Despite the valiant efforts of medical professionals across the world, the novel coronavirus has
taken a deadly toll. Untold numbers of people have lost their lives to the pandemic, including
a few famous faces. These are some of the celebrities who have tragically died from
coronavirus.
Manu Dibango, a Cameroonian jazz artist whose celebrated career spanned decades, passed
away from complications due to the coronavirus at the age of 86. The legendary multi-instrumentalist
and songwriter died in a Paris hospital, according to a statement posted on his official Facebook
page on March 24th.
Dibango's 1973 hit "Soul Makossa" inspired everyone from Michael Jackson, who used the
song's refrain on "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"; to Rihanna, who sampled the dance floor smash
on her 2007 single "Don't Stop the Music."
"How can I say? Vive le Kenya, Vive l'Afrique. Long life to Kenya, long life to Africa."
Celebrity chef and international restaurateur Floyd Cardoz passed away from COVID-19 on
March 25th, at Mountainside Hospital in New Jersey. He was 59. The winner of Bravo's third
season of Top Chef Masters, Cardoz admitted himself to the hospital on March 17th, having
become ill after a trip to India. His last Instagram post was a selfie taken in the hospital
the same day, in which he wrote:
"I was feeling feverish and hence as a precautionary measure, admitted myself into hospital in
New York."
The India-born chef's Manhattan restaurant, Tabla, elevated Indian-American modern cuisine
like no other chef before him. In the wake of Cardoz's passing, fellow celebrity chef
Andrew Zimmern tweeted:
"I adored him. A great chef, groundbreaking in so many ways, a generous human, resilient
of spirit and loved his family, his garden and our restaurant world so much. I'm stunned."
Five-time Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally passed away due to complications from coronavirus
on March 24th, at the age of 81. The creative mind behind a number of hugely popular stage
musicals, McNally routinely brought gay characters to mainstream audiences, and wrote about homophobia
and AIDS when those topics were still considered socially taboo. News of McNally's death led
many Broadway stars to pay their respects. Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda tweeted:
"Heartbroken over the loss of Terrence McNally, a giant in our world, who straddled plays
and musicals deftly. Grateful for his staggering body of work and his unfailing kindness."
Actor Patrick Wilson tweeted:
"My first acting award at a one-act festival in high school. My first Tony nomination was
for Full Monty. Both shows [were] written by Terrence McNally. He had a monumental impact
on my career and will be missed. Rest In Peace, my friend."
McNally is survived by his husband, producer Tom Kirdahy.
Actor Mark Blum died at the age of 69 on March 25th, having tested positive for COVID-19
a week prior. His wife of 15 years, Janet Zarish, said that Blum suffered from asthma,
but had not knowingly been in contact with anyone else who had contracted the virus.
Perhaps best known for his roles in Crocodile Dundee and Desperately Seeking Susan, Blum
also starred in a wide range of Broadway productions over the course of 40-plus years in showbiz.
Following the news of his passing, the theater company Playwrights Horizons tweeted:
"With love and heavy hearts, Playwrights Horizons pays tribute to Mark Blum, a dear longtime
friend, and a consummate artist who passed this week. Thank you, Mark, for all you brought
to our theater, and to theaters and audiences across the world. We will miss you."
Meanwhile, actress Rosanna Arquette, who starred in Desperately Seeking Susan alongside Blum
and Madonna in the mid-'80s, offered her condolences on Twitter, writing in part:
"I'm so deeply sad for his family and for his fans. [He] was a wonderful actor and a
very good and kind man."
Country music singer Joe Diffie was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 27th. In a statement
released to Rolling Stone, the 61-year-old musician revealed:
"I am under the care of medical professionals and currently receiving treatment. My family
and I are asking for privacy at this time. We want to remind the public and all my fans
to be vigilant, cautious, and careful during this pandemic."
