In honor of Freddie Mercury’s birthday, 11 other HIV-related deaths

MARCO ARNDT/AP

Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury died in 1991 of complications from AIDS.

Freddie Mercury would have turned 69 on Saturday — but the legendary Queen frontman died of complications from AIDS in 1991.

In honor of the iconic singer’s death, here is a list of 11 other notable HIV-related deaths:

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson was one of the first mainstream celebrities to die from an AIDS-related illness.

The hunky Hollywood actor was known for films like "Giant," "Pillow Talk" and "Send Me No Flowers."

Before his death in 1985, he came out about his AIDS diagnosis and his homosexuality.

Anthony Perkins

This famous actor is best known for his role as the creepy killer Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho."

Though he kept his diagnosis a secret, Perkins died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1992.

Rudolf Nureyev

A Russian ballet dancer and choreographer, Rudolf Nureyev died of AIDS in 1993 — 10 years after taking a job as the ballet director for the Paris Opera.

But afterward Nureyev’s death, his long-time lover, Robert Tracy, told The Guardian that he believed the government had poisoned Nureyev.

Arthur Ashe

Ashe, the first black man to win in singles at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion.

He became an HIV activist and made efforts to raise awareness before dying in 1993.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS

Actor Rock Hudson died of AIDS in 1985.

Isaac Asimov

The Russian-born science fiction writer was best known for his "Foundation" trilogy.

He contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during heart surgery and, according to CBS, later died of AIDS-related heart and kidney failure.

Liberace

Wladziu Valentino Liberace was a world-famous pianist who starred in "The Liberace Show," a musical TV show with more than 35 million viewers, according to Bio.

Over time he became known for his flamboyant and lavish lifestyle.

Before he died in 1987, there were rumors that he'd contracted HIV. He denied it, but after his death the coroner found that Liberace had died of AIDS-related pneumonia.

Elizabeth Glaser

Though the wife of actor and director Paul Michael Glaser, Elizabeth Glaser became famous in the 1980s largely because of her HIV diagnosis and subsequent activism.

She caught HIV from a blood transfusion she received while giving birth in 1981.

Her son, Jake, contracted HIV in utero, while her daughter Ariel contracted it through breast milk. Although Jake is still alive, Ariel died in 1988 and Glaser died in 1994.

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AP

Tennis star Arthur Ashe died of AIDS after contracting HIV through a blood transfusion.

Eazy-E

Eazy-E was one of the founding members of the controversial rap group N.W.A. He died in 1995 of AIDS-related pneumonia. After his death, music producer Suge Knight - who feuded openly with Eazy-E - stirred controversy by joking that injecting someone with HIV was a good way to off them.

Robert Reed

Robert Reed was most famous for playing played family man Mike Brady on "The Brady Bunch."

According to Bio, when he died in 1992, his death was attributed to colon cancer. But it was later revealed that he had HIV.

Michel Foucault

An acclaimed French philosopher, Michel Foucault was best known for works like "Discipline and Punish" and "The History of Sexuality."

He died in 1984 of AIDS-related illness.

Kuwasi Balagoon

Kuwasi Balagoon was a Black Panther who participated in an infamous armored car heist in Nyack, N.Y., in 1981.

He went to prison for his role in the crime and was still behind bars when he died of complications from AIDS in 1986.