

Nur Omar Mohamed, Rep. Ilhan Omar’s father, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at age 67, Omar tweeted on June 15. Omar told the New York Times in 2018 that her father’s advice has guided her through life.

Sources: Twitter, The New York Times

 

34-year-old singer Chris Trousdale died of health complications related to the coronavirus on June 2. Trousdale was known for singing and dancing in a boy band called Dream Street from 1999 to 2002.

Source: The New York Times

Author H.G. Carrillo, who wrote the novel “Loosing My Espanish,” died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 59, the Washington Post reported on May 22. Carrillo was on the board of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation and taught at George Washington University.

—Jett Wilson (@jettzworld) May 22, 2020

The Washington Post updated its initial reports of Carrillo’s death on May 23 stating that Carrillo was actually from Detroit, Michigan, and not a Cuban immigrant as Carrillo himself had previously claimed.

 

U.S. Senator Annie Glenn died of health complications related to the coronavirus on May 19 at 100. She was the widow of former astronaut John Glenn.

Source: Dispatch

Wilson Roosevelt Jerman, a former White House butler, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 91, Fox 5 reported on May 19. Serving as a cleaner, doorman, and butler for 11 presidents from 1957 to 2012, he was one of the White House’s longest-serving employees.

Source: Fox 5

Roy Horn, an entertainer and half of the famed magician duo Siegfried & Roy, died of complications due to COVID-19 at 75 on May 8. Roy and his professional and domestic partner Siegfried Fischbacher had a long-running Las Vegas production lasting 35 years.

Source: New York Times

Jimmy Glenn, a Boxing Hall of Fame trainer turned New York bar owner, died of health complications related to the coronavirus, Eater reported on May 7. Glenn owned Jimmy’s Corner, a famous dive bar in Times Square.

Source: Eater

Ty, A UK-based rapper, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at age 47, the Guardian reported on May 7. Ty’s album “Upwards” was nominated for the Mercury Prize, an annual UK music award, in 2004.

Source: The Guardian

Michael Halkias, owner of the Grand Prospect Hall in Brooklyn, New York, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 82, Anamniseis reported on May 6. The Grand Prospect Hall is a national historic landmark that has been used as a concert venue, film set, and commercial shooting space for notable brands like Vogue and American Express.

—Andrew Gounardes (@agounardes) May 7, 2020

Source: Anamniseis

 

Len Fagan, drummer and owner of the nightclub Coconut Teaszer, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 72 on May 3, the club’s Facebook page shared. Fagan is credited with helping to build the Los Angeles music scene with his showcases of up-and-coming bands.

—Erika (@rockeuphoria) May 6, 2020

 

Source: Los Angeles Times

Gulshan Ewing, a journalist, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 92, her daughter Anjali Ewing confirmed to BBC on May 1. Ewing was known for editing two of India’s most popular women’s magazines — Eve’s Weekly and Star & Style. Ewing guided young female journalists during a feminist movement in the 1970s and 1980s.

—Dr. Sanjay Arora PhD (@chiefsanjay) April 22, 2020

 

Source: BBC

Actor BJ Hogg died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 65, Express confirmed on April 30. One of Hogg’s most notables roles was on the HBO series Games of Thrones as Sir Addam Mabrand.

—LyricTheatre Belfast (@LyricBelfast) May 1, 2020

 

Source: Express

Jonathan Adewumi, co-owner of an Afro-Caribbean restaurant in Brooklyn called Amarachi, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 57, NY1 reported on April 28. Eater called Adewumi “one of Brooklyn’s staunchest advocates for African culture and cooking.”

A post shared by Amarachi (@dine_amarachi)Apr 19, 2020 at 11:54pm PDT

 

Source: Eater, NY1

 

Troy Sneed, a grammy-nominated gospel singer, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 52, his friend, radio personality KD Bowe, confirmed on Instagram on April 27. Sneed released seven albums between 1999 and 2012.

I don’t know how to make sense of this. I’m not ok, man. Covid19 sucks. Will y’all please pray for Emily & the kids? Please? RIH, King. Or walk around it … all day. #RIPTroySneed

A post shared by kdbowe (@kdbowe) on Apr 27, 2020 at 5:43am PDTApr 27, 2020 at 5:43am PDT

Source: Mirror

 

Richard Sanders, a journalist, died after complications from the coronavirus at 62, BBC confirmed on April 25. Sanders was best known for presenting BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today show.

Source: Metro

Fredrick Thomas, a rapper from the Bronx, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 35 on April 23. A notable New York rapper for over a decade, he was known by fans as Fred the Godson.

