This is a categorized, alphabetical list of people who are known to have been infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the pathogen that causes AIDS, including those who have died. AIDS is a pandemic.
Since the beginning of the epidemic, 84.2 million [64.0–113.0 million] people have been infected with the HIV virus and about 40.1 million [33.6–48.6 million] people have died of HIV.
Globally, 38.4 million [33.9–43.8 million] people were living with HIV at the end of 2021. An estimated 0.7% [0.6-0.8%] of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions.
The WHO African Region remains most severely affected, with nearly 1 in every 29 adults living with HIV and accounting for more than two-thirds of the people living with HIV worldwide.
HIV is spread primarily by unprotected sex (including vaginal, anal, and oral sex), contaminated blood transfusions, hypodermic needles, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Because of lack of public acceptance, people infected with HIV are frequently subjected to stigma and discrimination. Publicity campaigns around the world have aimed to counter HIV-related prejudices and misconceptions and to replace them with an accurate understanding that helps to prevent new infections. These efforts have been aided by various celebrities – including American basketball star Magic Johnson and South African judge Edwin Cameron – who have publicly announced that they are HIV-positive.
Acting (film and television)
Name Life Comments Reference Dallas Adams (1947–1991) British actor who appeared in King's Royal Charlie Barnett (1954–1996)American actor and comedian who starred in the television series Miami Vice and the 1983 film D.C. Cab Christopher Bernau (1940–1989) American actor who starred in the television series Dark Shadows Amanda Blake (1929–1989) American actress, known for her role as Kitty Russell in the television series Gunsmoke Sandra Bréa (1952–2000) Brazilian actress and model, regarded as one of Brazil's main sex symbols of the 1970s Jim J. Bullock (born 1955) American actor who starred in the sitcoms Too Close for Comfort and Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide Stephan W. Burns (1954–1990) American actor who starred in the film Herbie Goes Bananas and the television mini-series The Thorn Birds Merritt Butrick (1959–1989) American actor, known for playing Captain Kirk's son in the films Star Trek, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Eduardo Casanova (born 1991) Spanish actor and filmmaker Ian Charleson (1949–1990) British actor, known for playing the role of athlete Eric Liddell in the film Chariots of Fire Daveigh Chase (1990–2026) American actress, known for playing the role of Lilo Pelekai in Lilo and Stitch and Samara Morgan in the The Ring. Yoni Chen (1953–1995) Israeli actor who performed the role of Batz on the puppet show Parpar Nechmad and dubbed the voices of characters on animated shows and films into the Hebrew language, most notably Looney Tunesיוני חן (in Hebrew) Keith Christopher (1957–1998) American actor and singer, known for playing HIV-positive characters on NBC soap opera Another World and CBS daytime drama The Guiding Light Brad Davis (1949–1991) American actor, known for playing the part of Billy Hayes in the film Midnight Express Robert Drivas (1938–1986) American film, television and stage actor Denholm Elliott (1922–1992) British actor, known for his performances in the films Trading Places, A Private Function, Defence of the Realm and A Room with a View René Enríquez (1933–1990) Nicaraguan-American actor, known for his role in the 1980s television series Hill Street Blues - Richard Frank (1953–1995) American television and motion picture actor, known for playing the role of Father Vogler in the film Amadeus Leonard Frey (1938–1988) American Broadway and film actor, known for his performance as Motel Kamzoil in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof Tom Fuccello (1936–1993) American actor, known for his role as Dave Culver in the television series Dallas Leslie Graves (1959–1995) American actress, known for playing Brenda Clegg in the soap opera Capitol from 1982 to 1984 Kevin Peter Hall (1955–1991) American actor, known for his roles in the films Predator and Harry and the Hendersons Alt URL Antony Hamilton (1952–1995) Australian actor, model and dancer, known for his roles in Cover Up and the 1988 revival of Mission Impossible. Christian Haren (1935–1996) American actor and model, known for portraying the Marlboro Man in print advertisements. Rock Hudson (1925–1985) American actor, first major public figure to publicly disclose his HIV status. Michael Jeter (1952–2003) American film and theatre actor, known for his role on the sitcom Evening Shade and his performance as Otto Kringelein in the musical Grand Hotel, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical Larry Kert (1930–1991) American film and theatre actor Hans Kesting (born 1960) Dutch film, theatre