His life has been defined by childhood stardom, deeply personal struggles, and remarkable reinvention. Now, at 50 years old, the former sitcom favorite is living a future he once believed would never be possible.
Millions of television fans still recognize him as the lovable young star from one of the biggest sitcoms of the 1980s. While audiences watched him grow up on screen, few realized that his real-life journey would become far more challenging—and far more inspiring—than anyone expected.
Along the way, he faced public scrutiny, addiction, private health battles, and years of emotional hardship before eventually finding lasting happiness with the man he married more than a decade ago. Recently, he once again found himself in the spotlight after giving fans an honest glimpse into the life he lives today.
### The Child Star America Remembered
Born on January 6, 1976, in Milltown, New Jersey, Danny Pintauro became a familiar face to television audiences across the country when he was cast as Jonathan Bower on ABC’s hit sitcom *Who’s the Boss?*
The role remains the performance most closely associated with his career, although he also appeared in films such as *Cujo* and, many years later, *A Country Christmas Harmony*.
Growing up under studio lights made Pintauro one of television’s best-known child actors during the 1980s. Yet after the series ended, his life gradually moved away from Hollywood, and many of the battles he would eventually face unfolded far from public attention.
### Coming Out on His Own Terms
In 1997, Pintauro surprised both fans and the entertainment industry by publicly revealing that he was gay. However, the decision was not entirely his own.
During the 1990s, the *National Enquirer* reportedly threatened to reveal his sexuality without his permission. Rather than allowing a tabloid to tell his story, Pintauro chose to speak openly himself.
Years later, reflecting on that difficult chapter, he admitted that living without secrets ultimately brought him peace.
“I’m much happier as a person with no secrets,” he later explained.
His announcement came during a period when very few celebrities were openly discussing their sexuality. Ellen DeGeneres had only recently come out, while Rosie O’Donnell would do so several years later.
Unlike some others who embraced a highly public role afterward, Pintauro largely stepped away from the spotlight. Looking back, he has acknowledged that he now wishes he had remained more visible because he believes he could have provided hope and encouragement to young LGBTQ people facing the same fears and uncertainty he once experienced.
### A Second Life-Changing Revelation
In 2015, Pintauro sat down with Oprah Winfrey for an emotional interview that revealed another deeply personal secret he had carried for more than a decade.
“I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready,” he admitted.
When Oprah asked whether he finally felt prepared to share it, he quietly answered that he was.
He then disclosed that he had been living with HIV for twelve years.
The diagnosis was only one part of his story.
Pintauro also spoke candidly about developing an addiction to crystal meth following the end of a two-year relationship. During that period, he explained, he was experimenting with his personal life while trying to cope with emotional pain.
He described how the drug completely removed his sense of limits, creating an overwhelming feeling of confidence and heightened emotion.
At first, using the drug became a weekend habit, but it eventually grew into something much more destructive.
He recalled spending endless hours searching online for encounters while completely losing control, followed by devastating crashes that sometimes left him unable to function for days.
Although he stopped using the drug regularly in 2005—with only a few relapses afterward—Pintauro has remained honest about the lasting challenge of recovery.
According to him, the cravings never fully disappear, even after many years.
### Finding the Love He Never Expected
Despite believing marriage would never be part of his future, life eventually surprised him.
In April 2013, while vacationing in Palm Springs, his longtime partner, Wil Tabares, proposed in a creative and heartfelt way.
Instead of a traditional proposal, Tabares created a personal video that ended with him holding the engagement ring.
Recalling the unforgettable moment, Pintauro told *Us Weekly* that he looked up from the screen only to see Tabares standing in front of him with the ring box in his hand.
The couple married on April 3, 2014, during a private beachfront ceremony in Dana Point, California.
Pintauro later described the wedding as everything they had hoped for, saying the ceremony unfolded beautifully and that everyone present shared in their happiness.
Both men wore matching ivory-colored suits accented with purple flowers before celebrating with family and close friends overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
For Tabares, the wedding represented something he had once believed impossible.
He explained that growing up, he never imagined he would legally marry the person he loved. Since he knew he would never marry a woman, same-sex marriage had once felt like an unreachable dream.
After their wedding, he reflected on how meaningful the moment truly was, calling it not only a personal milestone but also another important step toward equality.
At the time they became engaged, same-sex marriage was still illegal in Nevada. The law changed only months before they exchanged vows, making their ceremony even more significant.