# Death of actor and activist Michael Kearns > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/death-of-actor-and-activist-michael-kearns > Updated: 2026-10-10T18:03:15.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. Actor, writer, and LGBTQ+ activist Michael Kearns has died at the age of 76. Friends confirmed he passed away on October 5, following months of significant health issues and multiple emergency room visits. Kearns was a prominent figure in the Los Angeles theater community and a pioneer for LGBTQ+ visibility in Hollywood. He gained recognition for coming out as a gay man in the early 1970s and became one of the first well-known working actors to publicly disclose his HIV-positive status during a 1991 television interview. His work often addressed the HIV/AIDS crisis, including solo theater pieces such as ‘Intimacies’ and ‘More Intimacies’. His acting career included roles in television series such as ‘Life Goes On’, ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, ‘Cheers’, and ‘General Hospital’, as well as appearances in ‘Body Double’ and ‘And the Band Played On’. He was described by colleagues as a mentor and a creative force who spoke out to ensure people living with HIV felt no shame regarding their diagnosis. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-10: Michael Kerns, actor and HIV/AIDS activist, dies at 76 Actor and HIV/AIDS activist Michael Kerns, known for his role in ‘Beverly Hills’, has died at age 76. He was the first Hollywood actor to publicly disclose his HIV-positive status in 1991. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michael-kerns-actor-and-hivaids-activist-dies-at-76 ### 2026-10-07: Michael Kearns, LGBTQ+ pioneer and actor, dies at 76 Trailblazing actor and HIV/AIDS activist Michael Kearns has died at age 76, leaving a legacy as one of the first prominent out gay actors in Hollywood. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/michael-kearns-lgbtq-pioneer-and-actor-dies-at-76 --- Cite as: Death of actor and activist Michael Kearns. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/death-of-actor-and-activist-michael-kearns