Before the world finally puts the Chinese coronavirus (COVID‑19) behind us—whether through time, a vaccine, or an effective cure—the harsh truth remains: countless lives continue to be lost. No one is truly immune; the virus proves especially ruthless for the immunocompromised and the elderly. This top 10 notable roundup honors those whose contributions left an indelible mark on culture, cuisine, theater, and science.
top 10 notable figures lost to COVID‑19
10 Joe Diffie
If you’ve ever tapped your foot to a honky‑tonk hit, the news of Joe Diffie’s passing likely struck a chord. Diffie was a prolific country‑music star whose catalog boasted a flood of chart‑topping singles. Between 1990 and 2004, he released 35 tracks that landed on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, with five soaring to the coveted number‑one slot: “Home,” “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets),” “Third Rock from the Sun,” “Pickup Man,” and “Bigger Than the Beatles.” Over his career he put out seven full‑length studio albums, a festive Christmas record, and a greatest‑hits collection.
According to his publicist, Diffie tested positive for COVID‑19 on March 27th. He lingered in critical condition for just two days before passing away on March 29th at age 61, surrounded by Nashville’s music‑rich atmosphere. As the first country‑music artist to fall victim to the virus, his death prompted an outpouring of grief from peers across Twitter, Instagram, and other social platforms.
9 Floyd Cardoz
Fans of the hit series Top Chef were left stunned when celebrated Indian‑American chef Floyd Cardoz succumbed to the pandemic. Cardoz, the 2011 winner of Top Chef Masters, earned renown for his entrepreneurial ventures in gourmet dining. He served as executive chef at New York City’s Paowalla and Tabla restaurants, deftly merging Indian spices with Western culinary techniques.
A four‑time James Beard Award nominee and author of two cookbooks, Cardoz traveled from Mumbai to New York via Frankfurt in early March. He fell ill shortly after arrival, tested positive for COVID‑19, and died from complications on March 25th at a New Jersey hospital. He was 59, leaving behind his wife and business manager Barkha, as well as their sons Justin and Peter.
8 Maria Mercader
While not a household name outside the news industry, Maria Mercader wielded considerable influence during her more than three‑decade tenure at CBS. She entered the network in 1987 as a page, later transitioning to CPS Newspath where she produced pieces for affiliate stations. Her career spanned momentous events, from Princess Diana’s death to the 9/11 attacks.
Mercader earned an Emmy for her production work and rose to become Director of Talent Strategy in 2016, championing diversity initiatives and supporting groups such as the Asian American Journalists Association. After battling cancer for years, she was hospitalized in New York City for treatment and ultimately succumbed to COVID‑19 on March 29th at age 54.
7 Terrence McNally
Terrence McNally earned the moniker “the bard of American theater,” a testament to his towering presence in contemporary drama. Over a six‑decade career, he secured two Tony Awards for Best Play and two Tonys for Best Book of a Musical, in addition to an Emmy, two Guggenheim Fellowships, and numerous other honors.
His repertoire spanned Broadway, off‑Broadway, film, and beyond, with standout works like “Kiss of the Spider‑Woman” and “Ragtime.” McNally’s passing on March 24th, due to COVID‑19 complications in a Florida hospital, left a void in the theater world. He was 81.
6 Princess María Teresa Of Bourbon‑Parma
Princess María Teresa of Bourbon‑Parma, a French‑Spanish member of the cadet House of Bourbon‑Parma, earned the nickname “Red Princess” for her relentless activism. Born in Paris in 1933, she pursued higher education at the Sorbonne, obtaining a doctorate in Hispanic Studies, and later earned a second doctorate in Political Sociology from Madrid’s Complutense University. Her advocacy centered on women’s rights and broader social causes.
On March 27th, the 86‑year‑old princess died from COVID‑19 complications, becoming the first royal family member to fall victim to the virus. Her death highlighted the pandemic’s reach, even as Prince Charles battled the disease with only mild symptoms and a week of self‑isolation.
10 Gruesome Facts About Suicide And Death Cleanup
5 Nashom Wooden
Although the name Nashom Wooden may not ring immediate bells, his drag persona Mona Foot was a beloved fixture in the New York scene. Developing the character in the late 1980s, Wooden credited RuPaul as an early mentor who taught him makeup techniques, leading to his role as Mona Foot in the off‑Broadway production “My Pet Homo.” He originated the persona while managing a men’s clothing department at Patricia Field’s boutique.
Wooden later appeared as Mona Foot in the film “Flawless,” performing the eponymous song with The Ones. Though he later stepped away from the drag world, he remained HIV‑positive with an undetectable viral load. He ultimately died from COVID‑19 complications in New York City on March 23rd at age 50.
4 Manu Dibango
Emmanuel N’Djoké “Manu” Dibango, a Cameroonian saxophonist and songwriter, left an indelible mark on jazz and world music. His six‑decade career peaked with the 1972 hit “Soul Makossa,” a track later sampled by Michael Jackson, Kanye West, and countless others. Dibango began his musical journey at age 15 after moving to Paris post‑World War II, quickly becoming a staple of the European jazz circuit.
“Soul Makossa” was originally intended as a B‑side celebrating Cameroon’s victory at the 1972 Africa Cup of Nations. Dibango announced his COVID‑19 hospitalization on March 18th via Facebook, and a week later confirmed his death on March 24th at age 86.
3 Lucia Bosè
Italy, one of the hardest‑hit nations during the pandemic, also lost the luminous actress Lucia Bosè. Rising to fame during the Italian Neorealism movement of the 1950s, Bosè’s career began after she won the second Miss Italia contest in 1947, propelling her into cinema. She starred in numerous celebrated films throughout the early ’50s, with a career apex in 1955 before a brief hiatus.
After marrying a Spanish bullfighter during the filming of “Muerte de un ciclista,” she paused her acting to raise a family, later returning to the screen with roles up to 2007. Mother to famed Spanish singer Miguel Bosé, she passed away on March 23rd from pneumonia complicated by COVID‑19 at age 89.
2 Daniel Azulay
Brazilian comic‑book artist and educator Daniel Azulay made his mark both at home and abroad. Best known for the children’s series “Turma do Lambe‑Lambe,” Azulay was born in Rio de Janeiro and raised in the upscale Ipanema district. At 21, he created the newspaper strip “Capitão Cipó,” and five years later launched the wildly popular “Turma do Lambe‑Lambe.”
His work educated a generation of 1980s children on ecology, design, and art. Azulay toured globally, exhibiting his creations and delivering lectures, and even hosted an online drawing class in 2009. He died in Rio de Janeiro at 72 after a two‑week hospital stay for leukemia, during which he contracted COVID‑19, leading to fatal complications.
1 Dr. Li Wenliang
While many achieve fame during their lifetimes, Dr. Li Wenliang’s legacy blossomed posthumously. The Chinese ophthalmologist worked at Wuhan Central Hospital and, in December 2019, warned colleagues about a SARS‑like outbreak that would later be named COVID‑19. His early alerts made him the first physician to sound the alarm on the looming pandemic.
On January 3rd, Wuhan police reprimanded Li for “spreading false information” online. He returned to work, later contracting the virus from a patient. Li passed away on February 7th at just 33 years old. After his death, the Chinese government issued a solemn apology and posthumously cleared his name.
Remember to wash your hands, keep a safe distance, and stay hopeful—we will get through this together!