black celebrities we've lost to aids

As these photos attest | no amount of money or fame can protect against the killer known as AIDS.

Allen Wiggins (1958 - 1991) - A once-promising major league baseball player, Wiggins was said to have sabotaged his career with drugs before dying at age 32 in Los Angeles of complications from AIDS. An outfielder and second baseman, he played in the major leagues from 1981 through 1987, with the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. He underwent drug rehabilitation three times and was suspended indefinitely on Aug. 31, 1987.

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Allen Wiggins (1958 - 1991) - A once-promising major league baseball player, Wiggins was said to have sabotaged his career with drugs before dying at age 32 in Los Angeles of complications from AIDS. An outfielder and second baseman, he played in the major leagues from 1981 through 1987, with the San Diego Padres and Baltimore Orioles. He underwent drug rehabilitation three times and was suspended indefinitely on Aug. 31, 1987.

Performing Arts: Alvin Ailey - Dance choreographer who founded the world-renowned Alvin Ailey Dance Theater in New York.

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Alvin Ailey (1931 - 1989) - A modern dancer and choreographer, Ailey founded the American Dance Theater, which was given his name after his death. His company popularized modern dance throughout the world with his international tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department. The Roger, Texas, native died of AIDS, at age 58 in December 1989.

Arthur Ashe - Arthur Ashe was more than just a tennis player. He was an activist and civil rights supporter. The three-time Grand Slam winner’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 49 from the AIDS virus in 1993.

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Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) - Tennis legend Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr., won three Grand Slam titles during his career. The Richmond, Va., native discovered he had contracted HIV from blood transfusions he received during one of his two heart surgeries. Ashe died from complications from AIDS on Feb. 6, 1993. He was 49.

Eazy-E is Remembered - This week marks the 15th anniversary of the death of former N.W.A. rapper Eric “Eazy-E” Wright. Eazy-E died due to complications from the AIDS virus, just 10 days after publicly announcing he was diagnosed.

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Eazy E (1963 - 1995) - Eric Lynn Wright, better known by his stage name Eazy-E, is widely regarded as one of the founders of the gangsta rap group N.W.A. In March 1995, Eazy-E admitted himself into Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles with what he believed was chronic asthma. Following comprehensive tests, it was discovered he was suffering from AIDS. Ten days after being admitted into the hospital, Eazy-E died at the age of 31.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938 - 1997) - Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician, human rights activist, and political maverick. The African continent's most creative Afrobeat superstar, anti-military dictatorship activist and pan-Africanist died Aug. 2, 1997 of heart failure caused by AIDS. He was 58.

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Fela Anikulapo Kuti (1938 - 1997) - Fela Anikulapo Kuti, born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, was a Nigerian multi-instrumentalist musician, human rights activist, and political maverick. The African continent's most creative Afrobeat superstar, anti-military dictatorship activist and pan-Africanist died Aug. 2, 1997 of heart failure caused by AIDS. He was 58.

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Franklyn Seales (1952 - 1990) - Seales is best known for his TV appearances on his roles as Lorenzo Hollingsworth on the NBC sitcom "Amen" and as Dexter Stuffins on the NBC sitcom "Silver Spoons." He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., of AIDS. He was 37.

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Franklyn Seales (1952 - 1990) - Seales is best known for his TV appearances on his roles as Lorenzo Hollingsworth on the NBC sitcom "Amen" and as Dexter Stuffins on the NBC sitcom "Silver Spoons." He died in Brooklyn, N.Y., of AIDS. He was 37.

Gene Anthony Ray (1962 - 2003) - Ray is best known for his portrayal of the street-smart dancer Leroy in the 1980 film “Fame,” in addition to the TV spin-off – which aired from 1982 until 1987. The actor/dancer suffered a stroke in June 2003 and ultimately died from complications of the stroke on Nov. 14, in Manhattan. The Harlem native was 41-years-old and HIV positive at the time of his death. He was 41.

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Gene Anthony Ray (1962 - 2003) - Ray is best known for his portrayal of the street-smart dancer Leroy in the 1980 film “Fame,” in addition to the TV spin-off – which aired from 1982 until 1987. The actor/dancer suffered a stroke in June 2003 and ultimately died from complications of the stroke on Nov. 14, in Manhattan. The Harlem native was 41-years-old and HIV positive at the time of his death. He was 41.

Howard Rollins (1950 - 1996) - Rollins, starred in the box-office hit, "A Soldier's Story," which led to his role as Virgil Tibbs on the TV drama "In the Heat of the Night," died on Dec. 8, 1996 after complications from AIDS-related lymphoma. The Baltimore native had been diagnosed with the condition approximately six weeks earlier. He was 46.

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Howard Rollins (1950 - 1996) - Rollins, starred in the box-office hit, "A Soldier's Story," which led to his role as Virgil Tibbs on the TV drama "In the Heat of the Night," died on Dec. 8, 1996 after complications from AIDS-related lymphoma. The Baltimore native had been diagnosed with the condition approximately six weeks earlier. He was 46.

Jermaine Stewart (1957 - 1997) - Stewart is best known for his Billboard hits "The Word Is Out" from his 1984 debut album of the same name, and "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" in 1986, from the album "Frantic Romantic." The Columbus, Ohio, native died on March 17, 1997 due to liver cancer caused by AIDS. He was 39.

