Famous Americans Who’ve Died of IPF
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most common forms of interstitial lung disease.
IPF affects everyone equally and doesn’t discriminate between the wealthy and poor. Here are just a few famous Americans who’ve died of IPF:
- John A. Bell III, thoroughbred owner-breeder, in 2007
- Terrel Bell, former Department of Education secretary, in 1996
- Peter Benchley, writer, in 2006
- Marlon Brando, actor, in 2004
- William Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, in 2003
- Alan Cohen, former NBA owner (Celtics), in 2004
- John B. Connally, 38th governor of Texas, in 1993
- Robert Goulet, singer, in 2007
- Thomas L. Judge, former Governor of Montana, in 2006
- Evel Knievel, stunt man, in 2007
- G. William Miller, former secretary of the treasury, in 2006
- Charles W. Norwood Jr., congressman, Georgia, in 2007
- Sam Phillips, founder, Sun Records, in 2003
- Laurance Rockefeller, philanthropist, in 2004
- William Edward Simon, former secretary of the treasury, in 2000
- Norm Sloan, former head basketball coach at North Carolina State, in 2003
- Peter Stone, writer, in 2003
Source: Wikipedia, Bright Media Foundation, New York Times, and American Presidents.org
What Can be Done to Stop IPF?
There are no therapies to halt or reverse the course of IPF, and there is currently no FDA-approved treatment. About two-thirds of IPF patients die within five years. Currently, the ultimate treatment for IPF is lung transplantation.
Stopping IPF is the mission of the Simmons Fund. You can help by making a donation today.