 |
 |
Born: November 25, 1925
Birthplace: Winnetka, Illinois
Died: November 2, 1985
|
|
|
Rock Hudson
Rock Hudson was a matinee idol who was adored by millions of women. He was also a gay man forced to hide his true sexuality in order to work in Hollywood. This precarious balancing act took its toll on Hudson, a heavy drinker and smoker, who later needed quintuple bypass surgery. Later, as his career was thriving with a recurring role on Dynasty, Hudson was stricken with AIDS, bringing his private life to the forefront as he was losing his battle with the disease.
What You Don't Know:
• Rock Hudson worked as a truck driver when he first moved to Los Angeles, but he spent his spare time idling outside studio gates and sending photographs of himself to various producers.
• His real name was Roy Scherer, but talent scout Henry Wilson invented a new name by combining the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River.
• Although he tried out for school plays, Hudson failed to win any roles because he could not remember lines.
• As a teenager, the movie fan worked as an usher.
• Before taking his first film role, Hudson had his teeth capped and was coached intensively in acting, singing, dancing, fencing and riding. Still, it took no less than 38 takes before he could successfully complete one line in his first picture, Fighter Squadron.
• Production on the television series The Devlin Connection was suspended for a year while Rock recovered from quintuple bypass heart surgery.
• By the time Rock took the role of a suave and stately horse breeder on Dynasty, the AIDS virus was consuming him. Before long, he suffered memory loss and was forced to use cue cards. He also had difficulty speaking.
 |
Related Links
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
E! True Hollywood Story now available on satellite radio.
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
