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://staging.sepsis.org/sepsisand/celebrities/

Updated August 20, 2025.

 

Likely Sepsis Cases By Illness:

Bacterial Infection
  • Ronnie Coleman – pro body builder, “blood 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

Julia Lee Bloom

Forever 32. Julia Lee Bloom died on January 26, 2023, less than a week after a routine, outpatient surgery to remove the endometriosis that had caused her ongoing pain due to her diagnosed PCOS. Her autopsy report listed her death as a result of Streptococcus A, due to toxic shock syndrome. (Sepsis and Surgery, Sepsis and Group A Streptococcus, Sepsis and Toxic Shock Syndrome) She went to work on a Thursday as a hairstylist and greeted her clients with her beautiful smile and warm heart. She cooked supper that evening for her husband and her 2 young boys, ages 4 ... Read Full Story

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Courtney H.

Last year I had an induction to go into labour for my first pregnancy, I gave birth and then got sent to the ward. I had to stay at the ward myself as my partner went home. It was about 11pm at night where I started feeling like I had the flu. I felt so unwell and dehydrated, during this time my newborn baby was crying all night and I didn’t get any sleep until 8am. When I woke up about 10am I told the nurse I had a temperature, I remember dripping of sweat uncontrollably and shaking. (Sepsis and ... Read Full Story

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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

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Sherry S.

I became septic after a UTI that sent me to ICU for 3days. (Sepsis and Urinary Tract Infections) Weeks after I got out of hospital. I had to several trips to the E.R. Related to anaphylactic shock due to allergic reactions of unknown causes. After seeing an allergist it was determined that I had no allergies. My problem was mast cell activation syndrome caused by septic shock. I take allergy medicine every day. And carry an EpiPen. I am on a low histamine diet. Lately I have several issues related to mental problems, cognitive decline, memory loss, inability to process ... Read Full Story

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Cassandra Vestal

I got my IUD taken out to start IVF. I began hemorrhage, bleeding. I knew I was dying and wasn’t taken seriously until I passed out with my oxygen at 50%. I had 2 life saving surgeries a near heart attack, and pneumonia.  (Sepsis and Pneumonia) My family was told I wouldn’t make it. I lost my entire reproduction system. However, I’m glad I was one of the few to survive. 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.