Parkinson's, cancer and Alzheimer's... these stars lived with secret illnesses until they died

  • If you were diagnosed with a life-limiting illness who would you tell? Your family, your friends, your loved ones? Or no one? These stars all decided to keep their health issues private until they tragically passed away.
    1/11

    They passed with dignity...

    If you were diagnosed with a life-limiting illness who would you tell? Your family, your friends, your loved ones? Or no one? These stars all decided to keep their health issues private until they tragically passed away.
  • ‘Black Panther’ actor Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, an illness he kept a secret until the day of his passing. By 2020, Boseman had completed the movies ‘Marshall’ and ‘Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom’, while receiving chemotherapy treatment at the same time. He passed away on August 28, 2020 at the age of 43.
    2/11

    Chadwick Boseman

    ‘Black Panther’ actor Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, an illness he kept a secret until the day of his passing. By 2020, Boseman had completed the movies ‘Marshall’ and ‘Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom’, while receiving chemotherapy treatment at the same time. He passed away on August 28, 2020 at the age of 43.
  • 'Ashes to Ashes' singer David Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, due to liver cancer. Bowie hid his illness from the world for 18 months, but before he died the rock icon gave us two final albums; 2013's 'The Next Day' and 'Blackstar', which was released on January 8, 2016, his birthday and just two days before he passed.
    3/11

    David Bowie

    'Ashes to Ashes' singer David Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, due to liver cancer. Bowie hid his illness from the world for 18 months, but before he died the rock icon gave us two final albums; 2013's 'The Next Day' and 'Blackstar', which was released on January 8, 2016, his birthday and just two days before he passed.
  • Apple CEO Steve Jobs unexpectedly passed away on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56. The mind behind the iPod, iPad and more had been secretly living with pancreatic cancer.
    4/11

    Steve Jobs

    Apple CEO Steve Jobs unexpectedly passed away on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56. The mind behind the iPod, iPad and more had been secretly living with pancreatic cancer.
  • On October 2, 1985, Hollywood icon Rock Hudson passed away at the age of 59. He had kept his AIDS diagnosis a secret from the world, and he died from complications caused by the illness.
    5/11

    Rock Hudson

    On October 2, 1985, Hollywood icon Rock Hudson passed away at the age of 59. He had kept his AIDS diagnosis a secret from the world, and he died from complications caused by the illness.
  • ‘Harry Potter’ star Alan Rickman passed away at the age of 69, on January 14, 2016. His fans were saddened to learn that the man who played Professor Severus Snape had been secretly living with cancer.
    6/11

    Alan Rickman

    ‘Harry Potter’ star Alan Rickman passed away at the age of 69, on January 14, 2016. His fans were saddened to learn that the man who played Professor Severus Snape had been secretly living with cancer.
  • Known for films like ‘You've Got Mail’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally...’, actress Nora Ephron passed away on June 26, 2012, at the age of 71. News on her passing truly surprised the public, as did the revelation she had been fighting cancer in secret.
    7/11

    Nora Ephron

    Known for films like ‘You've Got Mail’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally...’, actress Nora Ephron passed away on June 26, 2012, at the age of 71. News on her passing truly surprised the public, as did the revelation she had been fighting cancer in secret.
  • Iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. While his fellow band members knew about his illness, he did not share it with the public and instead kept making music and performing. After denying rumors he was seriously ill for several years, Mercury passed away at aged 45 on November 24, 1991.
    8/11

    Freddie Mercury

    Iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. While his fellow band members knew about his illness, he did not share it with the public and instead kept making music and performing. After denying rumors he was seriously ill for several years, Mercury passed away at aged 45 on November 24, 1991.
  • Following the announcement of his passing at the age of 83 on August 29, 2016, the relatives of comedy legend Gene Wilder revealed that he had been privately living with Alzheimer's.
    9/11

    Gene Wilder

    Following the announcement of his passing at the age of 83 on August 29, 2016, the relatives of comedy legend Gene Wilder revealed that he had been privately living with Alzheimer's.
  • The 'This Will Be' singer - the daughter of American jazz star Nat King Cole - passed away on December 31, 2015, aged 72 after a long battle with hepatitis C and liver disease. However, none of her fans knew she was gravely ill, with her sisters revealing she wanted to keep her health issues private to protect her family.
    10/11

    Natalie Cole

    The 'This Will Be' singer - the daughter of American jazz star Nat King Cole - passed away on December 31, 2015, aged 72 after a long battle with hepatitis C and liver disease. However, none of her fans knew she was gravely ill, with her sisters revealing she wanted to keep her health issues private to protect her family.
  • Stand-up icon and star of movies such as 'Mrs. Doubtfire', 'Good Morning Vietnam' and ‘Patch Adams’, actor Robin Williams passed away on August 11, 2014, aged 63, after taking his own life. In the aftermath, Williams told media outlets that the actor had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
    11/11

    Robin Williams

    Stand-up icon and star of movies such as 'Mrs. Doubtfire', 'Good Morning Vietnam' and ‘Patch Adams’, actor Robin Williams passed away on August 11, 2014, aged 63, after taking his own life. In the aftermath, Williams told media outlets that the actor had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
If you were diagnosed with a life-limiting illness who would you tell? Your family, your friends, your loved ones? Or no one? These stars all decided to keep their health issues private until they tragically passed away.
‘Black Panther’ actor Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016, an illness he kept a secret until the day of his passing. By 2020, Boseman had completed the movies ‘Marshall’ and ‘Ma’ Rainey’s Black Bottom’, while receiving chemotherapy treatment at the same time. He passed away on August 28, 2020 at the age of 43.
'Ashes to Ashes' singer David Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69, due to liver cancer. Bowie hid his illness from the world for 18 months, but before he died the rock icon gave us two final albums; 2013's 'The Next Day' and 'Blackstar', which was released on January 8, 2016, his birthday and just two days before he passed.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs unexpectedly passed away on October 5, 2011, at the age of 56. The mind behind the iPod, iPad and more had been secretly living with pancreatic cancer.
On October 2, 1985, Hollywood icon Rock Hudson passed away at the age of 59. He had kept his AIDS diagnosis a secret from the world, and he died from complications caused by the illness.
‘Harry Potter’ star Alan Rickman passed away at the age of 69, on January 14, 2016. His fans were saddened to learn that the man who played Professor Severus Snape had been secretly living with cancer.
Known for films like ‘You've Got Mail’ and ‘When Harry Met Sally...’, actress Nora Ephron passed away on June 26, 2012, at the age of 71. News on her passing truly surprised the public, as did the revelation she had been fighting cancer in secret.
Iconic Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. While his fellow band members knew about his illness, he did not share it with the public and instead kept making music and performing. After denying rumors he was seriously ill for several years, Mercury passed away at aged 45 on November 24, 1991.
Following the announcement of his passing at the age of 83 on August 29, 2016, the relatives of comedy legend Gene Wilder revealed that he had been privately living with Alzheimer's.
The 'This Will Be' singer - the daughter of American jazz star Nat King Cole - passed away on December 31, 2015, aged 72 after a long battle with hepatitis C and liver disease. However, none of her fans knew she was gravely ill, with her sisters revealing she wanted to keep her health issues private to protect her family.
Stand-up icon and star of movies such as 'Mrs. Doubtfire', 'Good Morning Vietnam' and ‘Patch Adams’, actor Robin Williams passed away on August 11, 2014, aged 63, after taking his own life. In the aftermath, Williams told media outlets that the actor had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

If you were diagnosed with a life-limiting illness who would you tell?
Your family, your friends, your loved ones? Or no one?
These stars all decided to keep their health issues private until they tragically passed away.

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