Rock Hudson

Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 – October 2, 1985) was an American actor. One of the most popular movie stars of his time, his screen career spanned four decades.

A prominent heartthrob of the Golden Age of Hollywood, he achieved stardom with his role in Magnificent Obsession (1954),[1] followed by All That Heaven Allows (1955), and Giant (1956), for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Hudson also found continued success with a string of romantic comedies co-starring Doris Day: Pillow Talk (1959), Lover Come Back (1961), and Send Me No Flowers (1964). During the late 1960s, his films included Seconds (1966), Tobruk (1967), and Ice Station Zebra (1968).

Unhappy with the film scripts he was offered, Hudson turned to television and was a hit, starring in the popular mystery series McMillan & Wife (1971–1977). His last role was as a guest star on the fifth season (1984–1985) of the primetime ABC soap opera Dynasty, until AIDS-related illness made it impossible for him to continue.

Numerous film magazines declared Hudson Star of the Year, Favorite Leading Man, and similar titles. He appeared in nearly 70 films and starred in several television productions during a career that spanned more than four decades.

Although he was discreet regarding his sexual orientation, it was known by many in the film industry during his lifetime that he was gay. In 1984, Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS. The following year, he became one of the first celebrities to disclose his AIDS diagnosis. Hudson was the first major celebrity to die from an AIDS-related illness, on October 2, 1985, at age 59, in Los Angeles, California

The American people were quite shocked when they realised Rock Hudson, the epitome of the strong handsome STRAIGHT man, was actually gay. It hit many like a stomach punch as they admired and looked up to this man and realising after decades he was gay was more than many could cope with.

This is - of course, the country that gave us Liberace - and again - most people thought he was straight, so this is a country of basic idiots then.

It is tragic that age and illlness has to take away our youth, our vitality and our zest. When you look at how handsome, how debonaire and how gorgeous he was, to be reduced through HIV to a skeletal version of himself and where he looks ravaged, is sad. I apprecuiate old age and death comes to us all, and for film stars it is hard when we remember them through their films when in their hay day, when in their prime, when they were at their best , and through their flms we can follow the aging and the growing older and - like this picture below, remember how they were and how they are - and who was it said