Dynasty Dynasty Series Description Dynasty was a 60 minute drama series on ABC and a prime-time soap. A wealthy family (The Carringtons) living in Denver, Colorado, fight over their fortune earned from an oil company or they fight about just about anything else you can think of for the first season. Then, beginning in the second season, Alexis, the owner of a rival oil company joins the cast and the fighting continues between her and the Carringtons. Of course, there's also a lot of lusty lovin' that goes on! Dynasty Cast Linda Evans ............ Krystle Grant Jennings Carrington / Rita Lesley Joan Collins ........... Alexis Morell Carrington Colby Dexter Rowan John James ............. Jeffrey Broderick "Jeff" Colby Heather Locklear ....... Samantha Josephine "Sammy Jo" Dean Reece Carrington Fallmont Pamela Sue Martin ...... Fallon Carrington Colby #1 Emma Samms ............. Fallon Carrington Colby #2 Pamela Bellwood ........ Claudia Johnson Blaisdel Carrington Gordon Thomson ......... Adam Alexander Carrington Al Corley .............. Steven Daniel Carrington #1 Jack Coleman ........... Steven Daniel Carrington #2 Michael Nader ..........

Farnsworth "Dex" Dexter Catherine Oxenberg ..... Amanda Bedford Carrington #1 Karen Cellini .......... Amanda Bedford Carrington #2 Leann Hunley ........... Dana Bethany Waring Carrington Dynasty Trivia Angie Dickinson ( Police Woman ) was originally offered the role of Krystle Carrington. Al Corley played the openly gay Steven Carrington on Dynasty for the first time on prime-time television. Al quit the show when the network demanded that his character be made "less gay". Al did reprise the role in the 1991 TV reunion specials. He was replaced by Jack Coleman in the role. They explained Steven' new face by saying that he had been in an oil-rig explosion and had multiple plastic surgerys. Jack adamantly declared himself to be straight on numerous occasions and stated that it baffled him why viewers would assume he was gay, simply because he played a gay character on TV. After the not so successful attempt to introduce an "all-male" gay character, it's ironic that Rock Hudson ( McMillan and Wife ) would bring so much attention to the subject.

Rock appeared in the role of Daniel Reese on Dynasty from December of 1984 to April of 1985. It was Rock's last role before his death from AIDS on October 2, 1985. Rock's "coming-out" was probably the first time that most heterosexuals saw a very likeable man who appeared perfectly normal in every way, who also happened to be gay. Joan Collins wasn't a "shoe-in" for the role of Alexis, however. She had some pretty tough competition as Raquel Welch, Sophia Loren, and Elizabeth Taylor were also considered for the role! John Forsythe also had competition for the role of "Blake Carrington" from actor George Peppard. George was offered the role and turned it down. Even if you never saw Dynasty, you still may be familiar with some of John Forsythe's other series including starring roles on other TV shows including, " Bachelor Father (1957)", " The John Forsythe Show " (1965), " To Rome With Love (1969)" and " Charlie's Angels (1976)" (As the voice of Charlie).

The Alexis character actually appeared in the final episode of the first season even though no actress had been selected for the role at that time! They used a "stand-in" with a huge hat and sunglasses during the brief shot of Alexis. Luckily, Joan Collins was chosen to be the evil Alexis in time for the first episode of the second season! Alexis was originally conceived as being much less evil and unscrupulous then she ended out becoming. It was Joan Collins herself who suggested that Alexis be made more like J.R. Ewing on the series, " Dallas ". The Dynasty TV show inspired the " spin-off " of the TV series, " The Colbys ", yet another show about rich people with demeanted personalities.

