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 6, 2024.

 

Likely Sepsis Cases By Illness:

Bacterial Infection
  • Ashley Park, actress – treated for tonsillitis 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

Erin K.

Five years ago I was admitted into the hospital. I had been feeling tired and out of sorts for a few days leading up to it but just chalked it up to being busy: kid’s activities with my daughters in 4th grade and 2nd grade at the time, weddings (I’m a florist), the school PTA Auction coming up which I was chairing, and life in general. But then I started having a hard time breathing. I felt like my throat was swelling up and I woke my husband up at 5am and said I needed to go to the hospital. ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Frank Pizza

My dad was my best friend in the world. He was the kindest person I have ever known, a true definition of an angel on earth. He developed sepsis as a result of aspiration pneumonia, due to his Parkinson’s, and within three short weeks to the day, he passed away. (Sepsis and Parkinson’s Disease, Sepsis and Pneumonia) The medical teams did a wonderful job doing all that they could, and my dad fought hard. He gave his family the best life imaginable, as a result of his love, hard work, and how he raised his daughters. Although our world will ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Margaret Foster

My mother died of sepsis on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at the age of 73. She had a history of diverticulitis, but was told after her routine colonoscopy in 2023 that although she had diverticulitis throughout her colon, that she could either schedule a colonoscopy in 10 years, or she could choose to never have one again. On the morning, of February 13, my mother called me and said she was in terrible pain and needed to go to the hospital. I rushed to her home, saw that she had a high fever, called 911, and she was at the ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Shelly Diana

I retired from nursing after being a nursing supervisor on an Intensive Care Unit for the past 12 years. My youngest son Jason and I left Arizona to visit my mom in Illinois for a few days in March of 2022. The first few days of the trip were normal and then on Monday I developed flank pain. By Tuesday morning the pain was unbearable. Jason took me to the Emergency Room in my mom’s hometown and I was diagnosed with 4 kidney stones. (Sepsis and Kidney Stones) The Emergency Room doctor wanted to admit me to the hospital but ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

Trevor Buckmaster

Went in on Tuesday 9/3rd 2024 because my son had a deer tick on his back. The ER doctor sent us away because there was no bull’s-eye on his back. He said if he gets high fever get back to the ER. Sunday 9/8/24 we headed back into the ER because Trevor had a high fever. The doctor started treating him with Tylenol and amoxacillin. His heart was working over time because of the high fever. Trevor was back to himself. Doctor want to see if he could find a bed. I said no, if he has another high temperature ... Read Full Story

Submit Your StoryView More Stories

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.