Real World star dies at 44

Former MTV "Real World: San Francisco" star Sean Sasser has died after a battle with a rare type of lung cancer at the age of 44.

"Our love goes out to his family and husband Michael," said Judd Winnick, Sasser's friend and "Real World" costar, on Twitter Tuesday.

Sasser, who was working as a pastry chef at RIS Restaurant in Washington, D.C., was HIV positive but died of mesothelioma, a rare kind of lung cancer.

The reality star made a name for himself by holding a commitment ceremony with "Real World" costar Pedro Zamora, the first ever on national television and a decade before same-sex marriage became legal in the U.S. Zamora passed away from AIDS in 1994 at age 22.

Our friend Sean Sasser has died. Our love goes out to his family & husband Michael. We will miss u so much. pic.twitter.com/2WsaChdcAQ

— Judd Winick. (@JuddWinick) August 8, 2013