Episodes List With Original Air Dates Dynasty - The First Season The Chauffeur Tells a Secret (2/16/1981) The Bordello (2/23/1981) Blake Goes To Jail (4/13/1981) The Testimony (4/20/1981) Sammy Jo And Steven Marry (1/20/1982) The Car Explosion (1/27/1982) Two Flights To Haiti (1/26/1983) The Mirror (2/4/1983) The Hearing - Part 1 (10/26/1983) The Hearing - Part 2 (11/2/1983) Tender Commrades (11/9/1983) The Voice - Part 1 (3/14/1984) The Voice - Part 2 (3/21/1984) The Voice - Part 3 (3/28/1984) Birthday (4/4/1984) New Lady In Town (5/2/1984

) The Nightmare (5/9/1984) The Titans - Part 1 (11/13/1985) The Titans - Part 2 (11/13/1985) The Decision (11/20/1985) The Trial - Part 1 (3/19/1986) The Trial - Part 2 (3/26/1986) The Vote (4/2/1986) A Love Remembered - Part 1 (1/14/1987) A Love Remembered - Part 2 (1/21/1987) The Portrait (1/28/1987) The Siege - Part 1 (9/23/1987) The Siege - Part 2 (9/30/1987) The Aftermath (10/7/1987) The Surrogate - Part 1 (10/28/1987) The Surrogate - Part 2 (11/4/1987) The Primary (11/18/19

87) A Touch Of Sable (11/10/1988) She's Back (11/30/1988) Every Picture Tells a Story (12/21/1988) The Last Hurrah (1/4/1989) Tankers, Cadavers To Chance (2/8/1989) All Hands on Dex (2/15/1989) Virginia Reels (2/22/1989) House Of The Falling Son (3/1/1989) The Son Also Rises (3/15/1989) Grimes And Punishment (3/22/1989) Sins Of The Father (3/29/1989) Tale Of The Tape (4/5/1989) No Bones About It (4/12/1989) Here Comes The Son (4/26/1989) Blasts From The Past (5/3/1989) Catch 22 (5/10/1989) Rock Hudson - IMDb IMDb 1

7 January 2017 4:34 PM, UTC NEWS Actor | Soundtrack | Producer Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr.

in Winnetka, Illinois, to Katherine (Wood), a telephone operator, and Roy Harold Scherer, an auto mechanic. He was of German, Swiss-German, English, and Irish descent. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. He failed to obtain parts in school plays because he couldn't remember lines. After ... See full bio » Born: Dynasty (TV series) | Kitsch and oddities | Fandom powered by Wikia Blake Carrington ( John Forsythe ) The son of Tom and Fallon Carrington (in one episode later erroneously referred to as Ellen) who became the self-made CEO of Denver-Carrington. The husband of Alexis Morrell Carrington (with whom he fathered Adam, Fallon, Steven and Amanda), and Krystle Jennings Carrington (with whom he fathered Krystina). Forsythe and John James were the only actors to appear in both the first and last episodes. Krystle Grant Jennings Carrington ( Linda Evans ) The wife of Blake Carrington, former wife of tennis pro Samuel Mark Jennings (known as Mark) and the one-time lover of Matthew Blaisdel ( Bo Hopkins ), a married geologist who worked for Denver-Carrington.

Krystle was the mother, with Blake, of Krystina ( Jessica Player ), and the aunt of Sammy Jo Dean (see below), the only child of her late sister Iris and her husband Frank. Evans left the show midway in the final season (in the story Krystle began to unravel mentally, had to have delicate surgery, and lapsed into a coma), but she returned for the reunion movie. Alexis Morrell Carrington Colby ( Joan Collins ) Former socialite turned businesswoman, married to - in order - Blake Carrington, Cecil Colby, Dex Dexter and Sean Rowan. She famously held a torch for Blake, though she later fell deeply in love with Dex Dexter. Her marriage to Colby was ordered on his deathbed, and intended to enable her to ruin Blake after Colby was gone, while her wedding to Rowan was on a whim. Mother, with Blake, to Adam, Fallon, Steven and Amanda Carrington.

Alexis was romantically attached to a number of men, including Carrington architect and estate manager Roger Grimes, tennis pro Mark Jennings, oilman Rashid Ahmed ( John Saxon ), King Galen of Moldavia ( Joel Fabiani ), and shipping tycoon Zach Powers ( Ricardo Montalban ). Fallon Carrington Colby ( Pamela Sue Martin , 1981-1984; then Emma Samms , 1985, 1987-1989) The daughter of Blake and Alexis, the wife of Jeff Colby and the mother, with Jeff, of Blake Carrington Colby (known as LB) and Lauren Constance Colby. As a young woman, she was famously indiscreet and enjoyed affairs with chauffer Michael Culhane, playboy Peter de Vilbis, tennis pro Mark Jennings, doctor Nick Toscanni, and Colby heir, Miles Colby, whom she married briefly. Martin stayed with the show from 1981 - 1985. When Martin left the series, the story had Fallon fleeing in her car on the eve of her remarriage to Jeff.

