The infectious disease hepatitis C is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which affects the liver. During the initial infection, people often have mild or no symptoms, and there is typically no symptoms early during chronic infection. This condition can progress to scarring of the liver (fibrosis), and advanced scarring (cirrhosis). Over many years however, it often leads to liver disease and occasionally cirrhosis. In some cases, those with cirrhosis will develop complications such as liver failure, liver cancer, or dilated blood vessels in the esophagus and stomach.
Although HCV was not discovered until April 1989, an estimated 170 million people worldwide are infected by hepatitis C. As of April 2014, 130—150 million globally suffer from chronic hepatitis C infection; a significant number develop cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer. Each year, 350,000 to 500,000 people die from hepatitis C-related liver diseases. No vaccine is available at this time. The symptoms of infection can be medically managed when the disease is diagnosed early, and a proportion of patients can be cleared of the virus by a course of anti-viral medicines. Globally, an estimated 50–95% of people treated are cured. With more recently developed medications, cure rates are around 80 to 95%. The symptoms of HCV infection, especially in its early stages, can be mild enough to conceal the fact of the disease; thus, some people do not seek treatment. As Live Aid founder Bob Geldof states, "Stigma, shame and fear can suffocate awareness. These barriers prevent people from getting tested, receiving treatment, and clearing themselves of this disease". A number of celebrities diagnosed with the disease have decided to go public to raise awareness about hepatitis C and to encourage more people to get tested for the disease.
Acting
Name Lifetime Comments 1967– Famous for her role as C.J. Parker on the television series Baywatch. She has, since late 2015 had a successful treatment of hepatitis C, and has been cured of the disease. 1943–2003 Child actor who played "Whitey" on Leave it to Beaver. He was a recovering heroin addict who died after complications from surgery. 1962– German woman portrayed in the book Zoo Station: The Story of Christiane F. and its film adaptation Christiane F. She contracted hepatitis C from an infected needle in the late 1980s while injecting heroin. 1911–1987 American actor, singer, dancer, comedian, and musician. His performances featured physical comedy, idiosyncratic pantomimes, and rapid-fire novelty songs. He contacted hepatitis C four years before his death from a transfusion during surgery. 1955–2018 Son of Peter Lawford and nephew of John F. Kennedy, best known for his role as Charlie Brent on the soap opera All My Children in the early 1990s. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2000. 1949–2002 The star of the 1972 pornographic film Deep Throat. She contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion after a car accident in 1969 and had a liver transplant in 1987. 1979– American actress best known for her roles in Orange Is the New Black and Russian Doll. 1930–2017 Best known for his role in Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. His immune system was compromised since receiving a liver transplant in 1994. 1944–2017 Italian-born model, actress and fashion designer. According to Marianne Faithfull, "she almost single-handedly engineered a cultural revolution in London by bringing together the Stones and ... transformed the [Rolling] Stones from pop stars into cultural icons." 1949–2001 Actor and comic. Died from combination of kidney failure, liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatitis C. 1946–2003 Actress and daughter of William Saroyan who had minor roles in over 20 movies. She died from cirrhosis of the liver complicated by hepatitis C. 1959– Japanese actor best known for his role in The Last Samurai, he disclosed in his autobiography that he had contracted hepatitis C, and in 2006, told reporters that he was being successfully treated.
Business Name Lifetime Comments 1938–2008 Japanese businessman and founder of Benihana. 1942–2007 Founder of The Body Shop chain of cosmetics stores. She contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion in 1971, and was diagnosed in February 2007. She campaigned to make hepatitis C more of serious health concern and died of a brain hemorrhage in September 2007.