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Jermaine Stewart (1957 - 1997) - Stewart is best known for his Billboard hits "The Word Is Out" from his 1984 debut album of the same name, and "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" in 1986, from the album "Frantic Romantic." The Columbus, Ohio, native died on March 17, 1997 due to liver cancer caused by AIDS. He was 39.

Kenny Green (1969-2001) - Singer-songwriter Kenny Green was the backbone of the early 1990s group “Intro,” writing and producing most of the group’s songs. He also wrote for other artists. He last recorded in 2001 as a backup singer on Tyrese’s "For Always." That same year, the year of his death, Green revealed to Sister 2 Sister magazine that he was bisexual, and suffering from AIDS. He was 32.

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Kenny Green (1969-2001) - Singer-songwriter Kenny Green was the backbone of the early 1990s group “Intro,” writing and producing most of the group’s songs. He also wrote for other artists. He last recorded in 2001 as a backup singer on Tyrese’s "For Always." That same year, the year of his death, Green revealed to Sister 2 Sister magazine that he was bisexual, and suffering from AIDS. He was 32.

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Kevin Peter Hall (1955 - 1991) - Hall was famous for his roles in “Predator” (1987), and “Predator 2” (1990). The 7-foot, 2-inch actor married actress Alaina Reed, who played Rose on the NBC sitcom "227." In 1990, Hall was involved in a car accident in L.A. and received a blood transfusion that was contaminated with HIV. Soon after the transfusion, he contracted AIDS and died from complications related to the disease on April 10, 1991. He was 35.

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Kevin Peter Hall (1955 - 1991) - Hall was famous for his roles in “Predator” (1987), and “Predator 2” (1990). The 7-foot, 2-inch actor married actress Alaina Reed, who played Rose on the NBC sitcom "227." In 1990, Hall was involved in a car accident in L.A. and received a blood transfusion that was contaminated with HIV. Soon after the transfusion, he contracted AIDS and died from complications related to the disease on April 10, 1991. He was 35.

Larry Riley (1952 - 1992) - Riley was best known to screen viewers for his role as C.J. Memphis in the movie "A Soldier's Story," and as Frank Williams in the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing. He was forced to give up his role in "Knots Landing," because of his declining health due to the illness. The Memphis native died of AIDS on June 6, 1992. He was 39.

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Larry Riley (1952 - 1992) - Riley was best known to screen viewers for his role as C.J. Memphis in the movie "A Soldier's Story," and as Frank Williams in the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing. He was forced to give up his role in "Knots Landing," because of his declining health due to the illness. The Memphis native died of AIDS on June 6, 1992. He was 39.

Max Robinson (1939 - 1988) - Robinson, the first African-American broadcast network news anchor in the U.S., found out he had AIDS while hospitalized for pneumonia in an Illinois hospital. In the fall of 1988, the former ABC News "World News Tonight" anchor was in Washington, D.C. to deliver a speech at Howard University's School of Journalism when he became increasingly ill. He checked himself into the hospital, where he died of AIDS on Dec. 20, 1988. He was 49.

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Max Robinson (1939 - 1988) - Robinson, the first African-American broadcast network news anchor in the U.S., found out he had AIDS while hospitalized for pneumonia in an Illinois hospital. In the fall of 1988, the former ABC News "World News Tonight" anchor was in Washington, D.C. to deliver a speech at Howard University's School of Journalism when he became increasingly ill. He checked himself into the hospital, where he died of AIDS on Dec. 20, 1988. He was 49.

Raymond St. Jacques (1930 - 1990) - St. Jacques was best known for his two-year stint as Judge Clayton C. Thomas on the well-forgotten, syndicated NBC TV show, "Superior Court" from 1988 to 1990. He died from AIDS related lymphoma in Los Angeles at age 60.

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Raymond St. Jacques (1930 - 1990) - St. Jacques was best known for his two-year stint as Judge Clayton C. Thomas on the well-forgotten, syndicated NBC TV show, "Superior Court" from 1988 to 1990. He died from AIDS related lymphoma in Los Angeles at age 60.

Sylvester - Before RuPaul there was Sylvester. He often performed in drag and was a fixture in the ‘70s and ‘80s dance scenes. He scored three Top 40 Billboard hits including "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)." Sylvester died at the age of 41 in 1988.

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Sylvester (1947 - 1988) - Sylvester, known as the "Queen of Disco," was also a gay drag performer. He unleashed two disco classics: "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" and "Dance (Disco Heat) ." These two songs charted together on the American dance chart and spent six weeks at #1 on this chart in 1978. In 1985, he was summoned to sing backup for Aretha Franklin on her "Who's Zoomin' Who?" comeback album. Sylvester died of complications from AIDS on Dec. 16, 1988.

Willi Donnell Smith (1948 - 1987) - Smith is considered one of the most successful young, Black fashion designers in fashion history. Smith, who was openly gay, died unexpectedly at age of 39 after contracting shigella and pneumonia while on a trip to India, apparently because of AIDS. At the time of the Philly native’s death, April 17, 1987, his company, Williwear Ltd., had sold $25 million worth of clothing a year.

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Willi Donnell Smith (1948 - 1987) - Smith is considered one of the most successful young, Black fashion designers in fashion history. Smith, who was openly gay, died unexpectedly at age of 39 after contracting shigella and pneumonia while on a trip to India, apparently because of AIDS. At the time of the Philly native’s death, April 17, 1987, his company, Williwear Ltd., had sold $25 million worth of clothing a year.