Her wrecked car was later found by the road however there was no sign of Fallon. She was absent for much of the season that followed, a period during which Amanda Carrington surfaced. At the end of the season Fallon was reintroduced: she was suffering from amnesia and was now played by Emma Samms, with no on-air explanation given for Fallon's change of appearance. Soon afterwards she and Jeff left Denver and their characters were switched to the spin-off series The Colbys . That series was cancelled after two seasons, and Fallon and Jeff were returned to Dynasty in 1987. In the storyline, Jeff found Fallon unconscious in the desert (after being dropped off by a UFO ), and they returned to Denver where Fallon fought with Sammy Jo over Jeff before dropping Jeff for good and becoming involved with a cop who helped her unlock her memories of Roger Grimes' murder. Samms was unpopular with many viewers, due in large part to the writing, which presented Fallon at this time as a teary-eyed, put-upon victim. In the show's final season, Fallon was written more like her old self, and Samms rose to the challenge.

Steven Carrington ( Al Corley , 1981 - 1983 , 1991 ; then Jack Coleman , 1984 - 1988 ) The sexually confused son of Blake and Alexis who, despite his conviction that he was homosexual, married - at times, happily - Sammy Jo Dean and Claudia Blaisdel. With Sammy Jo, he fathered Steven Daniel Carrington (known as Danny). At different times, the lover of Ted Dinard, Luke Fuller and Bart Fallmont. He was accused of having an affair with his friend, lawyer Chris Deegan ( Grant Goodeve ), but their relationship was never clarified. (And Steven denied it.) The role was recast during the series run, and the change of appearance was explained by plastic surgery after an oil rig explosion. Eventually Steven ran most of Denver/Carrington, but after he had to kill his close friend Matthew Blaisdel (who had taken the Carrington family hostage) and Sammy Jo had an affair with football player Josh Harris, Steven had a breakdown. Steven was written out of the series at the start of the final season, with the explanation that he could no longer tolerate the pressures of his personal and professional life.

At the conclusion of Dynasty: The Reunion Steven (reprised by Al Corley, with no scripted explanation for Steven's pre-surgery face returning) was living in DC and was in a relationship with Bart Fallmont. Adam Carrington ( Gordon Thomson , 1982-1989; later Robin Sachs , 1991 only) Kidnapped at birth and raised as Michael Torrance, in Billings, Montana, Adam Carrington did not learn of his true identity until adulthood at which point he returned to the Carrington home. Married to Claudia Blaisdel and Dana Waring, he was a ruthless schemer - plotting to enhance his position in the dynasty. His only lasting relationship was with Kirby Anders ( Kathleen Beller ). The character of Adam was not seen nor mentioned in the first season of Dynasty, and was devised during the second season as a replacement son for Blake and Alexis to squabble over after the character of Steven was written out of the series. Steven was later returned to the storyline, though the character of Adam had proved to be a success and was retained in the series until its close.

Adam was also featured in the 1991 Dynasty reunion movie however the role was recast as Thomson could not get out of his contract with Santa Barbara . Amanda Carrington ( Catherine Oxenberg , 1984 - 1986 ; then Karen Cellini , 1986-1987) Amanda was not seen nor heard-of in the series until the fourth season; the character was devised as a replacement for the departing Fallon. Amanda was the second daughter of Blake and Alexis. She was raised in London as Amanda Bedford, by Alexis' cousin Rosalind Bedford ( Juliet Mills ), and hidden from her father Blake out of spite by Alexis who discovered she was pregnant after she separated from her husband. Married to Prince Michael of Moldavia, and onetime lover of Dex Dexter (on whom she had a crush), Clay Fallmont and chauffeur Michael Culhane. The role was re-cast after Oxenberg left the series when her demands for a payrise were not met, and no on air explanation was given for Amanda's change in appearance.

