Rock Hudson

Error creating thumbnail:

Error creating thumbnail:

Error creating thumbnail:

Error creating thumbnail:

Rock Hudson

Name	Rock Hudson
Birth name
Birth date	November 17, 1925
Birth place	Winnetka, Illinois, United States
Death date	October 2, 1985
Death place	Beverly Hills, California, United States
Alma mater
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1948–1985
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor, known for his good looks and leading roles in films during the 1950s and 1960s. He was one of the most popular movie stars of his time and became a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.

Early Life

Rock Hudson was born in Winnetka, Illinois, to Katherine Wood and Roy Harold Scherer Sr. His father abandoned the family during the Great Depression, and his mother remarried Wallace Fitzgerald, whose surname Hudson adopted. He attended New Trier High School, where he was a popular student and participated in school plays.

Career

Hudson moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He was discovered by talent scout Henry Willson, who changed his name to Rock Hudson. Hudson's first film role was in Fighter Squadron (1948), but he gained fame with his performance in Magnificent Obsession (1954). He became a leading man in Hollywood, starring in films such as Giant (1956), for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Notable Films

• Magnificent Obsession (1954)
• All That Heaven Allows (1955)
• Giant (1956)
• Pillow Talk (1959)
• Lover Come Back (1961)
• Send Me No Flowers (1964)

Personal Life

Hudson's personal life was the subject of much speculation. He was known to be a private individual, and his homosexuality was not publicly acknowledged during his lifetime. In 1955, he married Phyllis Gates, but the marriage ended in divorce three years later.

Health and Death

In 1984, Hudson was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, a disease that was not well understood at the time. He became one of the first major celebrities to die from an AIDS-related illness, passing away on October 2, 1985, in Beverly Hills, California. His death brought significant attention to the AIDS epidemic and helped to raise awareness and funding for research.

Legacy

Rock Hudson is remembered as a talented actor and a symbol of Hollywood's golden age. His death marked a turning point in the public perception of AIDS, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding for those affected by the disease.

Also see

• Hollywood Golden Age
• HIV/AIDS in the United States
• LGBT history in the United States
• Academy Awards