Music
Name Lifetime Comments 1947–2017 Rock musician and founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. 1962– Grunge singer/guitarist, and co-founding member of both Green River and Mudhoney. 1941– Front man of the band Asleep at the Wheel, he believed that he got hepatitis C from a tattoo needle. He later become a vocal spokesperson for the disease. 1950–2015 Singer and daughter of Nat King Cole. She was diagnosed in 2008 during a routine examination, when she found that the disease had been in her body for 20 years without her knowing it. 1941–2023 Guitarist, singer, and songwriter, best known for being a founding member of The Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. He was diagnosed after collapsing onstage in the summer of 1994 and received a life-saving liver transplant later that year. 1950–2009 One of the founders of the band Mink DeVille and a pioneer in punk rock. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in February 2009 and was found to have pancreatic cancer during the course of his treatment. 1951– Songwriter, member of the San Francisco punk scene. By 2014, he had recovered from his illness, which was treated with holistic medicine. 1946–2025 Singer and actress who dated Mick Jagger in the 60s. She was diagnosed with the virus in the 1990s, after a long period of drug abuse and clinical depression. 1937–2006 Musician who introduced Tex-Mex music to a wider audience. Struggled with alcoholism, drug abuse, and diabetes. He had a kidney transplant (the kidney was donated by his 21-year-old daughter) in 2002 and had a liver transplant two years later. 1955– Avant-garde vocalist who got hepatitis C from drug use, by 2005, she was in remission.Grant Hart1961–2017Guitarist and co-lead vocalist of Hüsker Dü. 1942–2005 Music producer who helped create the vibrant San Francisco rock music scene in the 1960s. He was undergoing treatment for hepatitis C when he suffered a stroke. 1949–2021 Bassist and vocalist with rock group ZZ Top. Their tour was cancelled when he was diagnosed in 2000. After he received treatment and went into remission, the band resumed touring in 2002.Rowland S. Howard1959–2009Guitarist of The Birthday Party and Crime & the City Solution, frontman of These Immortal Souls. 1938–2012 Singer, called "Little Peaches", who was best known for her song "At Last". 1946–2022 Member of the mother-daughter duo The Judds; she retired in 1991 after being diagnosed with hepatitis C, but returned to touring with her daughter Wynonna by 2011. 1962– American vocalist/lyricist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers. He contracted hepatitis C from drug use. 1940–2024 Founding member and bass guitarist of the rock band Grateful Dead. He received a life-saving liver transplant in 1998. 1948– Founding member of The Beach Boys, was diagnosed in 1999. After undergoing treatment, Marks has been virus free since 2004. His diagnosis inspired him to stop drinking and smoking, and lead a healthier lifestyle. 1957–2007Disc jockey who was the voice of 1980s heavy-metal scene in Los Angeles. She contracted hepatitis C when she was a child. 1957– New Orleans blues guitarist. Diagnosed in 2005, less than one year after his brother, musician Ronnie Neal, died of hepatitis C. He was successfully treated and went into remission. 1942– Vocalist and founding member of Three Dog Night. He contracted hepatitis C due to "the long-lasting effects of drug use and alcoholism". 1938–2016 Bakersfield country and gospel music artist. He contracted hepatitis C through several blood transfusions and almost died from the disease in 1990. Co-founder and front runner of the New Zealand-based, Dunedin sound rock band The Chills. Phillipps contracted hep C from alcohol and drug abuse in the 1990s, but received a "miracle reprieve" when the drug Harvoni was used to treat it in 2016. 1942–2013 Singer, guitarist, and songwriter whose work with the Velvet Underground influenced generations of rock musicians. He struggled with hepatitis C for many years before receiving a liver transplant in 2013, but died later that year. 1943– Founding member of The Rolling Stones. He credited his "incredible immune system" with curing his hepatitis C, "without even bothering to do anything about it". 1954– Blues musician who was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1988 and had a successful liver transplant in 2006. 1964– Rock musician and songwriter, best known as a founding member of the band Fastball. 1949–2005 Lead singer for the seminal hardcore punk band Big Boys. 1948– Musician, songwriter, and member of the rock band Aerosmith. In September 2006, he announced that he had been diagnosed three years prior and had just completed eleven months of treatment. 1967–2015 Singer, songwriter, and member of the rock bands Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver.
Politics
Name Lifetime Comments 1939–2006 1960s era activist and co-founder of the Yippies. He died of liver cancer and had previously been diagnosed with hepatitis C, which he successfully treated. 1954– U.S. Representative for the state of Georgia; was declared free of hepatitis C, which ravaged his liver and resulted in depression, thyroid problems, and other health issues, in January 2009. He underwent an experimental treatment to keep the disease in remission. 1952– American radio host, environmental activist, author, and attorney; son of Robert F. Kennedy. He was treated for hepatitis C with interferon when he was in rehab in 1983. 1938– Japanese politician. His eldest son, Taro Kono, also a politician, donated part of his liver to save his father's life in 2002. 1933–2021 Mayor of Toronto. He contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion in 1989. 1946–2007 Member of the New York State Assembly. Contracted hepatitis C from blood transfusion in 1973, but was not diagnosed with it until 1996. His son, Kenneth Zebrowski, Jr., also became an Assemblyman and introduced legislation to fund research and treatment in his honor.
Science and medicine
Name Lifetime Comments 1928–2011 Pathologist noted for publicly championing a terminal patient's "right to die". He served eight years in prison for second-degree murder. His attorney claimed Kevorkian contracted hepatitis C after testing blood transfusions during the Vietnam War.
Sports
Name Lifetime Comments 1955– Former placekicker in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers. Diagnosed in 1998, he was infected by the blood transfusions he received in 1979 to treat ulcerative colitis. 1943–2023 American professional wrestler. He claims to have contracted hepatitis C "from rolling around the ring in other wrestlers' blood". 1931–1995 Baseball player for the New York Yankees. He underwent a liver transplant in June 1995 but his liver cancer had spread to other parts of his body and he died in August.
Writing