Michael Kearns, LGBTQ+ pioneer and actor, dies at 76

Actor, activist, and writer Michael Kearns has died at the age of 76. Kearns was a prominent figure in the Los Angeles theater community and a pioneer for LGBTQ+ visibility in Hollywood.

He gained significant recognition for his courage in coming out as a gay man in the early 1970s and later becoming one of the first well-known working actors to publicly disclose his HIV-positive status during a television interview in 1991. His work often addressed the HIV/AIDS crisis, including his acclaimed solo theater pieces, ‘Intimacies’ and ‘More Intimacies’, which portrayed diverse individuals living with the virus.

Kearns’ acting career included guest roles on various television series such as ‘Life Goes On’, ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, ‘Cheers’, and ‘General Hospital’. He was also a prolific playwright and screenwriter, contributing to works like the film ‘Nine Lives’. He was described by colleagues as a mentor and a creative force within the arts community.