Celebrities Who Have Battled Hepatitis C

Celebrities Who Have Battled Hepatitis C

The disease has affected many notable names

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Ken Watanabe

The Inception actor, 58, contracted during a 1989 blood transfusion while undergoing treatment for leukemia. In 2002, Watanabe began treatment, publicly disclosing his condition in his 2006 autobiography, Dare — Who Am I? Later that year, he revealed to the Japan Zone website that his treatment had been a success. Incept of

Naomi Judd

One of the most outspoken celebrities who have experienced the condition, the legendary country singer, 72, opened up about contracting the disease after being stuck with a needle while an ICU nurse in Kentucky in the 1980s. In 1991, Judd was diagnosed and began a regimen of interferon injections. She was declared disease-free in 1995 and has since become an ambassador for hepatitis C research. Naomi Judd Getty Images One of the most outspoken celebrities who have experienced the condition, the legendary country singer, 72, opened up about contracting the disease after being stuck with a needle while an ICU nurse in Kentucky in the 1980s. In 1991, Judd was diagnosed and began a regimen of interferon injections. She was declared disease-free in 1995 and has since become an ambassador for hepatitis C research. of

Steven Tyler

The Aerosmith lead singer, 70, kept his diagnosis secret for three years. But in 2006, he revealed to Access Hollywood that he had withstood the treatment and the disease was no longer detectable in his system. Steven Tyler Getty Images The Aerosmith lead singer, 70, kept his diagnosis secret for three years. But in 2006, he revealed to Access Hollywood that he had withstood the treatment and the disease was no longer detectable in his system. of

David Crosby

The Crosby, Stills & Nash singer, 76, nearly died of the disease in 1994, when he finally went to the hospital after a performance in Washington, D.C. Crosby received a liver transplant later that year and made a full recovery. "I'm a very healthy guy," he told the Washington Post in 2014. of

Gene Weingarten

Weingarten, 66, the Pulitzer Prize-winning features writer and humorist at the Washington Post, opened up about his battle with the disease in his May 2015 "Below the Beltway" column, sharing that he'd contracted it through intravenous drug use during his college years but didn't discover he had it for two decades. "My experience with hepatitis C is that I got over it," Weingarten wrote. "It is true that my cure came only after injections into my thighs three times a week for nine years, but this should not be discouraging." Gene Weingarten Getty Images Weingarten, 66, the Pulitzer Prize-winning features writer and humorist at the Washington Post, opened up about his battle with the disease in his May 2015 "Below the Beltway" column, sharing that he'd contracted it through intravenous drug use during his college years but didn't discover he had it for two decades. "My experience with hepatitis C is that I got over it," Weingarten wrote. "It is true that my cure came only after injections into my thighs three times a week for nine years, but this should not be discouraging."Gene Weingarten Getty Images Weingarten, 66, the Pulitzer Prize-winning features writer and humorist at the Washington Post, opened up about his battle with the disease in his May 2015 "Below the Beltway" column, sharing that he'd contracted it through intravenous drug use during his college years but didn't discover he had it for two decades. "My experience with hepatitis C is that I got over it," Weingarten wrote. "It is true that my cure came only after injections into my thighs three times a week for nine years, but this should not be discouraging."
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Pamela Anderson

Anderson's was one of the most well-known cases of hepatitis C, which the former Baywatch star, 50, revealed to Larry King in 2002. After initially being told she'd only have 10 years to live, Anderson lived with the disease for two decades before announcing on her Instagram page in 2015 that she'd been cured. Pamela Anderson Credit 6 Anderson's was one of the most well-known cases of hepatitis C, which the former Baywatch star, 50, revealed to Larry King in 2002. After initially being told she'd only have 10 years to live, Anderson lived with the disease for two decades before announcing on her Instagram page in 2015 that she'd been cured.Pamela Anderson Credit 6 Anderson's was one of the most well-known cases of hepatitis C, which the former Baywatch star, 50, revealed to Larry King in 2002. After initially being told she'd only have 10 years to live, Anderson lived with the disease for two decades before announcing on her Instagram page in 2015 that she'd been cured.
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Natasha Lyonne

