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John Michael Miranda (May 27, 1926 - February 3, 2015) was an actor and playwright. Miranda had a recurring role on Guns of Paradise, a Western that aired on CBS from 1988-91 and starred Lee Horsley, and he appeared in small roles in such films as Falling in Love Again (1980), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) and Innerspace (1987).
John Michael Miranda was born on May 27, 1926 in Greenport, Long Island. Miranda began his career in the theater, playing the undertaker Mr. Sowerberry in a 1965 Broadway production of the musical Oliver! and then on the road. He later worked for many summers at the Kenley playhouses in the Midwest, sharing stages with the likes of Elaine Stritch, Florence Henderson and Vincent Price.
Miranda came to Los Angeles in the 1970s and appeared on such TV shows as Happy Days, Three’s Company, Mork & Mindy, Laverne & Shirley, St. Elsewhere and Rescue Me.
He wrote a semi-autobiographical play about his family, Italian Funerals and Other Festive Occasions, which was produced at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia and other regional theaters around the U.S. It was published by Samuel French and optioned for a film.
Andy Milligan moved to Los Angeles, where he briefly owned a dress shop on Highland Boulevard from late 1985 to early 1986. Milligan enjoyed S&M and had very few long-term relationships (all of which were with men). One of Milligan's few close friends was John Miranda, who starred as Sweeney Todd in Milligan's 1970 movie Bloodthirsty Butchers. Miranda later financially supported Milligan after his move to Los Angeles and assisted with medical expenses during Milligan's final years. In poor health from 1989, Milligan was diagnosed with AIDS in 1989. He initially kept his condition a secret as he tried to continue working on writing stage play scripts and screenplays. Later, unable to find any more financial backers, he eventually closed down his theater and production company, Troupe West, in early 1990 and then completely withdrew from the public light altogether. In June 1990, Milligan confided in only two people the true nature of his health; friend and actor John Miranda and writer-biographer Jimmy McDonough, who then became his part-time caregivers for the next 12 months. Andy Milligan died in the early morning hours of June 3, 1991, from complications to AIDS.
Miranda died on February 3, 2015 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 88.
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