Famous Cases of Mesothelioma Asbestos
When it comes to mesothelioma asbestos related diseases, no person is immune from exposure. In fact, even some of the most famous people in the world have fallen victim to mesothelioma, which no amount of money or resources can save from a fatal end. In today’s article, we look at the most famous cases of mesothelioma asbestos related deaths, and the common causes for exposure.
Think your home may have asbestos? Contact Myers Asbestos Removal company by calling 0412 314 588 to chat with an expert today.
Famous cases of mesothelioma asbestos
Famous cases of mesothelioma asbestos #1: Steve McQueen
Known as the ‘King of Cool’, Steve McQueen was a famous actor who, at his peak, was the highest-paid movie star in the world. His antihero persona was a big drawcard at the box offices, seeing him star in beloved classics such as ‘The Magnificent Seven’, ‘The Great Escape’ and ‘The Towering Inferno.’
Before Steve McQueen became one of the most in-demand movie stars to grace Hollywood, he had a stint in the military, which saw him regularly working on naval ships. It was during this short service that Steve McQueen was exposed to asbestos, as he was in charge of removing the asbestos lagging insulation from ships.
Though McQueen may have been in contact with asbestos at other points in his life, due to the prevalence of asbestos in movie sets and car driver’s fire suits, it’s very likely his military exposure is what caused mesothelioma decades later. So prevalent was asbestos in the US military, that it’s estimated up to 30% of mesothelioma cases in the states are army veterans.
Steve McQueen is said to have developed mesothelioma in 1980 and died of a heart attack shortly after having a 12-hour operation to remove tumours from his abdomen.
Mesothelioma asbestos victim #2: Ed Lauter
With a career spanning over four decades, Ed Lauter is one of the most famous people to contract mesothelioma. Though he wasn’t conventionally known as a household name, Lauter was one of those actors everyone could recognise as ‘that guy’- which made sense, considering he was in over 200 movies and television shows.
It’s alleged Lauter would have been exposed to asbestos during his time working for various movie studios, though it’s unknown whether the exposure was accumulative or if there was a particular incident.
Edward Lauter died just five months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 74. His wife Mia has now taken legal action on his behalf and is said to have filed a lawsuit against numerous movie companies despite knowing the link between asbestos and mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma asbestos victim #3: Paul Gleason
Known as the frustrated teacher from The Breakfast Club, Paul Gleason was a prominent 80s actor who appeared in more than 60 movies – including Die Hard, National Lampoon’s Van Wilder and television appearances in Friends and Seinfeld. Though the exact provenance of his asbestos exposure was unknown, it’s guessed that Gleason was exposed to asbestos as a teenager when he worked in construction. Much like other cases, Gleason developed mesothelioma decades after exposure, dying of pleural mesothelioma at the age of 67.
We hope our article on famous cases of mesothelioma asbestos has been insightful. Asbestos and mesothelioma can be a terrifying ordeal to go through, which is why it’s so important to eradicate family homes from the dangerous material. If you suspect your home may contain asbestos, be sure to get in touch with Myers Asbestos Removal Brisbane for an inspection today. You can call 0412 314 588 or contact us online and one of our removal experts will be in touch shortly.