However, two days after the announcement, Diffie sadly passed away. Over the course
of his career, Diffie released four gold and platinum albums, 17 Top 10 hits, and sold
more than six million records worldwide. He was best known for a string of '90s hits,
including "Pickup Man," "Honky Tonk Attitude," "Third Rock From The Sun," "Prop Me Up Beside
The Jukebox," and "John Deere Green."
A number of Diffie's peers have since taken to social media to express their condolences.
Trace Adkins called Diffie one of the all-time great vocalists, while Granger Smith wrote:
"Here's to you Pickup Man. You inspired an entire generation of country singers and accepted
us all with kindness, gratitude and buckets of talent."
Actor Andrew Jack passed away from complications related to COVID-19 on March 31st. He was
76. His dialect coach wife, Gabrielle Rogers, announced the news on Twitter, writing in
part:
"Andrew Jack was diagnosed with coronavirus two days ago. He was in no pain, and he slipped
away peacefully knowing that his family were all 'with' him."
Having most recently played Major Ematt in the latest Star Wars trilogy, Jack was also
a dialect coach and worked with A-list actors on major films such as The Lord of the Rings
trilogy, Star Wars, and Avengers: Endgame. At the time of his passing, he had been coaching
Robert Pattinson for The Batman.
Several stars have since reacted to Jack's passing on social media, including Lord of
the Rings actors Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, and Star Wars director JJ Abrams. Anthony
Daniels, who plays C-3PO in Star Wars, tweeted:
"He was a joy to be with on the new trilogy. As dialect coach, he helped the cast get it
right through his talent and humour. As an actor, his distinguished features made him
stand out in any scene."
Fountains of Wayne co-founder and Emmy and Grammy-winning songwriter Adam Schlesinger
passed away on April 1st, at the age of 52. According to Variety, Schlesinger had been
sedated on a ventilator in a New York hospital for several days after contracting coronavirus.
In addition to his work with Fountains of Wayne, Schlesinger received Emmy, Oscar, Grammy,
Golden Globe, and Tony nominations for his soundtrack work, most notably for writing
the title track to Tom Hanks' 1997 film That Thing You Do. He also nabbed two Emmys for
the 150-plus songs he wrote for the CW series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Stars who worked with Schlesinger on those projects paid their respects to the prolific
songwriter on social media. Actor Ethan Embry tweeted:
"I remember the day all the Oneders, Liv Tyler and Tom Hanks sat in a room and played about
six submitted tracks from different bands for That Thing You Do. When we heard Adam
Schlesinger's cassette it was instantly clear which track we would need to learn."
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend star Rachel Bloom called him a "genius," and shared some of his work
from the show. She also tweeted:
"I have so much to say about Adam Schlesinger that I am at a complete loss for words. He
is irreplaceable."
New Orleans jazz legend and pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. passed away on April 1st due
to complications of COVID-19. He was 85 years old. His son, Branford Marsalis, said in a
statement:
"It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Ellis Marsalis Jr.
My dad was a giant of a musician and teacher, but an even greater father. He poured everything
he had into making us the best of what we could be."
During his tenure as a teacher at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, Marsalis
taught such notable future musicians as film composer Terence Blanchard and pianist Harry
Connick, Jr. He was also named a "Jazz Master" by the National Endowment for the Arts in
2011, which is considered the highest honor for an American jazz musician. Marsalis is
also the patriarch of one of the country's greatest musical families, including four
sons with illustrious careers, one of whom is nine-time Grammy-winning trumpeter Wynton
Marsalis.
Jazz guitarist John "Bucky" Pizzarelli died on April 1st at the age of 94, due to COVID-19.
His son and fellow jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli told the Morristown Daily Record:
"There will be some kind of tribute as soon as we can all get within six feet of each
other."
The New Jersey Hall of Fame member and virtuoso guitarist performed for multiple presidents
at the White House during his eight-decade career, backing the likes of Paul McCartney
and Frank Sinatra. Pizzarelli also served in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show band when
Johnny Carson was still taping his show in New York City. His son said:
"Doc asked him to go with them to California, but he said he wanted to stay here."
