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Japanese comedian dies of COVID-19

Ken Shimura, 70, was a household name in Japan.

Japanese comedian Ken Shimura, a household name in his country since the 1970s, has died, aged 70.

He was hospitalised last week after being infected with the new coronavirus.

Shimura was a near constant presence on Japanese television, regularly on several local variety shows, and was set to star in the upcoming feature God of Cinema.

Shimura was hospitalised after developing a fever and being diagnosed with severe pneumonia. He tested positive for the coronavirus on March 23, and became the first Japanese celebrity to go public with a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Shimura is not the first famous person lost to the virus:

Playwright Terrence McNally (Love! Valour! Compassion!, Master Class, Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman)
Actor Mark Blum (Desperately Seeking Susan, Crocodile Dundee)
Chef Floyd Cardoz (Top Chef, Top Chef Masters)
US country singer Joe Diffie
CBS News journalist Maria Mercader

Source: Hollywood Reporter,

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