The replacement actor Karen Cellini proved to be wildly unpopular and partway through Cellini's first season in the role the character was abruptly written out of the series, and Amanda was never heard from again. Jeff Colby ( John James , 1981-1985, 1987-1989; 1991) The nephew and protege of Cecil Colby. Born (supposedly) to Philip and Francesca Colby, he was raised by Cecil on the Colby estate in Denver, Nine Oaks (which neighbored the Carrington estate) because his father died before coming into his inheritance. It was later revealed that Cecil had pressured the penniless Francesca to surrender Jeff for his own good. Married (and later re-married) to Fallon Carrington and briefly to Kirby Anders. The father of Blake Carrington Colby (known as LB) and Lauren Constance Colby. At different times, the lover of Nicole Simpson ( Susan Scannell ), Lady Ashley Mitchell and Sammy Jo Reece. See also The Colbys .

Claudia Blaisdel Carrington ( Pamela Bellwood , 1981-1986) The emotionally fragile wife of Matthew Blaisdel, and at one time a close friend of Krystle. After her affair with Steven Carrington was revealed during the Ted Dinard murder trial, her husband Matthew took their daughter Lindsay and left Denver, and were presumed dead in an accident (Matthew would return some years later). This pushed Claudia into a succession of breakdowns, interrupted only by marriages to Steven, and later Adam, Carrington. Claudia died in a fire at La Mirage (which she started accidentally) at the conclusion of the show's sixth season. Dynasty creator Esther Shapiro felt Blaisdel was the "everywoman" of the show. Samantha Josephine "Sammy Jo" Dean Carrington Fallmont, ( Heather Locklear ) Greedy, trouble-making niece of Krystle Carrington, wife of Steven Carrington and Clay Fallmont, and mother of Danny Carrington. Onetime lover of Josh Harris and Jeff Colby. The show's secondary villainess for much of the show's run, though she was an amateur compared to the far more polished Alexis.

Locklear split her time between Dynasty and another Spelling-produced series, T.J. Hooker , and made many sporadic appearances between 1982 - 1989 and briefly in 1991. Dominique Deveraux ( Diahann Carroll , 1984-1987) Successful and wealthy chanteuse (birth name Millie Cox), illegitimate daughter of Tom Carrington and Laura Matthews, making her a half-sister to Blake and Ben Carrington. Carroll joined the cast at the end of the fourth season as a foil for Joan Collins , though when the character was originally written, the producers had not decided how to use her. A number of scenes were filmed to introduce her (to circumvent any chance the storyline would leak to the press) including alternative lines that revealed Dominique to be the mother of Kirby Anders, and also the former wife of Cecil Colby. Dominique was initially conceived as a strong, tough schemer and fighter who loved going toe-to-toe with Alexis, but after reconciling with the Carrington family she mellowed considerably.

Her daughter Jackie ( Troy Beyer ), came to town and learned her father, lawyer Garrett Boydston ( Ken Howard ), was white. Jackie ran away but soon made up with her parents. Dominique left town in 1987 and was never mentioned again. Matthew Blaisdel ( Bo Hopkins , 1981, 1987) Geologist who worked for Denver Carrington and who was a former love of Krystle Carrington. Now married to the emotionally fragile Claudia with a teenaged daughter Lindsay, Matthew left Blake Carrington's employ and attempted to go it alone on an oil well with wildcatter Walter Lankershim ( Dale Robertson ). Although caring for Claudia, Matthew was unable to shake his feelings for Krystle and the two nearly embarked on an affair. When Claudia admitted her affair with Steven Carrington on the witness stand when Blake was on trial for the manslaughter of Ted Dinard, Matthew left Denver with Lindsay. Long presumed dead in the Peruvian jungle, he made a dramatic return for the 1986 - 1987 cliffhanger, taking the entire Carrington family hostage accompanied by a gang of armed guerillas.

