Actor. His father abandoned his family during the depths of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. His mother remarried, his stepfather adopted him, and he became Roy Fitzgerald. Following a stint in the United States Navy during World War II, he moved to California to get into the motion picture business. For a couple of years, he drove a truck, among other odd jobs to support himself. In 1948 he met Henry Willson, a powerful Hollywood agent known for scouring gay bars in search of talent. Impressed by Fitzgerald's stature and good looks, Willson renamed him Rock Hudson and sent him to acting school. His first movie, "Fighter Squadron" marked the beginning of a career that lasted more than 30 years. In 1955, facing exposure of his secret gay life, Hudson married Phyllis Gates, Willson's secretary; the union lasted three years. In 1956, the film Giant was released, starring Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. Taylor and Hudson became lifelong friends.
Hudson made many films in the 1950s, but he became one of the top box office stars of the early 1960s, frequently appearing in films with Doris Day. His death at 59 of complications from AIDS astounded many of his fans. He was the first major public figure to acknowledge openly that he was suffering from the disease. Taylor had guarded the secret of his sexuality for decades, and after his death she co-founded AmFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Hudson made many films in the 1950s, but he became one of the top box office stars of the early 1960s, frequently appearing in films with Doris Day. His death at 59 of complications from AIDS astounded many of his fans. He was the first major public figure to acknowledge openly that he was suffering from the disease. Taylor had guarded the secret of his sexuality for decades, and after his death she co-founded AmFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Actor. His father abandoned his family during the depths of the Great Depression in the early 1930s. His mother remarried, his stepfather adopted him, and he became Roy Fitzgerald. Following a stint in the United States Navy during World War II, he moved to California to get into the motion picture business. For a couple of years, he drove a truck, among other odd jobs to support himself. In 1948 he met Henry Willson, a powerful Hollywood agent known for scouring gay bars in search of talent. Impressed by Fitzgerald's stature and good looks, Willson renamed him Rock Hudson and sent him to acting school. His first movie, "Fighter Squadron" marked the beginning of a career that lasted more than 30 years. In 1955, facing exposure of his secret gay life, Hudson married Phyllis Gates, Willson's secretary; the union lasted three years. In 1956, the film Giant was released, starring Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. Taylor and Hudson became lifelong friends.
Hudson made many films in the 1950s, but he became one of the top box office stars of the early 1960s, frequently appearing in films with Doris Day. His death at 59 of complications from AIDS astounded many of his fans. He was the first major public figure to acknowledge openly that he was suffering from the disease. Taylor had guarded the secret of his sexuality for decades, and after his death she co-founded AmFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Hudson made many films in the 1950s, but he became one of the top box office stars of the early 1960s, frequently appearing in films with Doris Day. His death at 59 of complications from AIDS astounded many of his fans. He was the first major public figure to acknowledge openly that he was suffering from the disease. Taylor had guarded the secret of his sexuality for decades, and after his death she co-founded AmFAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
Bio by: John Freed
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