He bears his father’s famous face, but his path was forged through unimaginable loss, relentless advocacy, and the legacy of a family transformed by tragedy.

Jake Glaser, the only surviving child of “Starsky & Hutch” star Paul Michael Glaser and AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser, has overcome devastating personal loss to become a powerful voice in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

With the charm of his father and the determination of his mother, Jake’s story is a testament to survival, growth, and healing — and the reason so many now look to him for hope.

Stardom, Love, and a Tragedy No One Saw Coming

Paul’s rise to fame began in the 1970s when he starred as Detective Dave Starsky in the hit television series “Starsky & Hutch.”

The show, filled with car chases and streetwise charisma, became an international sensation, airing in 67 countries and turning Paul into a pop culture icon. Yet, while the world saw a rising star, his personal life soon took a darker turn.

Paul met Elizabeth in 1974, just after filming the pilot episode of “Starsky & Hutch.” The two married in 1980 and started a family the following year.

But in 1981, during the birth of their first child, Ariel, Elizabeth hemorrhaged and required a transfusion of seven pints of blood. Unfortunately, that blood secretly carried the HIV virus — a diagnosis the family would not uncover until years later.

It wasn’t until 1986, when Ariel became ill, that doctors discovered Elizabeth was HIV positive. The couple was then devastated to learn that both Ariel and Jake, their newborn son born in 1984, had also contracted the virus. What began as the birth of a family quickly spiraled into a medical crisis that would define the rest of their lives.

Elizabeth channeled her grief into activism. In 1988, she co-founded the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) alongside friends Susan DeLaurentis and Susie Zeegen.

The foundation focused on research, treatment, and public awareness during a time when misinformation and fear dominated conversations around HIV/AIDS. With Paul’s support and platform, Elizabeth publicly shared their family’s story, helping to humanize a disease.

Despite their efforts, Ariel died in 1988 at the age of seven. Elizabeth continued to fight, but succumbed to the disease in 1994 at the age of 47. By then, Jake was just ten years old and the only member of the family still living with HIV.

Growing Up with Grief: Jake’s Battle Within

Losing both his mother and sister before the age of 11 left Jake grappling with survivor’s guilt and emotional confusion. At the time, HIV/AIDS was still widely misunderstood, making his situation even more isolating.

“I resented my mom and sister for what I thought was abandonment,” Jake confessed in a 2021 interview. “And I beat myself up thinking, ‘Why couldn’t I have saved them?'” Notably, during this period, he had an acting credit in the 1996 film “Kazaam,” but he seemingly never acted again.

Eventually, the grief of losing part of his family festered through adolescence. By his teens, Jake had begun rebelling in dangerous ways — most notably by secretly flushing his daily HIV medications down the toilet.

He later learned that, despite skipping doses, his immune system had remained stable due to a rare genetic mutation of the CCR5 gene inherited from his father. This mutation made it difficult for HIV to damage his body’s defenses. Although his health remained steady for some time, the emotional toll of his decisions eventually caught up with him.

At 16, his father made the difficult choice to send him to an adolescent treatment center. It was there that Jake began to understand the effect his behavior had on those who loved him.

“I finally understood how my actions had impacted the people around me, and a lot of that came from the tireless love that everybody in my life has always given me,” he said.

A Legacy Reborn Through Action

Despite the chaos of his early years, Jake found purpose in the very foundation that had been built to save his life. After receiving a call from EGPAF’s CEO in the early 2000s, Jake decided to visit the organization’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. What began as a small role answering phones evolved into a passionate career in advocacy.

However, his commitment to the organization increased at 27, when he discovered that the CCR5 was not protecting him as before. That’s when he learned he wasn’t “invincible.”

Jake now serves as a foundation ambassador, traveling the world to speak with youth, mentor HIV-positive children, and raise awareness about testing and treatment. He also works alongside his father, who continues to serve as an honorary chairman of the EGPAF board.

“My mom and dad showed me that if you want to change the world, you’ve got to have some fun doing it,” Jake shared. “I get to carry that on with my dad now.”

Elizabeth’s foundation has since provided more than 32 million women with HIV testing, counseling, and medications to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Nowadays, 1.8 million people rely on EGPAF’s services for lifesaving treatments.

For Jake, these numbers represent more than just statistics — they are proof that his family’s suffering created lasting, measurable change.

Paul’s Ongoing Journey: Father, Artist, Survivor

As Jake stepped into advocacy, his father continued to process the emotional weight of their family’s journey. Paul has long credited spiritual growth for helping him endure the loss of Elizabeth and Ariel.

“It brought me to a place where I had to choose whether I was going to be a victim or whether I was going to see it as an opportunity to grow — to grow my heart and my capacity for love,” he said.

Paul, now 82, still feels connected to his late wife and daughter. “I have conversations with them occasionally,” he revealed. “It’s usually ‘I love you. How are you?’ It’s not a question of a literal response like words. It’s more like an understanding and knowing they are there in me.”

After Elizabeth’s death, Paul married Tracy Barone and had another daughter, Zoe, in 1997. The couple eventually separated in 2007.

Despite a decline in acting opportunities due to ageism, Paul has embraced other creative pursuits. He wrote and illustrated a children’s book, “Chrystallia and the Source of Light,” which he describes as a metaphorical autobiography.

He also explores digital art and painting. “The one thing that ties it all together — the acting, directing, writing, painting — it’s storytelling,” he said.

Love, Life, and Looking Forward

These past few years, Jake has been living in Venice Beach with his girlfriend, Kerry Corridan, a digital marketer who moved into the apartment below his in the same duplex. Their connection started casually but grew deeper as Kerry became involved in Jake’s world, volunteering at EGPAF events and listening to his speeches.

“I said to myself, ‘If she is supportive of this, perhaps she will be supportive of me,'” Jake explained. “The biggest fear is not being loved, having someone not want to be with you because of your status. I know it’s been mine for a long time.”

Regarding his health, thanks to modern medicine, Jake now takes just two small pills each day to maintain an undetectable viral load and prevent transmission.

With his condition stabilized and his relationship thriving, he began dreaming of a future that once seemed out of reach. “That would be the ultimate for my mom and dad, to [have] little Glasers running around,” he said.

In the last few years, Jake has also worked at a plant-based food company called Cool Foods, where he channels his entrepreneurial energy. When he’s not working or advocating, he finds peace surfing along the California coast — an activity that reminds him of his mother, who loved the ocean.

Fans Recognize the Past in Jake’s Face — and Future

While Jake’s accomplishments stand on their own, many classic TV fans can’t help but point out his resemblance to his famous father. On Instagram, one person commented, “You look just like your dad x. [sic]” Another wrote, “There you look like your dad.

But beyond physical likeness, Jake’s journey resonates on an emotional level. One fan expressed heartfelt admiration, “Your Mum would be so proud of you. ❤️”

Though he was once unsure if he’d survive, Jake now speaks with optimism and confidence. He embraces transparency when discussing his diagnosis and encourages others to do the same. “Know your status,” he urges. “If you’re positive, if you go on your medication, we are going to do nothing but stand up and applaud you.”

He also shares his journey with humor and humility, often disarming crowds with candid lines like, “You can ask me anything you want. I got a healthy sex life.” For him, openness is not only healing — it’s a weapon against stigma.

Furthermore, even as he reflects on a past filled with pain, Jake expresses gratitude. “I wouldn’t go back in the past and change a thing,” he added. “Everything that happened to my family happened for a reason.”

Therefore, this man isn’t just Paul Michael Glaser‘s lookalike son. He’s a living reminder of what love, resilience, and advocacy can accomplish — and a beacon for the next generation in the fight to end AIDS.