and television actor. Rémi Laurent (1957–1989) French actor, known for playing Laurent Baldi in the French-Italian movie La Cage aux Folles. Sirpa Lane (1952–1999) Finnish actress and model, known for starring in the films La Bête (1975), Nazi Love Camp 27 (1977) and The Secret Nights of Lucrezia Borgia (1982) Irving Allen Lee (1948–1992) American soap opera and musical actor Cláudia Magno (1958–1994) Brazilian actress and dancer Tom McBride (1952–1995) American actor and model, best known for his role in Friday the 13th Part 2 and for his modeling stint as the Marlboro Man Dursley McLinden (1965–1995) British actor; the lead character of Ritchie Tozer (played by Olly Alexander) in the 2021 AIDS drama series It's a Sin was inspired by him John Megna (1952–1995) American former child actor, known for his role as Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird Steve Moore (1954–2014) American comedian whose 1997 HBO special Drop Dead Gorgeous (A Tragi-Comedy): The Power of HIV-Positive Thinking focused on finding the humor in life with HIV "Moore Celebrates The Power Of Positive Thinking" . Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1997. Lesego Motsepe (1974–2014) South African actress and AIDS activist Cookie Mueller (1949–1989) American actor and writer who appeared in many of filmmaker John Waters' early films Timothy Patrick Murphy (1959–1988) American actor, known for playing the role of Mickey Trotter in the television series Dallas Jeffrey Mylett (1949–1986) American actor, known for his roles in the films Godspell and My Man Adam Michael Nader (1945–2021) American actor; known for his roles in television series All My Children and Dynasty. Nisha Noor (1962–2007) South Indian actress; starred in the Tamil films Kalyana Agathigal (1985) and Iyer the Great (1990) David Oliver (1962–1991) American actor, known for his roles in Another World and A Year in the Life Ilka Tanya Payán (1943–1996) Dominican-born American actress, attorney and activist; she was one of the first Latino celebrities to publicly disclose her HIV-positive status. Mark Patton (born 1958) American actor best known for portraying Jesse Walsh in A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge Anthony Perkins (1932–1992) American actor best known for his role as Norman Bates in the Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho Danny Pintauro (born 1976) American actor best known for his role as Jonathan in the 1980s sitcom Who's the Boss? Who's the Boss' Star Danny Pintauro Reveals He Has HIV from ABC News 25 September 2015 Werner Pochath (1939–1993) Austrian actor Billy Porter (born 1969) American actor Keith Prentice (1940–1992) American theatre and soap opera actor Kurt Raab (1941–1988) German actor known for his work with film director Rainer Werner Fassbinder Dack Rambo (1941–1994) American actor who played Jack Ewing in the television series Dallas Gene Anthony Ray (1962–2003) American actor and dancer; best known for his portrayal of the street smart dancer Leroy in the 1980 motion picture Fame and its television spin-off. Robert Reed (1932–1992) American actor, known for playing the role of Mike Brady on The Brady Bunch. Tony Richardson (1928–1991) British film director, known for his 1963 film Tom Jones, for which he received two Academy Awards Larry Riley (1952–1992) American actor, known for playing the role of Frank Williams in the soap opera Knots Landing Howard Rollins (1950–1996) American actor, nominated for the 1981 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the film RagtimeSean Sasser(1968–2013)American actor who appeared on MTV's The Real World: San Francisco, AIDS activist, and pastry chefFranklyn Seales(1952–1990)St. Vincent-born American actor, known for his role in the sitcom Silver Spoons Tommy Sexton (1955–1993) Canadian actor and comedianHouse of Assembly -Newfoundland & Labrador, December 1, 2004 HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS Vol. XLV No. 50 Ray Sharkey (1952–1993) American actor, known for his performance in The Idolmaker, for which he won a Golden Globe Award Charlie Sheen (born 1965) American actor Paul Shenar (1936–1989) American film and theatre actor, known for his role as Alejandro Sosa in the 1983 film Scarface Hugo Soto (1953–1994) Argentine film and theatre actor Dennis Cleveland Stewart (1947–1994) American film and television actor and professional dancer; best known for his role as Leo in the 1978 film Grease Stephen Stucker (1947–1986) American actor and comedian; best known for the Airplane! films Taína (born 1975) Puerto Rican television personality Steve Tracy (1952–1986) American actor, best known for his role in Little House on the Prairie Charlotte Valandrey (1968–2022) French actress and author José De Vega (1934–1990) American actor, best known for playing Chino in both the Broadway and 1961 film versions of West Side Story Tom Villard (1953–1994) American actor; played Jay Bostwick in the TV series We Got It Made
AIDS activists