The first two episodes of the 1987 - 1988 season dealt with the subsequent siege situation, which ended with Matthew being killed by Steven. Cecil Colby ( Lloyd Bochner , 1981 - 1982) Blake Carrington's sometimes friend and business rival who ran the oil company ColbyCo. Raised his nephew Jeff on his Denver estate and arranged a marriage between him and Fallon Carrington as part of a business deal where Cecil would help Blake out of financial difficulty if Fallon married Jeff. Cecil later became involved with the vengeful Alexis Carrington and the two plotted against Blake. After suffering a heart attack whilst having sex with Alexis, the two married on Cecil's deathbed, leaving Alexis in control of ColbyCo, which she used to continue her fight against Blake. Michael Culhane ( Wayne Northrop , 1981, 1986 - 1987) Blake Carrington's shady chauffeur, secretly having an affair with his daughter Fallon. When Blake found out, he had Michael beaten up.

Michael left Denver, but returned a few years later to have a relationship with Blake's other daughter Amanda after rescuing her from the La Mirage fire. Joseph Anders ( Lee Bergere , 1981-1983) The Carrington's major-domo at the mansion who ran the household, staunchly loyal to his employer Blake Carrington. Joseph took an immediate dislike to Blake's new bride Krystle, feeling that she didn't belong in the mansion and later enjoyed a teasing, antagonistic relationship with Alexis, the former mistress of the house. His daughter Kirby returned to Denver having been educated in Europe at Blake's expense, and Joseph found himself blackmailed by Alexis, who threatened to reveal to Kirby that her mother had been sent to an insane asylum. In retaliation, Joseph set fire to Steven's cabin, endangering the lives of Alexis and Krystle in the cliffhanger to the 1982 - 1983 season. He subsequently committed suicide. Walter Lankershim ( Dale Robertson , 1981) Veteran wildcatter in conflict with Blake Carrington during the first season. Later went into a business partnership with Matthew Blaisdel.

Lindsay Blaisdel ( Katy Kurtzman , 1981) The sensitive teenaged daughter of Matthew and Claudia. Dr. Nick Toscanni ( James Farentino , 1981 - 1982) Psychiatrist and surgeon who is out for revenge against Blake Carrington and comes close to having an affair with Krystle in the process. Kirby Anders Colby ( Kathleen Beller , 1982 - 1984) The daughter of Joseph Anders, the Carrington major-domo. She was schooled in Europe at Blake Carrington's expense, but returned to Denver in 1982, eventually securing work as LB's nanny. She became the second wife of Jeff Colby, and then began a relationship with Adam Carrington, after he raped her. The storyline, controversial at the time, echoed of a similar storyline from the daytime soap General Hospital in which Laura Webber fell in love with her rapist Luke Spencer. Kirby and Adam's relationship was re-kindled in Dynasty: The Reunion .

Mark Jennings ( Geoffrey Scott , 1982 - 1984) Handsome tennis pro and former husband of Krystle Carrington brought to Denver due to the machinations of Alexis, who wished to break up Blake and Krystle's marriage. Tracy Kendall ( Deborah Adair , 1983 - 1984) Employee of Denver Carrington, who worked in public relations. Scheming and ambitious, Tracy sought to advance her career either by subterfuge or by sleeping her way to the top. Peter De Vilbis ( Helmut Berger , 1983 - 1984) Devilish playboy who seduces Fallon while trying to exploit the Carringtons for his own financial advantage. Brady Lloyd ( Billy Dee Williams , 1984 - 1985) Former husband of Dominique Devereux, who follows her to Denver. Daniel Reece ( Rock Hudson , 1984 - 1985) Wealthy businessman and the real father of Sammy Jo, Daniel falls in love with Krystle and nearly succeeds in taking her away from Blake.

Lady Ashley Mitchell ( Ali McGraw , 1984 - 1985) American-born widow of a British diplomat and renowned photographer who has romantic feelings for Blake Carrington and assists him in battling Alexis for the control of valuable South China oil leases. She later becomes involved with Jeff Colby, only to be killed during the infamous Moldavian massacre. Prince Michael of Moldavia ( Michael Praed , 1985 - February, 1986) The heir to the (fictional) European kingdom of Moldavia, and widely regarded as a playboy prince. Prior to his engagement to Amanda Carrington, he was linked to Elena, the Duchess of Brana ( Kerry Armstrong ). His wedding to Amanda Carrington, at the conclusion of the show's fourth season, was interrupted by machine-gun-wielding rebels in what was widely regarded as the series most ostentatious cliffhanger. It is also the point at which TV critics consider the series jumped the shark .

