Michael Kearns cause of death: actor who broke the taboo of homosexuality in Hollywood and raised awareness of HIV, died at 76

Mourning in the world of cinema . Michael Kearns, an American actor known for his appearances in films such as Body Double (1984) and in the popular series Beverly Hills, 90210, has died at the age of 76 in Los Angeles. The news has been confirmed by people close to him, although the causes of his death have not yet been disclosed.

"We share the grief over this loss and celebrate the incredible impact that (Kearns) has had on the LGBTQ rights movements and the fight against HIV/AIDS. Thank you, Michael, for everything you gave to this world" , can be read in a tribute post on Facebook by Los Angeles' Celebration Theatre.

At just 22 years old, determined to make his way in the world of acting, he arrived in Hollywood . He also became a key figure for his courage at a time when speaking publicly about certain issues entailed enormous personal and professional risk.

In the 70s , in a society marked by strong homophobia, he publicly came out as gay , becoming one of the most visible faces of the LGBTQ+ community within the entertainment world . Years later, he broke barriers again by revealing on television, in 1991, that he was HIV-positive, a gesture that helped give visibility to a disease that was still surrounded by prejudice and misinformation at the time.

During the hardest years of the AIDS epidemic , between the late eighties and the nineties, Michael Kearns portrayed characters affected by HIV in various productions . He did so while living with his own diagnosis and enduring the loss of friends and loved ones to the disease.

Beyond his roles in film and television, Kearns leaves behind a legacy marked by his activism, his social commitment, and his role as one of the voices that helped break down barriers in Hollywood when doing so was neither easy nor common.