John Pizzarelli went on to say:
"He was the ultimate sideman. He wasn't looking to be the guy out in front of the band. He
was happy to be inside the band, supporting the whole organization."
"Yeah, when it clicks, the sparks start flying around. And that's what we like."
Pizzarelli is survived by his wife, their four children, and four grandchildren.
Jaws actress Lee Fierro died from complications of COVID-19 at an Ohio assisted living facility,
at the age of 91. While she trained as a theater actress, Fierro was perhaps best known to
the masses for her scene-stealing role as the grieving mother who slapped Roy Scheider's
Chief Brody in Steven Spielberg's 1975 hit flick.
Fierro spent much of her life on Martha's Vineyard, teaching drama to over 1,000 children
at the Island Theatre Workshop over the course of four decades. According to theater's artistic
director, Kevin Ryan:
"The one word I would think of when I think of Lee is dedication. I've watched her as
a performer, director, and businesswoman, and then we became friends. She was my teacher
and mentor. She was fiercely dedicated to the mission of teaching. She, no matter what
it was, would stay at it and get the job done."
Actor Jay Benedict passed away from coronavirus on April 4th, at 68 years old. With over 120
on-screen credits to his name, Benedict was known for his roles in Aliens and The Dark
Knight Rises, among many others. After the news of his passing broke, Benedict's longtime
friend, Pierce Brosnan, paid tribute to the actor on Instagram. He wrote:
"Life was so much fun with Jay. On stage and off, we laughed a lot at the world around
us, at ourselves, saw the funny side of life always. He was a courageous man of handsome
life force, that shone its light in every room he walked into."
Benedict is survived by his wife, Phoebe Scholfield, and their sons, Freddie and Leopold.
Legendary country-folk singer-songwriter John Prine passed away due to complications from
the coronavirus in Nashville on April 7th, at the age of 73. The multiple Grammy winner
was hospitalized and intubated in late March, according to his family. A favorite of such
icons as Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and Kris Kristofferson, Prine was called "the Mark
Twain of American songwriting" by Rolling Stone and influenced countless songwriters
over the course of his illustrious career. As the news of his death spread, countless
music legends paid their respects. Bruce Springsteen tweeted:
"Over here on E Street, we are crushed by the loss of John Prine. John and I were 'New
Dylans' together in the early 70s and he was never anything but the loveliest guy in the
world. A true national treasure and a songwriter for the ages. We send our love and prayers
to his family."
Meanwhile, Bonnie Raitt tweeted:
"Words can't even come close. I'm crushed by the loss of my dear friend, John. My heart
and love go out to Fiona and all the family. For all of us whose hearts are breaking, we
will keep singing his songs and holding him near."
"When I get to heaven, I'm gonna shake God's hand. I'm gonna thank him for more blessings
than one man can stand."
Prine is survived by his wife, two sons, a stepson, and three grandchildren.
Music producer and long-time Saturday Night Live sketch music producer Hal Willner died
from complications due to the novel coronavirus on April 7th. He was 64. In addition to his
work on SNL, Willner produced music for Lou Reed and Marianne Faithfull and helped launch
the career of Jeff Buckley. Tributes to Willner from his SNL family poured in as news broke.
Former cast member Julia Louis-Dreyfus tweeted:
"Absolutely devastated to get this news about my weird and lovely pal, Hal. We are heartbroken."
Lou Reed's official Twitter account also wrote:
"Earlier today Hal Willner passed away. Hal was one of Lou's dearest friends and his sudden
departure is a heavy blow. Please keep his family in your thoughts. If you can, light
a candle for Hal. Please stay home and stay safe."
Cinematographer and frequent Steven Spielberg-collaborator Allen Daviau died of coronavirus complications
on April 15th, while under care at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital.
The five-time Academy Award nominee was 77. Speaking with Deadline, CEO of the Motion
Picture & Television Fund Bob Beitcher said:
"Allen was diagnosed about a week ago...In the last few days, as his condition went downhill
and it was clear that he wasn't going to survive, his friends and healthcare advocates and our
staff worked to bring him back to MPTF, because he wanted to die at home. This had been his
home for the last eight years."
