This actor died of AIDS in1991. He had kept his illness a secret, fearing he wouldn't be able to work in Hollywood. He was star of a 1978 film about an American imprisoned in Turkey for drug smuggling. What is his name and the name of the film?

In 1978, actor Brad Davis shot to stardom with his compelling performance as Billy Hayes in the film "Midnight Express". The movie tells the harrowing true story of a young American student imprisoned in Turkey for attempting to smuggle hashish out of the country. Davis's portrayal of Hayes's brutal ordeal and eventual escape earned him a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year. The film's title, "Midnight Express," is prison slang for an escape attempt.

Tragically, Davis's life was cut short when he died in 1991 at the age of 41 from complications related to AIDS. He had been diagnosed with HIV in 1985 but chose to keep his illness private, fearing that the stigma surrounding the disease at the time would render him unemployable in Hollywood. In a book proposal written before his death, Davis revealed his need to keep his condition a secret in order to continue working and supporting his family.

His wife, Susan Bluestein, later confirmed that Davis made the difficult decision to keep his diagnosis hidden so he could continue his acting career. He did some of his most acclaimed work during this period, including the lead role in the play "The Normal Heart," which is about the AIDS crisis. Davis's story highlights the immense fear and discrimination that actors and others faced during the height of the AIDS epidemic.