Source: New York Post

Matteo De Cosmo, an art director, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 52 on April 21, Variety reported on May 1. De Cosmo was best known for his work on the Marvel TV show, “The Punisher.”

—ComicBook.com (@ComicBook) May 1, 2020

 

Source: Variety

Matthew Seligman, a lawyer and musician, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 64 on April 17. He was best known for playing guitar live with rock legend David Bowie in 1985.

Source: Mirror

Luis Sepúlveda, a Chilean author, died of health complications related to the coronavirus on at 70 on April 16. Sepúlveda was best known for his novels “The Old Man Who Read Love Stories” and “The Story of a Seagull and The Cat Who Taught Her To Fly.” Sepúlveda was a political activist early in life. He was jailed by dictator Augusto Pinochet and later exiled.

Source: The Guardian

John Horton Conway, a mathematician, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 82 on April 11. Conway created the online “Game of Life” game to teach players how life evolves.

 

—Princeton University (@Princeton) April 15, 2020

Sources: Princeton University, The Game of Life

 

Charles Gregory, an Emmy-nominated hairstylist, died of health complications related to the coronavirus on April 8. Gregory was known for working on films and TV shows with Tyley Perry.

Dear Black People, Today it’s with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of one of our crew members. Mr. Charles Gregory was a hairstylist that had worked with us for many years. The man was warm, loving and hilarious. We all loved to see him coming and hear his laughter. Charles lost his battle with COVID-19 today. It saddens me to think of him dying this way. My sincerest prayers are with his family. While everyone can contract this virus it is black people who are dying from it in much larger numbers. This thing is real, black people. I heard a black person say, “Black people don’t get it.” That is a lie! You can get it, and you will get it if we don’t do what we’re being told to do. A 26 year old black woman died the other day, a 44 year old black man died the other day, not to mention the hundreds of people that are dying every few minutes. Your age does not matter!! Your health does not matter. You could be totally healthy, and you could die! Now listen to me. You have been right by my side since I started in this business, so please hear me with your heart. I LOVE US. I love our humor. I love our culture. I love our hair. I love our skin. I love everything about who we are. All of us. And I love us all too much to watch us die on the vine because we are the last to know and we are not taking this pandemic seriously. Black people, we are at a disproportionately higher risk of dying from this virus. Please, please, please, I beg you to take this seriously. You have to socially distance yourself. That means stop hanging out, stop congregating, stop doing anything that will put not only your life in danger but also the lives of so many others. STAY HOME!! Socially distance yourself and stay alive! If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for someone you love, and for those who love you. My Mother always told me to not wait for help! Be your own help!

A post shared by Tyler Perry (@tylerperry) on Apr 8, 2020 at 7:24pm PDTApr 8, 2020 at 7:24pm PDT

Source: The Wrap

Ahmed Ismail Hussein, a Somalian musician, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 91 on April 7. Hussein was known as “King of Oud,” for his masterful playing of the oud, which is a stringed instrument.

—Barkhad M. Kaariye (@BarkhadKaariye) April 8, 2020

Source: The New York Times

 

Yaakov Perlow, a leading ultra-Orthodox rabbi, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 89 on April 7. Perlow served as the president of Agudath Israel of America for more than 20 years. The Agudath Israel of America is an organization for ultra-Orthodox Jews in the US that Perlow’s grandfather started in Poland.

Source: The Times of Isreal

Allen Garfield, an actor, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 80 on April 7. He was known for his supporting roles in the 1970s and 1980s, including key roles in the films “Nashville” and “Beverly Hills Cop II.”

Source: New York Post

American country folk singer-songwriter John Prine died of complications related to coronavirus, his family confirmed to Rolling Stone on April 7. He was 73. According to Rolling Stone, the country legend died at Nashville’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Source: Rolling Stone

Variety confirmed that Hal Willner died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 64 on April 7. Willner was a music sketch producer at SNL for about 20 years. He was also a record producer known for producing Disney tribute albums.

Source: Variety

Variety reported on April 5 that Lee Fierro, an actress best known for her role in “Jaws,” had died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 91. Fierro played Mrs. Kintner, the mother that slapped Chief Brody, played by Roy Scheider, across the face in the iconic 1975 film.

Source: Variety

Forrest Compton, an actor known for his role in the soap opera “Edge of the Night,” died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 94 on April 5. Compton served in World War II and attended the Yale Drama School.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Mahmoud Jibril, former Libyan Prime Minister and head of National Forces Alliance, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 67 on April 5. Jibril was the head of the NATO-supported opposition government that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi’s 40-year long rule in 2011.

