'Who's The Boss' Star Danny Pintauro Has Been HIV Positive for 12 Years

If you remember the late 90s sitcom Who's The Boss then you certainly remember actor Danny Pintauro, who played Jonathan Bowser, son of Angela Bowser, played by actress Judith Light. The actor has revealed during the sit-down for the OWN network's Where Are They Now? show that he is HIV-positive and has been for the past 12 years.

Closer Weekly reported that during the recent interview the child actor revealed that he has wanted to tell that he is HIV-positve for a long time but just wasn't ready. The 39-year-old revealed that now he's ready to let the world know of his illness.

Pintauro confessed that he was diagnosed with the disease in 2003 and the news came with a "weird combination of feelings." According to the Washington Post, the actor went to see a doctor for a regular visit and got an HIV test done, which the 39-year-old explained, every responsible gay man does. After waiting two weeks for the diagnosis, he finally got the results back, which he revealed to Oprah Winfrey, was a bit of relief.

"It's backwards," Pintauro said. "You've spent so much time terrified that you're going to get it, and then you have it. You don't have to be terrified anymore."

The actor explained how he began to indulge in Crystal Meth, which heightened his sex drive and broke down his inhibitions enough for him to try new things sexually.

"There was more that I wanted to explore sexually," Pintauro told Winfrey. "Crystal meth takes away your inhibitions. You have no limits. And if you want to explore that adventurous side, taking the drug is going to put you there." Of course, that led to his HIV-positive status.

Pintauro tells of a sexual encounter he had while on the drug with a man that he didn't know. Although he thought he was being safe, he was wrong. The actor has been open about his sexuality since coming out in 1997. He said it was his TV mom, Judith Light, who gave him the courage live freely and be who he was as a gay man. He explained to Winfrey how he used to confide in Light and co-star Tony Danza.

Pintauro has been married to his husband, Wil Tabares, since April 2014.

Tags

Oprah