Coronavirus: Which celebrities have tested positive for Covid-19?
As the world battles coronavirus, we’ve been hearing from a number of famous faces who have revealed they contracted Covid-19, as they attempt to raise awareness and point out that no one – however young and/or healthy, is immune.
From character actors to movie stars, rock stars to rappers, a number of celebrities have disclosed their diagnoses – or whether they’ve been suffering from symptoms linked to coronavirus – over the past few weeks.
Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson
On 11 March, Tom Hanks issued a statement on Twitter that revealed he and his wife – actor and singer Rita Wilson – had contracted coronavirus in Australia, where Hanks was shooting Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Presley biopic.
Both he and Wilson had begun to feel unwell with cold and flu-like symptoms. They tested positive for the virus and went into quarantine where they were treated for five days at a Queensland hospital, before recuperating at a rented home. They have since recovered and made it home to Los Angeles.
Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre
The Luther star shared a video on 16 March explaining he had tested positive for coronavirus but was not experiencing symptoms. He had decided to get tested after discovering he had been in contact with someone who had the virus. It was later revealed that his wife, Sabrina Dhowre, had also tested positive for the virus. Elba has urged fans to practise social-distancing and wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water to help slow the spread of Covid-19.
Frozen 2 star Rachel Matthews revealed she had tested positive for Covid-19 on 16 March. In an Instagram story, she said she was in self-quarantine and was on the mend. She also shared a list of the symptoms she had experienced in the hope it would be useful to others.
Olga Kurylenko
Former Bond girl Olga Kurylenko, who starred opposed Daniel Craig’s 007 in the 2008 film Quantum of Solace, said she tested positive for coronavirus on 15 March. The Ukrainian–born French actress shared the news from her Instagram account, and urged her followers to take the virus seriously.
Plácido Domingo
The opera singer wrote in a Facebook message posted on 22 March that he had coronavirus, and called it his “moral duty” to announce it to fans.
“My family and I are all in self isolation for as long as it is deemed medically necessary,” he wrote.
“Currently we are all in good health but I experienced fever and cough symptoms therefore deciding to get tested and the result came back positive.”
Domingo was later admitted to hospital after becoming ill from symptoms of the virus, his representative told CNN: “He is doing well and is responding to treatment.”
Kristofer Hivju
Game of Thrones star Kristofer Hivju posted an Instagram message revealing he had tested positive for the virus and was self-isolating at home in Norway with his family.
Singer-songwriter Charlotte Lawrence shared an Instagram post on 17 March to announce she had tested positive for coronavirus. The 19-year-old urged her fans to follow the latest updates and information about the virus, and to practise self-isolation at home.
“We have the power to slow this down,” she said. “So please, please isolate yourself. Stay clean. Stay informed. Stay aware and make others aware. And for the love of God, self f***ing quarantine or you’ll be on my s**t list.”
Manu Dibango
The Cameroonian jazz legend died on 24 March from coronavirus, aged 86, according to an announcement on his Facebook page.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce you the loss of Manu Dibango, our Papy Groove,” the post said. “His funeral service will be held in strict privacy, and a tribute to his memory will be organized when possible.”
“My symptoms are really pretty mild, so I don’t require any kind of medication and certainly not hospitalisation or anything like that,” the 71-year-old singer-songwriter told Rolling Stone.
He said he was able to obtain a test after developing a “small cough and a temperature”. He is apparently recovering in quarantine while listening to music and catching up with friends and family.
Colton Underwood
Former Bachelor star Colton Underwood said the virus had been “kicking my ass” in an Instagram post on 20 March. The 28-year-old, who was practising social distancing at his girlfriend’s house in California, told his fans that they should “stay at home, do your part”.
David Bryan
The Bon Jovi keyboardist posted on Instagram to say he had tested positive for the virus.
“I’ve been sick for a week and feeling better each day,” he wrote. “Please don’t be afraid! It’s the flu not the plague,” he wrote. [Note: coronavirus symptoms can be far more serious than flu.]
