Rock Hudson was regarded as one of the most renowned performers of his generation. Before becoming a movie star, the actor was a youngster born in Illinois to Roy Harold Scherer and Katherine Wood.
Sadly, Hudson’s parents divorced before he was 10, and he was raised by his mom. When his mother remarried, he received Wallace Fitzgerald as a stepfather.
Things only became worse as his stepfather became harsh, insulting the young guy for wanting to be an actor and compelling him to take his surname.
This, along with his habit of forgetting lines in school plays, kept Hudson from pursuing acting at a younger age, despite his passion.
After finishing high school, he worked for the post office before joining the war effort as an aviation mechanic during WWII. Hudson worked as a truck driver when the war ended and he returned home. He distributed his photos and information around studio lots in his leisure time.
Henry Willson, a talent scout and his soon-to-be agent, discovered him and helped him alter his name to Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., get his teeth capped, and take training in riding, fencing, singing, and, most crucially, acting.
Hudson’s looks and strength enabled him to secure a part in “Fighter Squadron” at the age of 23 in 1948. Eight years later, for his role in “Giant,” the actor got his first Oscar nomination.
His career took off as he landed multiple film parts. But, in 1955, Confidential magazine threatened to reveal Hudson’s sexuality, which he had kept hidden throughout his profession.
Hudson married Phyllis Gates, his agent’s secretary, in response.
Numerous people perceived the marriage as a publicity stunt to dispel the many gay allegations that circulated at the time. Although Gates and Hudson said their marriage was based on love, the couple separated barely three years later.
Gates alleged that she was subjected to mental torture when she filed for divorce. Hudson did not contest the divorce and even paid alimony to his ex-wife for nearly a decade. Gates never remarried.
Despite his best efforts to conceal his sexual inclinations, some Hollywood celebrities, most notably Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, revealed that they were aware of the actor’s secret.
Hudson had a covert romance with Lee Garlington from 1962 until 1965, who has now talked publicly about his love affair. Garlington recalled how he would sneak out of Hudson’s house at night.
Also, Garlington didn’t know how much of an impact he had on Hudson until Hudson’s book came out and he called Garlington his “true love.”
Hudson terminated their relationship when a fan broke into his house in search of proof of the star’s sexuality. Hudson ended the connection after becoming shaken.
Rumors circulated that the actor was having affairs with other men in his life, even his agent. One of his most well-known collaborations was with young actor Marc Christian.
Christian was a 28-year-old actor who had garnered popularity for performances in films such as 1988’s “Deadly Addiction” where the two stars clashed.
Hudson was twice the younger actor’s age. They met at a political fundraiser in 1982 and quickly started spending most of their time together. By 1983, the actor’s lawyer, Harold Rhoden, stated that the actor had acknowledged his feelings for his new partner.
After almost a year, they started living together at Hudson’s Beverly Hills home. They were both more happy and content than ever when Hudson started to exhibit unusual symptoms.
Hudson attended a reception at Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s residence in 1984. Many others noticed on how sick the actor seemed when they were there. Hudson dismissed them, claiming to be recuperating from the illness.
He started having severe symptoms a few weeks after the dinner party: weight loss, body sores, and spells of intense perspiration. He was soon diagnosed with AIDS.
At the time, little was known about the condition, and many members of the public condemned people who had it. AIDS, which Hudson incorrectly associated with homosexuality, was not something Hudson desired to discuss publicly.
Hudson quickly started to work, attempting to discover a solution for the condition, yet he never succeeded. His financing, on the other hand, was very helpful in the attempt.
Hudson kept his own spouse in the dark about his sickness as he attempted to treat it.
Finally, the celebrity revealed his AIDS diagnosis to the public. He never notified Christian about his sickness, and Christian only found out about it via Hudson’s public pronouncements.
Hudson died at his home in 1985, and Christian soon sued him for concealing the facts about the sickness from him, alleging mental suffering and fear of infection.
After hearing his case, the jury awarded Christian 21.7 million dollars, which was ultimately reduced to 5.5 million dollars.
Rock Hudson must have been a wonderful guy for everybody to want to protect him, particularly Elizabeth Taylor and Doris Day, who both appeared to adore him!
