15 Celebrities Who Have Lived with Hepatitis C Everyday Health Menu NewslettersSearch Hepatitis C 15 Celebrities Who Have Been Infected With Hepatitis C Stars are no strangers to hep C or to the trials of treatment. These 15 celebrities are among the millions of Americans who have lived with the blood-borne virus. By Madeline R. Vann, MPHMedically Reviewed by Justin Laube, MD Reviewed: October 8, 2019 Medically Reviewed Actor Ken Watanabe actress Natasha Lyonne and singer Natalie Cole are among the celebrities who have been infected with hepatitis C Reuters; Getty Images; AP Photo If you have an image in your mind of someone who has hepatitis C, you might not be thinking of a glamorous Hollywood star. The reality of hepatitis C, however, is that it can strike anyone exposed to the virus. And many people (including celebrities) aren’t even aware that they’ve been infected. 1590 ' Orange Is the New Black' Actor Natasha Lyonne Fernando Leon/Getty Images Natasha Lyonne 1591 ' Baywatch' Actor Pamela Anderson Getty Images Best known for her Baywatch beach babe role, actress Pamela Anderson was quite open about contracting hepatitis C because of a tattoo needle she shared with her former husband, the rock musician Tommy Lee, according to her 1592 Japanese Actor and Oscar Nominee Ken Watanabe Vincent West/Reuters The Japanese actor Ken Watanabe fought 1593 The Judds Singer Naomi Judd Cindy Ord/Getty Images Ashley and Wynonna Judd’s mother, Naomi, learned that she had hepatitis C in 1990, contracted from a 1594 Aerosmith Rock Star Steven Tyler Jordan Straus/AP Photo Aerosmith rock musician and former American Idol judge Steven Tyler found out that he had hepatitis C in 2003. “I’ve had hepatitis for a long time — asymptomatic,” 1595 Musician David Crosby of Crosby Stills and Nash Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images In 1994, David Crosby, of folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, and Nash, learned that he had hepatitis C. He was sober at that point, but his early years of IV drug use may have led to his hepatitis C infection. “You’re down to 20 percent on your liver function now, and you’re going to die if we don’t get you a transplant,” he recalled his doctor saying, as he discussed his condition in an 1596 Soap Opera Actor Christopher Kennedy Lawford WireImage Christopher Lawford, the son of President Kennedy's sister Pat, is an actor who's appeared on soap operas such as All My Children and General Hospital. He also authored a book, Symptoms of Withdrawal: A Memoir of Snapshots and Redemption, that detailed his recovery from addictions that most likely led to his hepatitis C infection. Lawford was treated successfully with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Until recently, these were the only drugs approved to treat hepatitis C, and the treatment strategy was successful for many people, says Dr. Jacobson. He notes that people battling both addiction and hep C can be treated successfully. 1597 Retired WWE Professional Wrestler Billy Graham Bobby Bank/Getty Images Since hepatitis C can spread through direct contact with an infected person's blood, athletes who participate in contact sports that have a high risk of injury may be vulnerable, according to an 1598 Former NFL Player Rolf Benirschke Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Former San Diego Chargers placekicker Rolf Benirschke might be better known for his public struggle with 1599 Syndicated Humor Columnist Gene Weingarten Margaret Thomas/Getty Images Humor columnist Gene Weingarten, author of the Below the Beltway column for the Washington Post Magazine and a Pulitzer Prize winner for feature writing, also contracted hepatitis C. In an 1600 Velvet Underground Musician Lou Reed Greg Baker/AP Photo Lou Reed, leader of edgy rock band The Velvet Underground, died in October 2013 at age 71 from 1601 Grammy Award–Winning Singer Natalie Cole Victoria Will/AP Photo The late singer Natalie Cole learned she had hepatitis C after the virus had been in her system for decades, probably because of heroin use in her youth. Cole, who passed away from 1602 Allman Brothers Rock Star Gregg Allman Joel Fried/Getty Images Legendary rock and roll star Gregg Allman discovered that he had hep C in 1999. But instead of seeking treatment at the time, he waited. In 2010, Allman received a liver transplant, according to an 1588 Stunt Performer and Motorcycle Daredevil Evel Knievel Getty Images Evel Knievel was known for his iconic, death-defying motorcycle jumps. His adventurousness and fearlessness entertained millions, but also resulted in many injuries. He had a record 35 broken bones, 1589 ' Dallas' and ' I Dream of Jeannie' Actor Larry Hagman Hulton Deutsch/Getty Images Most people remember Larry Hagman for his roles as J.R. Ewing in the '80s TV drama Dallas, and as Major Tony Nelson in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. What some people might not know is that the actor reportedly had hepatitis C, per an Most Recent in Hepatitis C Study Shows Depression Affects IBD Patients and Their Siblings Gut Check Can Cookie Dough Really Harm Your Gut 5 Natural Ways to Manage Ulcerative Colitis Symptoms Early Research Reveals Key Player in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Digestive Health Newsletter SubscribeBy subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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