The Everyone Says I Love You actress was an up-and-coming young star before drug use derailed her career and sent her to the hospital with a collapsed lung and hepatitis C in 2005. Now healthy and sober, Lyonne, 39, has her career back on track and has played Nicky Nichols in the Netflix drama Orange Is the New Black since 2013. Natasha Lyonne Getty Images The Everyone Says I Love You actress was an up-and-coming young star before drug use derailed her career and sent her to the hospital with a collapsed lung and hepatitis C in 2005. Now healthy and sober, Lyonne, 39, has her career back on track and has played Nicky Nichols in the Netflix drama Orange Is the New Black since 2013.Natasha Lyonne Getty Images The Everyone Says I Love You actress was an up-and-coming young star before drug use derailed her career and sent her to the hospital with a collapsed lung and hepatitis C in 2005. Now healthy and sober, Lyonne, 39, has her career back on track and has played Nicky Nichols in the Netflix drama Orange Is the New Black since 2013.
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Rep Hank Johnson

The Democratic congressman from Georgia, 63, was diagnosed in 1998 but initially kept his diagnosis a secret, fearing a political backlash. He revealed he was battling the disease in 2009 and announced he’d been fully in 2012, telling Hep magazine that he “could not express myself more than just a scream of delight.” Rep Hank Johnson Credit 8 The Democratic congressman from Georgia, 63, was diagnosed in 1998 but initially kept his diagnosis a secret, fearing a political backlash. He revealed he was battling the disease in 2009 and announced he’d been fully cured in 2012, telling Hep magazine that he “could not express myself more than just a scream of delight.”Rep Hank Johnson Credit 8 The Democratic congressman from Georgia, 63, was diagnosed in 1998 but initially kept his diagnosis a secret, fearing a political backlash. He revealed he was battling the disease in 2009 and announced he’d been fully cured in 2012, telling Hep magazine that he “could not express myself more than just a scream of delight.”
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Christopher Kennedy Lawford

The 63-year-old author, activist, and son of Pat Kennedy and actor Peter Lawford, was one of the Kennedy family's most notorious partiers. After years of drug use, Lawford contracted the disease but then became sober in 1984 after the death of his cousin David Kennedy. Now cured, Lawford told his story of battling the disease in his 2009 book Healing Hepatitis C. Christopher Kennedy Lawford Credit 9 The 63-year-old author, activist, and son of Pat Kennedy and actor Peter Lawford, was one of the Kennedy family's most notorious partiers. After years of drug use, Lawford contracted the disease but then became sober in 1984 after the death of his cousin David Kennedy. Now cured, Lawford told his story of battling the disease in his 2009 book Healing Hepatitis C.Christopher Kennedy Lawford Credit 9 The 63-year-old author, activist, and son of Pat Kennedy and actor Peter Lawford, was one of the Kennedy family's most notorious partiers. After years of drug use, Lawford contracted the disease but then became sober in 1984 after the death of his cousin David Kennedy. Now cured, Lawford told his story of battling the disease in his 2009 book Healing Hepatitis C.
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Dusty Hill

ZZ Top had to cancel the European leg of their 2000 world tour when the group's bassist, Hill, now 68, underwent treatment for hepatitis C. But he was in remission by 2002, announcing, "I'm living proof that hepatitis C can be contained and that ZZ Top cannot." Dusty Hill Credit 10 ZZ Top had to cancel the European leg of their 2000 world tour when the group's bassist, Hill, now 68, underwent treatment for hepatitis C. But he was in remission by 2002, announcing, "I'm living proof that hepatitis C can be contained and that ZZ Top cannot."Dusty Hill Credit 10 ZZ Top had to cancel the European leg of their 2000 world tour when the group's bassist, Hill, now 68, underwent treatment for hepatitis C. But he was in remission by 2002, announcing, "I'm living proof that hepatitis C can be contained and that ZZ Top cannot."

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