World AIDS Day 2022: Famous personalities we lost to the deadly disease

World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 each year to spread awareness about the deadly disease which has so far claimed nearly 33 million lives according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIVAIDS UNAIDSTransmission of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV that causes AIDS is attributed to sexual contact or needlesharing with infected persons or through transfusions of infected blood According to UNAIDS about 71 million people did not know that they were living with HIV in 2019 Stigma has played a major role in the spread of the disease and has prevented people from getting testedToday medicine has evolved and many are able to live longer with the disease with the help of antiretroviral drugs On World AIDS Day we remember famous personalities who succumbed to the diseaseFreddie MercuryFarrokh Bulsara popularly known as Freddie Mercury was the frontman of the iconic English rock band Queen He was born on September 5 1946 in Tanzania Apart from being a great musician Mercury was also known for being a great stage performer who involved a lot of theatrics including different kinds of costumes for different performances Freddie Mercury passed away on November 24 1991 at the age of 45 due to bronchial pneumonia which was a result of AIDS The singerrsquos funeral service was conducted three days later by a Zoroastrian priest at the West London Crematorium PicAFPArthur AsheThe only AfricanAmerican to win the singles event at the Australian Open US Open and Wimbledon Arthur Ashe was an extraordinary tennis player He also the first black man to be selected to the US Davis Cup team and reportedly contracted HIV from a blood transfusion The sportsman announced his illness in 1992 and proceeded to establish the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health and Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS In 1993 Ashe died of AIDSrelated pneumonia Pictured here is the Arthur Ashe stadium in Queens New York PicAFPAnthony PerkinsWidely known for his portrayal of Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcockrsquos classic Pyscho Anthony Perkins was an incredible actor who earned Tony and Academy Award nominations alongside a Golden Globe Award His talents werenrsquot limited to acting he also ventured into singing and direction AIDSrelated pneumonia led to his untimely demise in 1992 PicAFPKeith HaringPennsylvaniaborn artist Keith Haring came to represent the visual aesthetic of the 1980s He gained popularity painting his signature figures all over the subways on New York City Countrywide fame followed as he began showcasing his work and became friends with the likes of Andy Warhol Madonna and JeanMichel Basquiat His art was also known for its political elements as he began focusing on issues including apartheid and AIDS Aged 32 he succumbed to the disease in 1990 In this photo Haring centre poses with Yoko Ono left and Jennifer Muller right in New York City PicAFPRock HudsonHollywoodrsquos leading man in the 1950s and 1960s Rock Hudson was a heartthrob among women He started off as a band singer before turning to acting and was paired opposite the most popular actresses including Doris Day Elizabeth Taylor and Julie Andrews His death in 1985 due to AIDSrelated complications left a huge impact His costar and longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor cofounded the American Foundation for AIDS Research as well as the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation In this photo he poses with costar Doris Day PicAFPAlso Read95 per cent of people infected with HIV in Mumbai taking treatment Study