“I’ve have been quarantined for a week and will for another week. And when I feel better I’ll get tested again to make sure I’m free of this nasty virus,” Bryan concluded.
Natalie Horner
The Cascada singer, perhaps best-known for the hits “Everytime We Touch” and “Evacuate the Dancefloor”, announced on Instagram on 23 March that she tested positive for coronavirus.
She said she had a temperature and “a bit of a headache”, and was planning to quarantine herself for two more weeks after self-isolating for eight days.
“My case will most likely be mild, so the most important thing is to protect everyone else who may be at risk,” she said. “So please continue to STAY HOME!”
Scarface
The rapper disclosed that he had been battling a particularly nasty bout of coronavirus in an interview with Willie D, which was conducted via a video call.
"Don’t play no games with it,” he said, as he revealed that his symptoms had included vomiting, fever, pneumonia, and kidney failure.
“I haven’t been nowhere. I’ve been in my house. I ain’t been on no planes, I ain’t been in no restaurants… People out there thinking this s**t is a game? You don’t want to play with this.”
Terrence McNally
Playwright Terrence McNally died aged 81 of complications due to the coronavirus on 24 March at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Florida.
McNally collected four Tonys throughout his career, including two Best Play awards for Love! Valour! Compassion! and for Master Class. His other two Tonys were in the Best Book of a Musical category, for Kiss of the Spider Woman and Ragtime.
His other works include Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, The Full Monty, The Ritz and Lips Together, Teeth Apart.
His works explored the topics of human relationships, at times through the lens of homophobia, Aids, and love. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2019 Tony Awards.
McNally was a lung cancer survivor with chronic lung disease. He’s survived by his husband Tom Kirdahy.
Mark Blum
The Desperately Seeking Susan star died on 26 March from complications caused by coronavirus, aged 69.
The Obie-winning actor appeared in TV series including Succession, YOU, and Mozart in the Jungle.
It was announced on John Prine’s official Twitter account on 29 March that the folk legend was in critical condition with symptoms from coronavirus.
"This is hard news for us to share,” the post said. “But so many of you have loved and supported John over the years, we wanted to let you know, and give you the chance to send more of that love and support now. And know that we love you, and John loves you.”
Prine’s wife, Fiona Wehlan Prine, also announced she had tested positive on 19 March. The couple had been quarantining separately.
In a later update, she announced that she had recovered from Covid-19 and that Prine was in a "stable" condition, but noted there was "no cure" for the virus and that he still needed "thoughts and prayers" from fans.
Prine was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019.
Joe Diffie
The country songwriter died of coronavirus complications on 29 March, according to Rolling Stone, after announcing he had tested positive for the virus two days earlier.
The beloved children’s TV entertainer posted a video to his official Twitter account revealing he was experiencing coronavirus symptoms and that it was “not nice”. In an impassioned plea to fans, he urged people to stay at home and practise social distancing, and to “wash your hands with soap and water”, in order to reduce pressure on the NHS and other health services.
Judge Rinder
TV judge Robert Rinder announced he is currently recovering from the deadly Covid-19 virus during an interview on This Morning on 30 March.
Speaking to hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, the 41-year-old said he began to experience symptoms around two weeks ago.
Rinder wrote about the experience in his Evening Standard column, explaining: “It started two weeks ago when I woke up with a temperature, which I never get.
“This was followed by a dry hacking cough, night sweats and – by day six – my lungs felt like they were being squeezed in a vice. I forced myself out of bed to eat and then collapsed into delirium on the sofa, trying to avoid the catastrophic news by watching endless reality television.
“By day seven I felt a bit better, only to relapse with a fever the following morning. By day 11 my temperature was down, the cough had begun to subside and I could do small tasks. I am on the road to recovery but still feel ropey,“ he wrote.
This article will be updated regularly.
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