Joel Abrigore ( George Hamilton , January, 1985 - February, 1986) Film director who plots with Sammy Jo to arrange the kidnapping of Krystle and her substitution in the Carrington household with a doppelganger Rita Leslie (also played by Linda Evans ). Ben Carrington ( Christopher Cazenove , 1986 - 1987) The vengeful brother of Blake, who was cut off by Blake after the death of their mother because Ben was supposed to be caring for her at the time of her death (he was in fact, having an affair with Emily Fallmont ( Pat Crowley ). Blake blamed Ben for her death. Ben returned to Denver to destroy Blake, with Alexis' help, but eventually reconciled with his brother and left Denver. Cassandra "Caress" Morrell ( Kate O'Mara , 1986) The manipulative sister of Alexis, rescued from a South American prison by Dex Dexter, and reunited with her sister Alexis. She wrote a memoir, Sister Dearest, about Alexis, but Alexis discovered the plan, bought the publishing house and scuttled the project. Caress left town and was never mentioned again.

Preferring to be called "Caress", when Alexis wanted to rile her she called her "Cassie", her birth name. Caress was only on the show for a limited number of episodes in the 1985 - 1986 and 1986- 1987 seasons, but O'Mara's exotic beauty and theatrical performances made a lasting impression. Clay Fallmont ( Ted McGinley , 1986 - 1987) The illegitimate son of Ben Carrington and Emily Fallmont, who engaged in affairs with Amanda Carrington, Sammy Jo Reece and Leslie Carrington. The last relationship ended, and he left Denver, when it was confirmed that Leslie may have been his sister by blood. (Although it was never clarified, Ben Carrington may have been his biological father.) Clay was on the show from 1986 - 1987 . Dana Waring Carrington ( Leann Hunley 1986 - 1988) Beautiful young woman from Billings, Montana who had had a one-night stand with Adam Carrington when he lived as Michael Torrance.

Dana follows Adam to Denver, where she gains employment as a secretary at Denver Carrington. Dana and Adam fall in love and marry, but Dana's inability to conceive a child places a strain on their marriage. Leslie Carrington ( Terri Garber , 1987 - 1988) Daughter of Ben Carrington and Melissa Saunders. At one time the lover of Clay Fallmont, Michael Culhane, Dex Dexter and Sean Rowan. Leslie was introduced with some fanfare in 1987 but was quietly written out after little more than a year. Sarah Curtis ( Cassie Yates , 1987) Friend of Dex Dexter, whose husband and daughter die in a car crash. Sarah is persuaded to allow her daughter's heart to be transplanted into Blake and Krystle's critically ill young daughter Krystina. After the operation, Blake and Krystle invite Sarah to stay at the mansion and she shows increasing signs of an unhealthy obsession with Krystina after the loss of her own daughter.

Sean Rowan ( James Healey , 1987 - 1988) Handsome stranger who saves Alexis from drowning after a car accident, whom Alexis falls for and marries. It turns out that Sean is the long-lost son of the Carringtons' major-domo, Joseph Anders, and is out for revenge for Alexis' treatment of both his father and his sister Kirby, eventually attempting to kill her. Sable Colby ( Stephanie Beacham , 1988 - 1989) The ex-wife of Colby Enterprises magnate Jason Colby and the cousin of Alexis. Sable leaves Los Angeles and comes to Denver where she supports Blake after Krystle's departure to a Swiss clinic and becomes a formidable opponent of Alexis, getting her hands on the Carlton hotel, Alexis' oil tankers and her former husband Dex, becoming pregnant with his child. Former top bitch of Dynasty spin-off, The Colbys , Sable was written into the final season of the series due to the great popularity of the character. Rock Hudson (Actor) - Pics, Videos, Dating, & News Rock Hudson Male Born Nov 17, 1925 Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor.

