Almost Spring Break!

Hello fellow bloggers! This week, Teach has given us a specific topic to blog about: celebrities that have passed away with HIV. I chose two celebrities - Robert Reed and Tom Fogerty. Robert Reed was an actor, receiving his undergraduate degree in drama at Northwestern University and continuing to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. Robert began his acting career on Broadway but soon ended up in Hollywood guest starring on several different TV shows in the late '50s. His big break came as playing an attorney on "Father Knows Best" in 1959. Following this break, Robert was cast in the emmy-winning "The Defenders" and replaced Robert Redford on Broadway in Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park".


Robert signed a contract with Paramount which resulted in his appearance in three pilot TV shows, one of which was "The Brady Bunch". As you well know, "The Brady Bunch" was picked up by national television and Robert Reed is well remembered as playing the father. According to Robert, this was not his favorite role. He was a method actor and enjoyed more serious roles and Broadway acting. While acting in "The Brady Bunch", Robert also played Lieutenant Adam Tobias in the show "Mannix" and continued to act on Broadway. In the span of his career, Robert was nominated for three emmys - twice for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Drama or Comedy and once for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Closer to the end of his life, Robert taught a Shakespearean acting course at UCLA.


Robert Reed tried to keep his homosexuality a secret. It was a well known secret on "The Brady Bunch" set. He was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1992 and was HIV positive. He remained close with his former co-star, Florence Henderson (Mrs. Brady), until the very end and asked her to break the news to the Brady "kids" about his condition. Each of the Brady children called Rob and all were in attendance at his funeral. Robert died from colon cancer and complications from AIDS on May 12, 1992 at the age of 59.


Tom Fogerty was in a successful rock band known as the Creedence Clearwater Revival, or CCR. Tom played the rhythm guitar and sang backup vocals but always seemed to be in the shadow of his little brother, John Fogerty who played lead guitar, sang lead vocals and wrote most of the songs. In the beginning, the four man band was signed to the obscure Orchestra label as Tommy Fogerty and the Blue Velvets. At this time, Tom sang lead vocals and wrote most of the songs. Throughout the mid-60's, the band was signed with Fantasy Records and changed their name to The Golliwogs. In The Golliwogs, Tom was much more visible and shared lead vocals and songwriting with his brother. By the time the band changed their name to Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1968, Tom's brother was in complete control of the band.

In 1971, Tom left the band due to his rising frustrations with his brother and his lack of contribution to the band's music. CCR would only release one more album after Tom's departure. Tom tried his hand at a solo career throughout the '70s and '80s but was not very successful. Unfortunately, the brothers never quite recovered their relationship. Tom died in 1990 from complications due to AIDS. His family believed he had acquired the disease through a blood transfusion during surgery on his back. If you are unfamiliar with CCR, I recommend you take a listen to "Bad Moon Rising", "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" and "Proud Mary", to name a few.

References:
http://www.bradyworld.com/sketch/reed.htm
http://www.worldsstrangest.com/mental-floss/6-secrets-from-the-brady-vault/
http://www.answers.com/topic/tom-fogerty



***Did You Know***
Did you know that two states have passed legislature to test every newborn child for HIV? Those two states are New York and Connecticut, and Illinois is considering a similar law. The idea of testing all newborn babies raises an ethical question. While doctors always recommend that a pregnant mother get tested for HIV, it is her right to say no to the HIV test. If a newborn baby is tested as HIV positive, health professionals are essentially diagnosing the mother as well. Also, most HIV tests detect the antibodies to HIV and not the virus itself. All newborn babies with HIV positive mothers will have antibodies consistent with HIV but may not have the virus. Adequate testing of newborns will either require a more complex test that can detect the virus itself or testing will have to wait untiil the baby is 15 to 18 months when all maternal antibodies are gone.

http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/insite?page=ask-06-04-24