My Generation

Robert La Tourneaux (1945–1986) was an American actor best known for his role of Cowboy, the good-natured but dim hustler hired as a birthday present for a gay man, in the original Off-Broadway production and 1970 film version of The Boys in the Band. (But) La Tourneaux’s career stalled after the film version of The Boys in the Band was released.

The openly gay La Tourneaux blamed being typecast as a gay hustler for his inability to receive worthwhile roles. (Finally) in 1978, (he) starred in a one-man cabaret act at the Ramrod, a New York City theater showing gay pornography films. In 1983, he was arrested for assault and was incarcerated at the Rikers Island prison.

During this time period, (he) contracted AIDS. (There was) news coverage when he sought legal (means) to prevent being evicted from his apartment (after) his landlord objected to the presence of a live-in caregiver. He won the court case, but died on June 3, 1986.

Summarized from Wikipedia
Thanks to The Queer Online Database