Though widely known as a leading man in the 1950s & 60s, Hudson is also recognized for dramatic roles in films such as Giant and Magnificent Obsession. In later years, Hudson found success in television, starring in the popular mystery series McMillan & Wife & landing a recurring role on the prime time soap opera Dynasty.… Read More related links A Family Affair Msn Autos (Blog) Google News - Sep 01, 2011 'In the photo world, Sid was a visionary, best remembered for capturing the private moments of stars like Elizabeth Taylor, <mark>Rock Hudson</mark>, Marlon Brando and Audrey Hepburn. He shot them as people, not icons -- on the movie set between takes and away from' Doris Day My Heart Music Omh.Com Google News - Aug 31, 2011 '...

and re-imaginings of familiar tunes, My Heart does just this - taking us back on cotton-candy flights of fancy to a mythically idyllic age where the girls could breeze through life on feistiness alone and the guys were all as butch as <mark>Rock Hudson</mark>' On Demand Picks Boston Globe Google News - Aug 30, 2011 'DOWN WITH LOVE (Max on Comcast ) Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor in a fond but rather wobbly parody of old Doris Day/<mark>Rock Hudson</mark> comedies. Director Peyton Reed dresses the film in the swanky colors of the lounge era, and the script is clever when' Sports Brings Us Back To Reality... Again Patch.Com Google News - Aug 27, 2011 '<mark>Rock Hudson</mark> and Arthur Ashe to name two, but somehow, there were still large portions of America where AIDS and its causes were not discussed. This was 1991. We didn&#39;t expect him to live. We expected to watch him die. He was a man who always seemed so' Learn about the memorable moments in the evolution of Rock Hudson.

CHILDHOOD 1925 Birth Born on November 17, 1925. TWENTIES 1946 - 1947 2 More Events 1946 20 Years Old In 1946, after returning to San Francisco aboard an aircraft carrier, Hudson moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career and applied to the University of Southern California's dramatics program, but he was rejected due to poor grades. … Read More He worked as a truck driver for some time, longing to be an actor but with no success in breaking into the movies. Read Less 1947 21 Years Old After he sent talent scout Henry Willson a picture of himself in 1947, Willson took Hudson on as a client and changed his name to Rock Hudson, although Hudson later admitted he hated the name. … Read More Hudson's name was coined by combining the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River. Read Less 1948 22 Years Old Hudson made his acting debut with a small part in the 1948 Warner Bros. film Fighter Squadron, and took 38 takes to successfully deliver his only line in the film.

… Read More Hudson was further coached in acting, singing, dancing, fencing, and horseback riding at Universal International, and he began to be featured in film magazines where, being photogenic, he was promoted. Read Less 1953 27 Years Old In 1953 he appeared in a Camel commercial which showed him on the set of Seminole. 1954 28 Years Old Director Douglas Sirk gave Hudson his first leading role, in the 1954 film Magnificent Obsession, co-starring Jane Wyman. … Read More The film received positive reviews, with Modern Screen Magazine citing Hudson as the most popular actor of the year. His popularity soared with George Stevens' film Giant (1956). Hudson and his co-star James Dean were both nominated for Oscars in the Best Actor category.

In the 1950s, Hudson made nine films with acclaimed director and father-figure Douglas Sirk, with Sirk's own favorite being The Tarnished Angels (1958).<br /><br /> Following Richard Brooks' acclaimed film Something of Value (1957) was a moving performance in Charles Vidor's box office failure A Farewell to Arms (1957). In order to make A Farewell to Arms, Hudson reportedly turned down Marlon Brando's role in Sayonara, William Holden's role in The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Charlton Heston's role in Ben-Hur. A Farewell to Arms received negative reviews, failed at the box office and became the last production by David O. Selznick. Read Less THIRTIES 1957 31 Years Old … Hudson sailed through the 1960s on a wave of romantic comedies. He portrayed humorous characters in Pillow Talk, the first of three profitable co-starring performances with Doris Day. This was followed by Lover Come Back, Come September, Send Me No Flowers, Man's Favorite Sport? The Spiral Road, and Strange Bedfellows.

