'I am so proud of him!' Judith Light reacts to former Who's The Boss? co-star Danny Pintauro revealing he has been HIV-positive for 12 years

By Shyam Dodge For Dailymail.com

Published: 20:36 EST, 28 September 2015 | Updated: 20:56 EST, 28 September 2015

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Former child star Danny Pintauro revealed he is HIV-positive during an interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Now his former Who's The Boss? castmate Judith Light has come out in full support of the 39-year-old.

'I am so proud of him,' the 66-year-old told Good Day New York in a touching interview that aired on Monday.

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Always there for him: Former child star Danny Pintauro revealed he is HIV-positive during an interview with Oprah Winfrey and now his former Who's The Boss? castmate Judith Light has come out in full support of the 39-year-old

'He's talking about being HIV positive,' she continued. 'He is being incredibly proactive. He now has a wonderful husband named Wil.

'He's giving a different face to what is still a disease that has not been handled.'

Pintauro, who grew up in front of an audience as Jonathan Bower on popular 1980s sitcom Who’s The Boss?, told Oprah that he has been living with the secret for 12 years.

Former Who's The Boss? child star Pintauro (pictured) revealed he has been HIV-positive for 12 years

Pintauro (left, in a 1986 episode) said it was Judith Light (center), who played his on-screen mother Angela on Who’s The Boss?, who convinced him to speak to the press openly

In an emotional interview aired on Saturday night’s episode of Oprah: Where Are They Now?, he explained why he is finally ready to speak publicly about his health.

Pintauro, who prefers to be called Daniel now, told Oprah: ‘I wanted to tell you this a long time ago, but I wasn’t ready. I’m ready now, I’m HIV-positive and I have been for 12 years.’

Pintauro revealed that he missed his chance to be a role model for youngsters in his situation when he was outed as gay when he was a college student in 1997.

Pintauro (pictured right, with Who's the Boss? co-stars, clockwise from top left, Tony Danza, Katherine Helmond, Judith and Alyssa Milano) grew up on the popular sitcom from 1984 to 1992

He said it was Judith Light, who played his on-screen mother Angela on Who’s The Boss? from 1984 until 1992, who convinced him to speak to the press openly after a tabloid reporter approached him and said they would publish an article with or without his involvement.

‘They can’t misquote you, she said. And as long as you give really responsible and mature answers, it can’t be a bad article.

‘Believe it or not, the National Enquirer actually did a really fantastic, heart-warming article about it. I was shocked.’

But the 39-year-old added: ‘I missed the opportunity to be a beacon of light for gay kids who were going through what I was going through. ‘Cause I was outed. It wasn’t by choice.’

Now, he says, he is ready to speak about his diagnosis and wants other men in the gay community to ‘take better care’ of themselves .