Source: Middle East Eye, Al Jazeera

Actor Jay Benedict died of health complications related to the novel coronavirus on April 4, his agency TCG, tweeted. Benedict appeared in some major films, including “Aliens” and “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Source: New York Post, TCG Artist Management/Twitter

Patricia Bosworth, a Hollywood actress who wrote bestselling biographies about Marlon Brando, Jane Fonda, and Montgomery Clift, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 86 on April 3. Bosworth co-starred with Audrey Hepburn in “The Nun’s Story” in 1959.

Source: The Wrap

Sergio Rossi, a high-end women’s shoemaker, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 84 on April 2. Rihanna, Paris Hilton, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift are amongst some of his admirers. CNN reports that, in March, his company had announced it would be donating over $100,000 and pledging all of its online sales to the fight against COVID-19.

Source: The Jerusalem Post, CNN

Juan Gimenez, a comic artist known best for co-creating “The Metabarons,” died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 76 on April 2.

 

It seems that COVID-19 has claimed a member of the Heavy Metal family. Spanish-language news sources are reporting that the great Argentine artist Juan Gimenez has died. He had been in a hospital in his home country since March 22, after returning from Spain, where he lived. Gimenez is perhaps most famous for his work on Alejandro Jodorowsky’s Metabarons series. Over the years, Gimenez was a frequent contributor to Heavy Metal, both with and without Jodorowsky. He was 77. . #juangimenez #juangiménez #gimenez #giménez #coronavirus #covid19 #ripjuangimenez #ripjuangiménez @alejandro.jodorowsky

A post shared by Heavy Metal Magazine (@heavymetal) on Apr 2, 2020 at 9:40pm PDTApr 2, 2020 at 9:40pm PDT

 

Source: The Beat

Adam Schlesinger, a Grammy, Tony, Oscar, and Emmy nominated musician and songwriter, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 52 on April 1. Schlesinger co-founded the pop band “Fountains of Wayne” and won an Emmy for his work on “My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

Source: Gothamist

Jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, a prominent figure in the 70s New York music scene, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 94 on April 1.

Source: The New York Times

Ellis Marsalis Jr., a pianist who led a late 20th-century revival in jazz music, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 85 on April 1.

Source: The New York Times

Kevin Thomas Duffy, a federal judge who presided over terrorism cases, died of health complications related to coronavirus at 87 on April 1. He’s best known for overseeing the World Trade Center bombing trial in 1993.

Source: The New York Times

Jesus Roman Melendez, a prestigious New York chef, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 49 on April 1. Melendez was known as the “backbone” of Jean Georges, a high-end French restaurant with two Michelin stars.

Sources: Grub Street, Michelin Guide

Cristina Monet, a singer-songwriter from New York, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 64 on March 31. With a unique, experimental style, she brought a fresh outlook to New York’s nightlife scene in the 70s and 80s.

Remembering CRISTINA today and the joy she brought into the world She was so helpful and encouraging with our publication Showboat and brought our panel to life RIP You Will Be Missed #dashwoodbooks #cristinamonetpalaci #zerecords #cristinamonet #sleepitoff #showboatpunksexbodies #themottcollection #TobyMott #culturaltraffic #dashwoodbooksigning #counterculture

A post shared by Cultural Traffic Arts Project (@culturaltraffic) on Apr 5, 2020 at 7:34am PDTApr 5, 2020 at 7:34am PDT

Source: The New York Times

Jenny Polanco, a fashion designer who revolutionized Dominican style, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 62 on March 31.

Source: The New York Times

Wallace Roney, a jazz trumpeter called “Miles Davis’s only true protégé” by The New York Times, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 59 on March 31.

Source: The New York Times

Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at age 68 on March 31. The French football club confirmed his death in a statement on Twitter. Diouf was the first black president of a top-tier European club.

Source: The Guardian

Gita Ramjee, a world-renowned HIV scientist, died from health complications related to the coronavirus on March 31.

—The Aurum Institute (@Auruminstitute) March 31, 2020

 

Source: BBC News

Lorena Borjas, a transgender immigrant activist who turned her home in New York into an HIV clinic died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 59 on March 30.

—TransgenderLawCenter (@TransLawCenter) March 30, 2020

Source: The New York Times

James T. Goodrich, a neurosurgeon who was a pioneer in separating conjoined twins, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 73 on March 30. Goodrich first became prominent in 2004 for operating on twins who shared significant amounts of brain tissue.

