Rare News Desk
Child star Danny Pintauro has announced that he is HIV positive.
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The Who’s The Boss alum made the personal statement on Saturday’s episode of “Oprah: Where Are They Now?”
In an honest video interview he revealed his own experiences mixing sex and crystal meth as a means of launching a campaign to raise awareness about the problem in the gay community and to stop what he believes is an oncoming epidemic. However, the biggest reveal came when Pintauro explained that he is HIV-positive.
Pintauro, who prefers to be called Daniel now, told Oprah: “I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready. I’m ready now, I’m HIV-positive and I have been for 12 years.”
He added that he missed his chance to be a role model for youngsters in his situation when he was outed as gay when he was a college student in 1997.
He explained how Judith Light, who played his on-screen mother Angela on “Who’s The Boss?” from 1984 until 1992, convinced him to speak to the press openly after a tabloid reporter approached him and said they would publish an article with or without his involvement.
“They can’t misquote you, she said. And as long as you give really responsible and mature answers, it can’t be a bad article,” he explained.
“Believe it or not, the National Enquirer actually did a really fantastic, heart-warming article about it. I was shocked.” But the 39-year-old does have some regrets.
He added: “I missed the opportunity to be a beacon of light for gay kids who were going through what I was going through. ‘Cause I was outed. It wasn’t by choice.”
Now, he says, he is ready to speak about his diagnosis and wants other men in the gay community to ‘take better care’ of themselves .
“It’s just a big deal, you know? It’s not something that people are really talking about right now.”
The child actor revealed that was diagnosed as being HIV positive back in March 2003. The hammer-blow came when he had come out of a long-term relationship when he began experimenting sexually and using crystal meth.
Now 39, Pintauro lives with his husband, Will Tabares, in Las Vegas and works as the manager of a restaurant.
He told Oprah he has now come to terms with his diagnosis and hopes his story can help make a difference to others on the same journey.
