Rock Hudson biography
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[h3]Born Roy Harold Scherer, Hudson attended the New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois and soon decided to become an actor. [/h3]
His plans were put on hold for a while however, when he served as a Navy airplane mechanic during World War II, and as a truck driver after the war.
This, however, only further motivated him to get into the movies. Starting drama lessons, he was advised to change his name to something shorter and so he chose Rock and “Hudson”, in honour of the synonymous car.
His first film, 'Fighter Squadron' in 1948, did not lead to immediate stardom, but a good part in 'Winchester ‘73' led to better assignments, and the studio chose to concentrate its publicity on Hudson's physical attributes, rather than his acting ability, which may explain why he spent a lot of his screen time without his shirt on.
Becoming a favourite among teenage fans, Hudson rose to fame, his films slowly reaching the A-list, with key releases such as 'Magnificent Obsession', 'Battle Hymn' and 'The Giant', which convinced the critics that Hudson worked well with dramatic leads such as [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/241:0/Elizabeth_Taylor.htm]Elizabeth Taylor[/urlnew] and [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/133:0/James_Dean.htm]James Dean[/urlnew].
Hudson's career took an enormous leap forward when, in 1959, he was cast in 'Pillow Talk', the first of many successful ventures with [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/329:0/Doris_Day.htm]Doris Day[/urlnew].
In the mid 1960s, he gave another brilliant performance in the caustic fantasy film, 'Seconds' and, in 1971, he made a move into television in the popular detective series, 'McMillan and Wife',and later he also appeared on super-soap, 'Dynasty'.
His private life however, was not as straightforward as the studio’s liked to publicise. Despite long time rumours in Hollywood, Hudson only openly confirmed his homosexuality in the early 1980s, when he announced that he had contracted the AIDS virus.
Staunchly defended by friends like Doris Day, and a multitude of fans, he lived the remainder of his life with dignity, withstanding the devastation of his illness, press intrusions and the bias of the misinformed during the early days of the epidemic.
He died in October 1985, a month before his sixtieth birthday.
Rock Hudson biography
- One of his lines in his first picture, 'Fighter Squadron', took 38 takes.
- When he died his family had his ashes scattered at sea.
- He went to the same school as Charlton Heston and Ann-Margaret.
- His name was changed to Rock Hudson by talent scout, Henry Wilson.
- He was left-handed.
Rock Hudson biography
Dynasty (1981)
Vegas Strip War, The (1984)
Ambassador, The (1984)
"Devlin Connection, The" (1982)
World War III (1982)
Star Maker, The (1981)
Superstunt II (1980)
Mirror Crack'd, The (1980)
Circus of the Stars #5 (1980)
"Martian Chronicles, The"
Avalanche (1978)
"Wheels" (1978)
Embryo (1976)
Showdown (1973)
"McMillan and Wife" (1971)
Once Upon a Dead Man (1971)
Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971)
Doris Mary Ann Kappelhoff Special, The (1971)
Hornet's Nest (1970)
Darling Lili (1970)
Undefeated, The (1969)
Ruba al prossimo tuo (1969)
Ice Station Zebra (1968)
Tobruk (1967)
Seconds (1966)
Blindfold (1965)
Very Special Favor, A (1965)
Strange Bedfellows (1965)
Send Me No Flowers (1964)
Man's Favorite Sport? (1964)
Gathering of Eagles, A (1963)
Spiral Road, The (1962)
Lover Come Back (1961)
Come September (1961)
Last Sunset, The (1961)
Pillow Talk (1959)
This Earth Is Mine (1959)
Twilight for the Gods (1958)
Tarnished Angels, The (1958)
Farewell to Arms, A (1957)
Something of Value (1957)
Battle Hymn (1957)
Written on the Wind (1956)
Giant (1956)
Never Say Goodbye (1956)
All That Heaven Allows (1956)
One Desire (1955)
Captain Lightfoot (1955)
Bengal Brigade (1954)
Magnificent Obsession (1954)
Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef (1953)
Back to God's Country (1953)
Gun Fury (1953)
Golden Blade, The (1953)
Sea Devils (1953)
Seminole (1953)
Lawless Breed, The (1953)
Horizons West (1952)
Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (1952)
Scarlet Angel (1952)
Here Come the Nelsons (1952)
Bend of the River (1952)
Iron Man (1951)
Bright Victory (1951)
Fat Man, The (1951)
Air Cadet (1951)
Tomahawk (1951)
Shakedown (1950)
Desert Hawk, The (1950)
Winchester '73 (1950)
Peggy (1950)
I Was a Shoplifter (1950)
One Way Street (1950)
Undertow (1949)
Fighter Squadron (1948)
Rock Hudson biography
