Michael Jeter (August 26, 1952 - March 30, 2003) was an American actor. Born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, Jeter was a student at Memphis State University when his interests changed from medicine to acting. He pursued his initial stage career in Baltimore, Maryland, as he had heard it was hard to get work in New York without an equity card.
His woebegone look, extreme flexibility and high energy led Tommy Tune to cast him in the Off-Broadway Cloud 9 and, on Broadway, in a memorable role in the musical Grand Hotel, for which he won a Tony Award in 1990.
He was open about his homosexuality and troubles with drug and alcohol addiction, and for a time decided to retire from entertainment, but was eventually enticed back with roles on television and in movies.
When he was diagnosed with HIV, he discussed it openly at a time when there was still much unreasoned fear about the disease.
He had been thought to be in good health, but was found dead in his home in Los Angeles, California, aged 50, in 2003.
Numerous websites have indicated that the cause of death was AIDS-related, but these were based on his HIV status.
He is survived by his partner, Sean Blue.
Open Range (2003)
