This Ex-‘Who’s the Boss?’ Actor, 50, Once Believed Matrimony Was Out of Reach Until Reality Altered His Path

His path has encompassed youth stardom, individual battles, and unforeseen opportunities. Now at age 50, this former television performer has crafted the life he previously assumed would never come to fruition.

Numerous television enthusiasts immediately identify him from a massive comedy series of the 1980s, though the youth they observed maturing before the lens has traveled a vastly different route than many presumed.

Along his journey, he encountered public judgment, dependency, and deeply individual health battles prior to discovering enduring affection with the gentleman he wed over a decade ago. Quite recently, he generated news interest once more after startling supporters with a candid look into his current existence.

The Youngster Millions of Television Enthusiasts Immediately Identified Coming into the world on January 6, 1976, in Milltown, New Jersey, a youth performer turned into a recognizable presence to millions as Jonathan Bower on the popular ABC television comedy “Who’s the Boss?”

His character on the treasured show persists as the portrayal he is most recognized for, though he likewise surfaced in “Cujo” and, decades afterward, “A Country Christmas Harmony.”

Maturing before the cameras rendered him one of broadcasting’s identifiable juvenile celebrities. Yet once the comedy concluded, his existence progressively shifted away from Hollywood, and the difficulties he would encounter transpired far from public observation.

Triumphing Over Profound Concealments In 1997, the performer startled the show business sector when he revealed his identity as gay. Nevertheless, the conditions surrounding his disclosure were far from straightforward.

During the 1990s, the National Enquirer intimidated him with exposure, and he made the choice to declare it openly himself rather than permit the gossip publication to dictate the narrative. Recalling the moment, he subsequently noted, “I’m much happier as a person with no secrets.”

He revealed his orientation the identical year as Ellen DeGeneres, with Rosie O’Donnell following four years afterward. Yet in contrast to his contemporaries, he withdrew from public view nearly completely after that point, a choice he would later deeply regret.

According to the performer, he passed up what he would subsequently characterize as an opportunity to serve as “a beacon of light” for gay youngsters steering through the identical struggles he had faced.

Delivering Another Surprising Disclosure Danny Pintauro — the performer behind Jonathan Bower — sat down with Oprah Winfrey in 2015 for a conversation that would uncover what he had been harboring for more than a decade. “I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready,” he informed her.

When Winfrey inquired if he was prepared at that moment, his response altered everything supporters thought they understood about him: “I’m ready now, um, that, um, I’m HIV positive, and I have been for 12 years.”

The medical determination was not the sole matter he had kept concealed. Pintauro likewise candidly discussed a crystal meth dependency that gained ground after a two-year partnership concluded, during a phase when he was, by his account, exploring the boundaries of his sexuality.

“On crystal meth, you have no boundaries, you feel invincible,” he disclosed. “You feel incredibly heightened when it comes to your sexuality, and everything sounds and feels exciting to you.”

The narcotic ultimately transformed into a weekend practice, then something closer to an emergency. He recounted misplacing hours searching romantic websites in an “out-of-control” state, succeeded by withdrawals so punishing he was unable to function for days.

Pintauro has not consumed it habitually since 2005, aside from several instances of regression he has labeled unfortunate. Even so, he has been candid that the attraction never completely vanished: “It’s the kind of drug where years and years and years and years later, I still have cravings.”

The Reason He Never Anticipated Marriage Existence eventually delivered something Pintauro previously assumed he would never possess. In April 2013, he became betrothed to Wil Tabares during a trip to Palm Springs. Tabares requested his hand with a self-made recording, and Pintauro subsequently recollected the moving unexpected event.

“He made a video, and in the video held up the box,” Pintauro informed Us Weekly. “I looked up, and he had it in his hand!” The subsequent year, on April 3, 2014, the partners traded promises during a private seaside event in Dana Point, California.

