# Who is the most famous person killed by covid-19 so far? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 22, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987 "2020-03-22T00:02:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/241 "2021-08-20T01:14:44Z")
Here’s a non-paywalled link, months later. He sounds like he was a good guy. > **[Texas Roadhouse Founder Kent Taylor Dies After Struggle With 'Post-COVID'...](https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/22/979929592/texas-roadhouse-founder-kent-taylor-dies-after-struggle-with-post-covid-19-sympt)** > > Taylor, who gave up his salary last year to support front-line restaurant workers, is being remembered as a "people-first leader." He died by suicide last week at age 65. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/242 "2021-08-22T07:00:35Z")
Phil Valentine, a conservative radio host, died of COVID. He was skeptical of vaccination and didn’t get vaccinated himself, but then had “deathbed” conversion. > **[Radio host who regretted vaccine skepticism dies of Covid-19](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/phil-valentine-radio-host-who-regretted-vaccine-skepticism-dies-covid-n1277395)** > > "I know if he were able to tell you this, he would tell you, 'Go get vaccinated,'" said Phil Valentine's brother, Mark Valentine. Somewhat more famous, Rev Jesse Jackson has been hospitalized with COVID. > **[Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife have been hospitalized after testing positive...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/21/us/rev-jesse-jackson-wife-hospitalized-coronavirus/index.html)** > > Rev. Jesse Jackson and his wife are both hospitalized after testing positive for Covid-19. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2021, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/243 "2021-08-22T14:22:21Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Phil Valentine, a conservative radio host, died of COVID. He was skeptical of vaccination and didn’t get vaccinated himself, but then had “deathbed” conversion. On July 11th, Valentime posted on Facebook: > Yes, the rumors are true. I have COVID. Unfortunately for the haters out there, it looks like I’m going to make it. Interesting experience. I’ll have to fill you in when I come back on the air. I’m hoping that will be tomorrow, but I may take a day off just as a precaution. It’ll be a game time decision. I replied: > ‘Unfortunately for the haters out there, it looks like I’m going to make it.’ Most of us on the Left aren’t ‘haters’ who don’t want you to make it. We WANT you to recover, so that you can use your first-hand experience to urge your listeners to be vaccinated. Looks like he was wrong, and I don’t get my wish. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/244 "2021-10-18T12:33:44Z")
Colin Powell is a contender Colin Powell, the former secretary of state, dies at 84 [Colin Powell, former secretary of state, dies at 84 of COVID complications : NPR](https://www.npr.org/2021/10/18/1046981056/colin-powell-former-secretary-of-state-dies-at-84?sc=18&f=1046981056) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/245 "2021-10-18T12:45:29Z")
I’d say he’s in the lead at this point. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/246 "2021-10-18T13:01:43Z")
Fully vaxxed and treated at Walter Reed! This disease is a killer. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/247 "2021-10-18T15:24:21Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > This disease is a killer. It is, indeed. As suggested in the NPR story to which @puzzlegal linked, I heard in radio coverage this morning that Powell’s family indicated that he had some underlying health conditions, including Parkinson’s disease. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/248 "2021-10-18T16:56:14Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Fully vaxxed and treated at Walter Reed! This disease is a killer. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It is, indeed. As suggested in the NPR story to which @puzzlegal linked, I heard in radio coverage this morning that Powell’s family indicated that he had some underlying health conditions, including Parkinson’s disease. He also had multiple myeloma. Too many things for his immune system to respond to, I guess. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/249 "2021-10-18T17:27:01Z")
I am thinking certain segments of people are going to look at this and say the vaccines either don’t work, or aided in his demise. I would agree it seems like Powell is the most famous person killed by COVID-19. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/250 "2021-10-18T22:04:16Z")
I’m afraid of that, too. RIP, Mr. Powell. Almost nothing is better at kicking the bottom out of the immune system than multiple myeloma. It’s a horrible disease, even with treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/251 "2021-10-18T22:22:06Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > I am thinking certain segments of people are going to look at this and say the vaccines either don’t work, or aided in his demise. Yep. From my Nextdoor network: > OK so now that we all know the shot doesn’t work, see today’s breaking news… fully vaccinated Collin Powell has passed away from Covid… (Discourse altered the post. The poster’s ellipsis was actually 27 dots.) ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2021, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/252 "2021-10-18T23:39:12Z")
Cap Radio tried like hell this morning to make it clear that the shots are not 100% and never have been, but they protect the vast majority of folks from dying. Some people choose not to understand it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/253 "2021-10-23T14:11:53Z")
To what extent is it fair to say that “Colin Powell died of covid”, vs. “Colin Powell died of multiple myeloma”, or at least “Colin Powell died of a combination of multiple myeloma, old age, and covid”? For comparison, plenty of people are described as having “died of AIDS”, even though that usually means dying of some other infection that would have been survivable if not for AIDS. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/254 "2021-10-23T23:10:35Z")
I believe the forms allow more than one cause of death. Depending on the status of his cancer (was it in remission?) It might be right to say both that he died of cancer and of covid. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2021, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/255 "2021-11-06T23:10:46Z")
Chances are, his death certificate says something like “COVID, secondary to multiple myeloma and Parkinson’s.” ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/256 "2022-01-22T01:23:13Z")
Possibly Meat Loaf. Cause of death not yet confirmed, but it seems likely. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/257 "2022-01-22T02:19:12Z")
A very famous person everyone knows _of_ but doesn’t know their name: George Holliday, the man who video taped the Rodney King beating, died last fall of Covid-19. He had been hospitalized for over a month at the time of his death. > **[George Holliday, Who Shot The Video Of Officers Beating Rodney King, Has Died](https://www.npr.org/2021/09/21/1039236256/george-holliday-who-shot-the-video-of-officers-beating-rodney-king-has-died)** > > Holliday's out-of-focus footage was a key piece of evidence at the four Los Angeles police officers' criminal trial for assault and excessive use of force against Black motorist Rodney King. I was following a Wikipedia rabbit hole today and somehow ended up on the 1992 LA riots page. A footnote noted that Holliday had died in September of Covid-19. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/258 "2022-01-22T02:51:45Z")
According to IMDB, Robert Hossein was “one of the most prominent leading men” in French cinema from the mid-50s. > **[Robert Hossein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hossein)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > Robert Hossein (30 December 1927 – 31 December 2020) was a French film actor, director, and writer. He directed the 1982 adaptation of Les Misérables and appeared in Vice and Virtue, Le Casse, Les Uns et les Autres and Venus Beauty Institute. His other roles include Michèle Mercier's husband in the Angélique series, a gunfighter in the Spaghetti Western Cemetery Without Crosses (which he also directed and co-wrote), and a Catholic priest who falls... ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/259 "2022-01-22T04:01:17Z")
Apparently it was complications from a 2 year battle with cancer. So not COVID, or at least not directly. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2022, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987/260 "2022-01-22T15:47:34Z")
Sadly he was a vocal anti vaxxer [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-the-most-famous-person-killed-by-covid-19-so-far/849987.md?page=14)