| American film actor Date of Birth: 17.11.1925 Country: USA |
Rock Hudson, born Roy Harold Scherer Jr., was an American film actor. He was born on November 17, 1925, in Winnetka, Illinois. Hudson's father left the family during the Great Depression, and he grew up with his mother and stepfather, whom he didn't have a close relationship with.
During World War II, Hudson served in the navy as an aircraft mechanic. After the war, he pursued his dream of becoming an actor but was eventually expelled from acting school due to his poor academic performance. In 1946, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked various odd jobs before joining a group of gay men in Long Beach. It was there that he met Henry Willson, who helped him get his first role and gave him the stage name "Rock Hudson."
In 1948, Hudson appeared in the film "Fighter Squadron," and shortly after, he signed a contract with Universal International. The studio aimed to transform the handsome brunette with curly hair into a star. Hudson dedicated himself to honing his acting skills and also took lessons in horseback riding, singing, and fencing. Despite his lack of experience, he gradually gained recognition through roles in films such as "One-Way Street," "Air Cadet," "Bend of the River," and others.
Hudson's breakthrough came with the film "Magnificent Obsession," which garnered him significant press attention. However, behind the scenes, Hudson led a double life, concealing his homosexuality. He had close relationships with fellow actor George Nader and his secretary Mark Miller, communicating with them through coded phrases. Hudson also had a passionate romance with Jack Navaar, but their relationship gradually faded due to the inability to be seen together in public.
In an attempt to maintain his reputation as a ladies' man, Hudson refrained from dating men for ten years and engaged in relationships with women. To further conceal his homosexuality, the Universal studio arranged for him to marry Phyllis Gates, his manager's secretary, who remained unaware of his true sexual preferences. It was only after their divorce, three years later, that Gates learned about Hudson's homosexuality.
Despite the challenges in his personal life, Hudson continued to thrive in his acting career. He received critical acclaim for his roles in films such as "Bengal Brigade," "All That Heaven Allows," "Written on the Wind," "The Tarnished Angels," "Giant," and many others. His portrayal of the free-spirited oilman Bick Benedict in the film "Giant" earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
In the late 1970s, Hudson's career began to decline. He developed a dependence on alcohol and suffered from a heart attack. In the early 1980s, he received a devastating diagnosis of AIDS, which even his lover Mark Christian was unaware of. Hudson traveled to Paris in 1985 for treatment but his condition continued to worsen. He returned to Los Angeles on a stretcher and passed away on October 2, 1985.