Source: CNN

Joe Diffie, a country musician who was known for the hits “John Deere Green” and “If the Devil Danced,” died from health complications related to the coronavirus at 61 on March 29.

Source: CNMN

Ken Shimura, a beloved comedian, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 70 on March 29. The New York Times describes him as a “household name” in Japanese culture.

Source: The New York Times

Maria Mercader, an executive producer at CBS News, died from health complications related to the coronavirus at 54 on March 29.

Maria Mercader, our beloved CBS News colleague, died from COVID-19 on Sunday at age 54. “It’s nearly impossible to be someone EVERYONE loves, but Maria was.”

A post shared by CBS News (@cbsnews) on Mar 29, 2020 at 11:13am PDTMar 29, 2020 at 11:13am PDT

 

Source: CBS News/Twitter

Alan Merrill, a musician who co-wrote “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, died from health complications related to the coronavirus at 69 on March 29.

Source: Vulture

William Helmreich, a scholar, sociologist, and professor who walked every block of New York City and wrote a book about it, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 74 on March 28. Helmreich was described as “fearless” by the New York Times in his efforts to communicate with and learn about other people.

Source: The New York Times

Tim Liszewski, a progressive activist, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 60 on March 28. Liszewski was a senior regional organizer with the Indivisible Project in South Carolina. The group is dedicated to electing progressive, anti-Trump candidates.

Source: The State

Michael McKinnell, an architect who designed the Boston City Hall, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 84 on March 27. McKinnell entered a contest for the design of the building, and he won because of his innovative and public-minded design.

Source: The New York Times

Andreas Koutsoudakis, the chef who ran Tribeca’s Kitchen, a popular diner in New York, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 59 on March 27.

💞

A post shared by Tribeca’s Kitchen NYC (@tribecaskitchen) on Mar 30, 2020 at 12:19pm PDTMar 30, 2020 at 12:19pm PDT

Source: NY Eater

Actor Mark Blum, 69, who recently starred in the TV show “You,” died on March 26 from health complications related to the coronavirus. He’s best known for his role in “Desperately Seeking Susan.”

Source: AV Club

Michael Sorkin, a New York architect and author who prioritized sustainability, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 71 on March 26.

Source: The New York Times

Chef Floyd Cardoz, 59, of Tabla and Bombay Bread Bar, died of health complications related to the novel coronavirus on March 25. Eater NY described him as a “force in New York’s restaurant community.”

Source: Eater, Scroll.In

Manu Dibango, the jazz musician behind “Soul Makossa,” a track that has been sampled by Michael Jackson and Kanye West, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 86 on March 24.

Source: Rolling Stone

Dr. John Murray, a globally recognized respiratory doctor, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 92 on March 24. Murray was known for helping scientists understand acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Source: The New York Times

Terrence McNally, a Tony Award-winning playwright, died on March 24 of health complications related to the coronavirus. McNally was a lung-cancer survivor living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Source: NPR

Nashom Wooden, known by the drag community as Mona Foot, died at 50 on March 23 of an illness that was believed to be the novel coronavirus, although it was not confirmed. While Wooden lived with HIV for several years, it had dropped to undetectable levels before he died. Wooden was a writer, performer, bartender, and fashion icon in the LGBT community.

Source: The New York Times

Zororo Makamba, a journalist and TV host, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 30 on March 23 with a preexisting condition. He was recovering from a surgery he had last November to remove a tumor from beneath his lung. Makamba was well-known for the social and political commentary he shared online.

You are with us, as we are with you #RIPZororoMakamba

A post shared by SON with Zororo Makamba (@sonwithzororo) on Mar 24, 2020 at 10:04am PDTMar 24, 2020 at 10:04am PDT

Source: BBC News

Lucia Bosè, an actress who starred on the TV show “Double Image,” died at 89 of pneumonia on March 23. Spanish news outlet 5TeleCinco reported that she was infected with the coronavirus.

Source: Billboard, Yahoo, 5TeleCinco, El País

Ronald Lewis, a life-long New Orleans resident, died of health complications related to the coronavirus at 68 on March 30. In his own backyard, Lewis had an African-American cultural museum called “House of Dance and Feathers,” which preserves the street culture in New Orlean’s black neighborhoods that dates back to the 1800s.

Source: The New York Times

Li Wenliang, a Chinese doctor who tried to warn medics of the novel coronavirus and contracted it while treating patients in Wuhan, China, died of the virus on February 7.

Source: BBC News