This Former 'Who's the Boss?' Star, 50, Once Thought Marriage Wasn't in His Future Until Life Proved Him Wrong — Photos

His life has included childhood fame, personal struggles, and unexpected second chances. Now 50, this former sitcom star has built the future he once believed would never be possible.

Many television fans instantly recognize him from one of the biggest sitcoms of the 1980s, but the boy they watched grow up on screen has traveled a far different path than many expected.

Along the way, he faced public scrutiny, addiction, and deeply personal health challenges before finding lasting love with the man he married more than a decade ago. More recently, he made headlines again after surprising fans with an honest glimpse into his life today.

The Boy Millions of TV Fans Instantly Recognized

Born on January 6, 1976, in Milltown, New Jersey, a child actor became a familiar face to millions as Jonathan Bower on the hit ABC sitcom "Who's the Boss?"

His role on the beloved comedy remains the performance he is best known for, although he also appeared in "Cujo" and, years later, "A Country Christmas Harmony."

Growing up in front of the cameras made him one of television's recognizable child stars. But once the series ended, his life gradually moved away from Hollywood, and the challenges he would face unfolded far from the spotlight.

Overcoming Deep Secrets

In 1997, the actor shocked the entertainment world when he came out as gay. However, the circumstances surrounding his announcement were far from easy.

In the 1990s, the National Enquirer threatened to out him, and he made the decision to come out publicly himself rather than let the tabloid control the story. Looking back, he later reflected, "I'm much happier as a person with no secrets."

He came out the same year as Ellen DeGeneres, with Rosie O'Donnell following four years later. But unlike his peers, he stepped back from the public eye almost entirely after that moment, a decision he would deeply come to regret.

According to the actor, he missed what he would later describe as a chance to be "a beacon of light" for gay kids navigating the same struggles he had.

Dropping Another Bombshell Confession

Danny Pintauro — the actor behind Jonathan Bower — sat down with Oprah Winfrey in 2015 for an interview that would reveal what he had been carrying for over a decade. "I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn't ready," he told her.

When Winfrey asked if he was ready now, his answer changed everything fans thought they knew about him: "I'm ready now, um, that, um, I'm HIV positive, and I have been for 12 years."

The diagnosis wasn't the only thing he had kept hidden. Pintauro also opened up about a crystal meth addiction that took hold after a two-year relationship ended, at a time when he was, in his words, testing the limits of his sexuality.

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

The drug eventually became a weekend habit, then something closer to a crisis. He described losing hours trawling dating sites in an "out-of-control" haze, followed by comedowns so severe he couldn't function for days.

Pintauro hasn't used regularly since 2005, aside from a few relapses he has called regrettable. Even so, he has been honest that the pull never fully disappeared: "It's the kind of drug where years and years and years and years later, I still have cravings."

Why He Never Expected to Get Married

Life eventually brought something Pintauro once believed he would never have. In April 2013, he became engaged to Wil Tabares during a getaway to Palm Springs. Tabares proposed with a homemade video, and Pintauro later recalled the touching surprise.

"He made a video, and in the video held up the box," Pintauro told Us Weekly. "I looked up, and he had it in his hand!" The following year, on April 3, 2014, the couple exchanged vows during an intimate beach ceremony in Dana Point, California.

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

The couple wore matching cream-colored suits accented with lavender flowers before celebrating with family and friends at a reception overlooking the beach.

For Tabares, the day represented something he had never imagined would become reality. "I never thought I would ever get married," he revealed.

"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 added, "The beautiful reality is starting to set in. This is one small step for man, one giant step for equality."

At the time of their engagement, Nevada had not yet legalized same-sex marriage. The ban was overturned in early 2014, months before the couple's wedding.

The Husband Who Stood Beside Him Through Everything

Their marriage would soon be tested in ways neither of them could have anticipated.

In September 2015, before Pintauro's interview with Oprah aired, Tabares shared a photo of the couple with the media icon and wrote 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 later, Pintauro publicly thanked his husband again in an emotional Instagram post. "I just wanted to take a moment to thank my wonderful husband for being so amazing," he stated.

He explained that appearing on Oprah and dedicating himself to activism meant putting many of their personal plans on hold.

According to Pintauro, Tabares encouraged him from the beginning and worked multiple jobs so they could stay afloat while he focused 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 added. "I am blessed to have him and I want you all to thank him for being so awesome!"

The Recent Photo That Left Fans Asking Questions

More than a decade after his wedding, Pintauro unexpectedly found himself making headlines once again.

In April 2026, he revealed on Instagram that one of his current jobs was working as an Amazon Flex delivery driver, prompting surprised reactions from fans who remembered him as a child star.

Speaking on the "Pod Meets World" podcast, Pintauro explained that acting alone was no longer enough to support 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 added, "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 statement to People, Pintauro said returning to acting after a decade away had been an uphill battle because television production had slowed dramatically in Los Angeles. He also addressed assumptions about his earnings from "Who's the Boss?"

"People overestimate what residuals from a sitcom in the '80s and '90s look like," he said, explaining that much of his childhood earnings had gone toward paying for Stanford University and supporting himself through his early 20s.

What Fans Are Saying About Him at 50

Despite the financial hustle, fans continue to flood his social media pages with overwhelming love and support. On a recent Instagram post, followers left glowing comments praising his timeless appearance.

One supportive fan wrote, "Danny looks great!" while another admirer chimed in to call him "Super handsome."

Others agreed that the star has aged incredibly well over the years. Another comment read, "Nope. Still look the same to me. Still handsome as ever. 😍❤️"

A third social media user enthusiastically declared, "You have become a total Hunk." More than 40 years after audiences first met Jonathan Bower, Pintauro's story has become about much more than childhood fame.

Through unexpected challenges, lasting love, and a willingness to share both his struggles and successes, he has continued to write new chapters long after "Who's the Boss?" ended.