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Many consider the finest performance of his career to be that of the young Malibu painter Tony Wilson into whom the elderly New York City banker Arthur Hamilton is transformed in [[John Frankenheimer]]'s [[1966]] science fiction film ''[[Seconds (film)|Seconds]]''. The film, ahead of its time, and lacking the usual glossiness expected of a Hudson film, was a box office flop.
Many consider the finest performance of his career to be that of the young Malibu painter Tony Wilson into whom the elderly New York City banker Arthur Hamilton is transformed in [[John Frankenheimer]]'s [[1966]] science fiction film ''[[Seconds (film)|Seconds]]''. The film, ahead of its time, and lacking the usual glossiness expected of a Hudson film, was a box office flop.


From [[1971]] to [[1978]], Hudson starred opposite [[Susan Saint James]], with whom he did not get along, in the popular American television series ''[[McMillan and Wife]]'' that aired on [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]]. There was speculation at the time that Hudson was furious to learn that the well-connected Saint James received a higher salary than he did.
After that his popularity at the cinema diminished, but he was succsesful on television, where from [[1971]] to [[1978]], Hudson starred opposite [[Susan Saint James]], with whom he did not get along, in the popular American television series ''[[McMillan and Wife]]'' that aired on [[National Broadcasting Company|NBC]]. There was speculation at the time that Hudson was furious to learn that the well-connected Saint James received a higher salary than he did.


==Private Life==
Hudson met Phyllis Gates when she was a secretary for his agent and married her in [[1955]]. It is thought the studio used this [[sham marriage]] in order to cover Hudson's [[homosexuality]], which would have been a liability at the box office if it were known to the public. Although Gates insisted that, for her, the marriage was real, she claimed she eventually learned that the romance had been arranged to dispel rumors that Hudson was gay. Not everyone was convinced that Gates was as naive as she seemed [http://villagevoice.com/nyclife/0603,musto,71799,15.html],
Hudson met Phyllis Gates when she was a secretary for his agent and married her in [[1955]]. It is thought the studio used this [[sham marriage]] in order to cover Hudson's [[homosexuality]], which would have been a liability at the box office if it were known to the public. Although Gates insisted that, for her, the marriage was real, she claimed she eventually learned that the romance had been arranged to dispel rumors that Hudson was gay. Not everyone was convinced that Gates was as naive as she seemed [http://villagevoice.com/nyclife/0603,musto,71799,15.html],
[http://www.queerday.com/2006/jan/17/liz_smith_helped_keep_rock_hudsons_sexuality_under_wraps.html].
[http://www.queerday.com/2006/jan/17/liz_smith_helped_keep_rock_hudsons_sexuality_under_wraps.html]. The couple divorced in [[1958]], and Gates said that she never saw Hudson again. Phyllis Gates died on [[January 4]], [[2006]], of [[lung cancer]] complications.
The couple divorced in [[1958]], and Gates said that she never saw Hudson again. Phyllis Gates died on [[January 4]], [[2006]], of [[lung cancer]] complications.


Hudson never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. However, it was widely rumoured by the early 1980s. When journalist [[Boze Hadleigh]] asked him, "Rock, do you think you were born gay?" the actor smiled and said, "Probably. But only after I came out of the womb!" In a late press release, he speculated that he got AIDS from multiple blood transfusions he received when he had undergone a heart bypass. At the time of his operation, blood was not tested for the not-yet-known HIV antibody.
Hudson never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. However, it was widely rumoured by the early 1980s when he starred on the TV series "The Devlin Connection." Production on the series was suspended for a year while Rock recovered from quintuple bypass heart surgery necessitated by his years of cigarette smoking and heavy drinking. When journalist [[Boze Hadleigh]] asked him, "Rock, do you think you were born gay?" the actor smiled and said, "Probably. But only after I came out of the womb!" By the time Rock had taken a role on the TV series "Dynasty," the AIDS virus was consuming him - he had difficulty speaking, and suffered severe memory loss, so was forced to use cue cards.


He was the first major star to announce he was a homosexual with AIDS, and his worldwide search for a cure drew international attention. He flew to Paris for a blood transfusion, but had to return to America in a 727 Jet Liner on his own due to the scare stories of the time. In a late press release, he speculated that he got AIDS from multiple blood transfusions he received when he had undergone a heart bypass. At the time of his operation, blood was not tested for the not-yet-known HIV antibody.
⚫
After Hudson's death, [[Doris Day]], widely thought to be a close off-screen friend, said she never knew he was gay. [[Carol Burnett]], who often worked on television and in live theatre with Hudson, was a staunch defender of her friend, telling an interviewer that she knew about his sexuality and didn't care.


⚫
After Hudson's death on October 2, 1985, [[Doris Day]], widely thought to be a close off-screen friend, said she never knew he was gay. [[Carol Burnett]], who often worked on television and in live theatre with Hudson, was a staunch defender of her friend, telling an interviewer that she knew about his sexuality and didn't care. As [[Morgan Fairchild]] said, "Rock Hudson's death gave AIDS a face."
⚫
Following Hudson's death, his partner [[Marc Christian]] filed a [[palimony]] lawsuit against his estate and won on the grounds of emotional distress caused by Hudson's failure to reveal his positive HIV status.