“Everything went off without a hitch,” Pintauro remarked afterward. “The wedding was terrific, and everyone was so happy to be there. We had fun!”

The partners donned coordinating off-white ensembles highlighted with lavender blooms prior to celebrating alongside relatives and companions at a gathering overlooking the shore.

For Tabares, the occasion represented an event he had never envisioned would turn into actuality. “I never thought I would ever get married,” he disclosed.

“I knew I would never marry a woman, and never thought I’d see the day that same-sex marriage would be legal, so it’s definitely a life-long dream come true.” He remarked further, “The beautiful reality is starting to set in. This is one small step for man, one giant step for equality.”

During the period of their engagement, Nevada had not yet permitted same-sex unions. The prohibition was invalidated in early 2014, months prior to the partners’ marriage.

The Partner Who Remained By His Side Throughout Everything Their union would shortly be challenged in manners neither of them could have foreseen.

In September 2015, prior to Pintauro’s conversation with Oprah broadcasting, Tabares distributed a photograph of the partners alongside the broadcasting icon and noted on Facebook, “I couldn’t be more proud of the man I call my Husband. He has gone through so much and I can only imagine what a journey it has been.”

Months afterward, Pintauro openly expressed gratitude to his spouse once more in a moving Instagram publication. “I just wanted to take a moment to thank my wonderful husband for being so amazing,” he declared.

He clarified that appearing with Oprah and committing himself to advocacy meant delaying numerous individual objectives.

According to Pintauro, Tabares backed him from the start and held down several positions so they could remain solvent while he centered his attention on advocacy.

“All because he won’t let me break my promise to do this for a year, all because he believes in me and believes in what I’m trying to accomplish,” Pintauro remarked further. “I am blessed to have him and I want you all to thank him for being so awesome!”

The Current Photograph That Had Supporters Requesting Clarification Over ten years following his marriage, Pintauro unexpectedly found himself generating media buzz once again.

In April 2026, he disclosed on Instagram that one of his current employments involved functioning as an Amazon Flex courier, drawing startled feedback from supporters who recalled him as a youth celebrity.

Conversing on the “Pod Meets World” broadcast, Pintauro clarified that performance work on its own was no longer sufficient to provide for him.

“When I posted the picture for [Amazon] Flex, I really didn’t. . . it did not cross my mind because everybody knows that I’m working,” he shared. “It’s one of the five different gig jobs that I’m doing right now. We’re gig actors. Acting is one of the six gigs.”

He remarked further, “We have to do what we have to do to survive. We have got to keep moving as humans. We’re all doing it. I am not different from you in that sense. We’ve never been different from you in that sense. I don’t make money from residuals.”

In a communication to People, Pintauro stated that going back to performance work after a decade away had been a difficult struggle because television creation had diminished significantly in Los Angeles. He likewise countered beliefs regarding his compensation from “Who’s the Boss?”

“People overestimate what residuals from a sitcom in the ’80s and ’90s look like,” he remarked, clarifying that a large portion of his youthful compensation had been directed toward funding Stanford University and maintaining himself through his early 20s.

What Supporters Are Stating About Him at 50 Notwithstanding the economic juggling, supporters persist in filling his social network accounts with substantial affection and backing. On a current Instagram publication, adherents left appreciative remarks applauding his youthful look.

One encouraging supporter noted, “Danny looks great!” while another enthusiast added to label him “Super handsome.”

Additional individuals agreed that the celebrity has matured remarkably well over the decades. A further remark stated, “Nope. Still look the same to me. Still handsome as ever. 😍❤️”

A third social network participant enthusiastically asserted, “You have become a total Hunk.” Over 40 years after audiences initially encountered Jonathan Bower, Pintauro’s narrative has evolved into something far greater than youthful celebrity.

Through unforeseen trials, enduring affection, and a readiness to disclose both his difficulties and triumphs, he has persisted in crafting fresh segments long after “Who’s the Boss?” reached its conclusion.