In a statement given to Deadline, Daviau's old friend and colleague Steven Spielberg
said:
"In 1968, Allen and I started our careers side by side with the short film Amblin. Allen
was a wonderful artist but his warmth and humanity were as powerful as his lens. He
was a singular talent and a beautiful human being."
The famed producer-director had also sent Daviau a letter recounting their years of
friendship together, which was read to Daviau several times prior to his passing.
British film actress Hilary Heath passed away on March 30th, due to COVID-19 complications.
She was 74. Heath's godson broke the news in a Facebook post. He wrote:
"We lost my wonderful Godmother Hilary Heath to COVID-19 last week. She was a force of
nature, and I can't bear it that she is no longer with us."
Heath, working under her maiden name, Hilary Dwyer, starred in several horror films alongside
screen icon Vincent Price, before transitioning into producing. In this capacity, she helped
bring films like 1995's An Awfully Big Adventure and 1997's Nil by Mouth to the screen, working
with some of the most prolific actors and actresses of the 1990s. Heath is survived
by her daughter and her son, film composer Daniel Heath. In his Facebook post, Heath's
godson wrote:
"Her most remarkable reinvention came in her mid-60s, when she won a master's degree from
Oxford in psychology and became an addiction counsellor, specialising in CBT. She worked
at clinics all over the world, often for free, often with very deprived and distressed individuals,
and she regarded this as her most valuable work by far."
Veteran character actor Allen Garfield died from COVID-19 complications on April 7th.
He was 80 years old. Garfield had been living at the Motion Picture & Television Fund Home
retirement facility since suffering his second stroke in 2004.
Born Allen Goorwitz, the actor was a former Golden Gloves boxer and sports journalist
who eventually pivoted to acting in the late 60s, after studying under Lee Strasberg at
legendary Actors Studio. In a television interview, he once shed some light on his time as a trainee
actor.
"I audaciously stepped out and said who I was, for better or for worse. I put my stamp
on things as an actor and as a director."
Garfield's intense energy and authenticity served him well over his forty-year career,
scoring him numerous roles in a range of hit movies and shows, from The West Wing to Beverly
Hills Cop II. He is survived by a sister, Lois Goorwitz.
Veteran voice actress Julie Bennett died on March 31st at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles. She was 88. In a statement, Bennett's agent said:
"She was definitely a personality and a throwback to Hollywood glamour."
After attending Beverly Hills High School, Bennett returned to her hometown of New York
City to hone her craft with stage work, radio soaps, and television dramas. However, after
heading back to Los Angeles and nabbing a number of small roles in Hollywood, Bennett
found her true calling, voiceover acting.
Best known for voicing Cindy Bear in The Yogi Bear Show, Bennett went on to lend her voice
talents to all kinds of animated hits, from The Bugs Bunny Show to Spider-Man: The Animated
Series.
Roy Horn of the Las Vegas act Siegfried & Roy passed away from COVID-19 complications on
May 8th. The legendary performer was 75. In a statement, Horn's colleague and friend Siegfried
Fischbacher said:
"Today, the world has lost one of the greats of magic, but I have lost my best friend.
From the moment we met, I knew Roy and I, together, would change the world. There could
be no Siegfried without Roy, and no Roy without Siegfried."
Fellow Las Vegas magician and illusionist Criss Angel tweeted his respects, writing:
"Thank you for your kindness, inspiration and friendship. You paved the road and will
forever be missed."
MGM Resorts, which owns The Mirage, where Siegfried & Roy performed for over a decade,
also honored the iconic performer. Their official account tweeted:
"The world lost a legendary figure with the passing of Roy Horn. His story, and the story
of Siegfried & Roy, are larger than life. Our hearts go out to Roy's family and friends,
and most notably to Siegfried who shared a lifetime of magic and friendship with this
special man."