⚫
Hudson was [[cremated]] and his ashes buried at sea. [http://dying.about.com/od/cremation/a/Famous_Cremains.htm]. Following the funeral, his partner [[Marc Christian]] filed a [[palimony]] lawsuit against his estate and won on the grounds of emotional distress caused by Hudson's failure to reveal his positive HIV status.
⚫
Hudson has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6104 [[Hollywood Boulevard]].


⚫
Hudson has a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] at 6104 [[Hollywood Boulevard]].
After his death, Hudson was [[cremated]] and his ashes buried at sea. [http://dying.about.com/od/cremation/a/Famous_Cremains.htm]


== References in Television ==
== References in Television ==

Revision as of 17:03, 5 May 2006

Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson (November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor, famous for his rugged good looks. He was the first major American celebrity known to have died from an AIDS-related illness (specifically, cancer of the lymph glands), and the announcement of his death from the disease at the age of 59 brought it wider public attention in the United States.

Biography

Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer Jr. in Winnetka, Illinois. He was later adopted and acquired the name Roy Fitzgerald. He served in the United States Navy during World War II as an aeroplane mechanic. His good looks and strapping size got him a Hollywood audition; capped teeth and a name change got him a small part in the 1948 film Fighter Squadron. In 1956 he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Giant, and two years later, Look Magazine named him Star of the Year.

During the 1950s and 1960s, Hudson was known for three 'bedroom farces' co-starring Doris Day. The two made Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back and Send Me No Flowers together. After his death, fans would note the irony in the fact that in both Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back Hudson played a straight man who would pretend to be girl-shy or even gay in order to get a woman into bed; and in Send Me No Flowers, he played a middle-aged husband who believed he had a medical condition with only a few months to live.

Many consider the finest performance of his career to be that of the young Malibu painter Tony Wilson into whom the elderly New York City banker Arthur Hamilton is transformed in John Frankenheimer's 1966 science fiction film Seconds. The film, ahead of its time, and lacking the usual glossiness expected of a Hudson film, was a box office flop.

After that his popularity at the cinema diminished, but he was succsesful on television, where from 1971 to 1978, Hudson starred opposite Susan Saint James, with whom he did not get along, in the popular American television series McMillan and Wife that aired on NBC. There was speculation at the time that Hudson was furious to learn that the well-connected Saint James received a higher salary than he did.

Private Life

Hudson met Phyllis Gates when she was a secretary for his agent and married her in 1955. It is thought the studio used this sham marriage in order to cover Hudson's homosexuality, which would have been a liability at the box office if it were known to the public. Although Gates insisted that, for her, the marriage was real, she claimed she eventually learned that the romance had been arranged to dispel rumors that Hudson was gay. Not everyone was convinced that Gates was as naive as she seemed [1], [2]. The couple divorced in 1958, and Gates said that she never saw Hudson again. Phyllis Gates died on January 4, 2006, of lung cancer complications.

Hudson never publicly acknowledged his homosexuality. However, it was widely rumoured by the early 1980s when he starred on the TV series "The Devlin Connection." Production on the series was suspended for a year while Rock recovered from quintuple bypass heart surgery necessitated by his years of cigarette smoking and heavy drinking. When journalist Boze Hadleigh asked him, "Rock, do you think you were born gay?" the actor smiled and said, "Probably. But only after I came out of the womb!" By the time Rock had taken a role on the TV series "Dynasty," the AIDS virus was consuming him - he had difficulty speaking, and suffered severe memory loss, so was forced to use cue cards.

He was the first major star to announce he was a homosexual with AIDS, and his worldwide search for a cure drew international attention. He flew to Paris for a blood transfusion, but had to return to America in a 727 Jet Liner on his own due to the scare stories of the time. In a late press release, he speculated that he got AIDS from multiple blood transfusions he received when he had undergone a heart bypass. At the time of his operation, blood was not tested for the not-yet-known HIV antibody.

After Hudson's death on October 2, 1985, Doris Day, widely thought to be a close off-screen friend, said she never knew he was gay. Carol Burnett, who often worked on television and in live theatre with Hudson, was a staunch defender of her friend, telling an interviewer that she knew about his sexuality and didn't care. As Morgan Fairchild said, "Rock Hudson's death gave AIDS a face."

Hudson was cremated and his ashes buried at sea. [3]. Following the funeral, his partner Marc Christian filed a palimony lawsuit against his estate and won on the grounds of emotional distress caused by Hudson's failure to reveal his positive HIV status.

Hudson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6104 Hollywood Boulevard.

References in Television

  • A picture of Rock Hudson is shown in The Andy Griffith Show episode "Aunt Bee's Medicine Man" when in the opening sequence Barney Fife (Don Knotts) is combing his hair.
  • Hudson made a guest appearance on I Love Lucy when Lucy goes to Hollywood.
  • Rock Hudson made some guest appearances on the Dick Van Dyke Show in its late run.
  • A Rock Hudson clone is mentioned in the two-part season-finale of Clone High. Rock Hudson takes Marie Curie to prom instead of Mahatma Gandhi, but Gandhi ends up with Curie and Rock is never seen again.
  • In the sixth season episode of The Sopranos, when an overtly heterosexual character is found to be gay, the fact that he is married offers him no cover, as another character mentions Rock Hudson, though he is uncertain if Rock Hudson married or not.

Filmography (Includes TV series and Made-for-Television Movies)

File:DynastyRockHudson.jpg
Main title caption from Dynasty December 1984-April 1985 - Hudson's final acting role.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rock_Hudson&oldid=51703547"