Read Less Along with Cary Grant, Hudson was regarded as one of the best-dressed male stars in Hollywood, and received Top 10 Stars of the Year a record-setting eight times from 1957 to 1964. … Read More He worked outside his usual range on the science-fiction thriller Seconds (1966). The film flopped but it later gained cult status, and Hudson's performance is often regarded as one of his best. He also tried his hand in the action genre with Tobruk (1967) and spy thriller Ice Station Zebra (1968), a role which he had actively sought and remained his personal favorite. He also dabbled in westerns, appearing opposite John Wayne in The Undefeated (1969).<br /><br /> Hudson's popularity on the big screen diminished after the 1960s. During the 1970s and 1980s, he starred in a number of TV movies and series. Read Less 1958 32 Years Old … While his career developed, Hudson and his agent Henry Willson kept the actor's personal life out of the headlines.

In 1955, Confidential magazine threatened to publish an exposÃ© about Hudson's secret homosexual life. Willson stalled this by disclosing information about two of his other clients. Willson provided information about Rory Calhoun's years in prison and the arrest of Tab Hunter at a party in 1950. According to some colleagues, Hudson's homosexual activity was well known in Hollywood throughout his career, and former co-stars Elizabeth Taylor and Susan Saint James claimed that they knew of his homosexuality, as did Carol Burnett. <br /><br />Soon after the Confidential incident, Hudson married Willson's secretary Phyllis Gates. Gates later wrote that she dated Hudson for several months, lived with him for two months before his surprise marriage proposal, and married Hudson out of love and not (as it was later reported) to prevent an exposÃ© of Hudson's sexual past. Press coverage of the wedding quoted Hudson as saying: "When I count my blessings, my marriage tops the list." Read Less Gates filed for divorce after three years in April 1958, citing mental cruelty. … Read More Hudson did not contest the divorce and Gates received alimony of $250 a week for 10 years.

Gates never remarried.<br /><br /> After Gates' death, the LGBT news magazine The Advocate published an article by Willson's biographer, who claimed that Gates was actually a lesbian who believed from the beginning of their relationship that Hudson was gay. Bob Hoffler, who wrote a biography of Hudson's agent, Henry Willson, The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson, told the Village Voice that Gates attempted to blackmail Hudson about his homosexual activities. In 2013 the transcript of one of the recordings was published. It showed that, contrary to her later public statements, Gates was aware of Hudson's homosexuality while married to him.<br /><br /> According to the 1986 biography Rock Hudson: His Story by Hudson and Sara Davidson, Hudson was good friends with American novelist Armistead Maupin. The book also names certain of Hudson's lovers, including Jack Coates; Tom Clark (who published a memoir about Hudson, Rock Hudson: Friend of Mine), actor and stockbroker Lee Garlington, and Marc Christian (born Marc Christian MacGinnis), who later won a suit against the Hudson estate.

Read Less FORTIES 1971 45 Years Old His most successful television series was McMillan & Wife opposite Susan Saint James, which ran from 1971 to 1977. … Read More Hudson played police commissioner Stewart "Mac" McMillan, with Saint James as his wife Sally, and their on-screen chemistry helped make the show a hit. Hudson took a risk and surprised many by making a successful foray into live theater late in his career, the most acclaimed of his efforts being I Do! I Do! in 1974. Read Less FIFTIES 1981 55 Years Old In the early 1980s, following years of heavy drinking and smoking, Hudson began having health problems which resulted in a heart attack in November 1981. 1982 56 Years Old Emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery sidelined Hudson and his new TV show The Devlin Connection for a year, and the show was canceled in December 1982 soon after it had first aired. … Read More Hudson recovered from the heart surgery but continued to smoke. He nevertheless continued to work with appearances in several TV movies.

Read Less 1983 57 Years Old He was in ill health while filming the action-drama film The Ambassador in Israel during the winter months of 1983 to 1984. … Read More He reportedly did not get along with his co-star Robert Mitchum, who had a serious drinking problem and often clashed off camera with Hudson and other cast and crew members. Read Less Show Less During 1984, while filming the TV drama The Vegas Strip War, Hudson's health grew worse and prompted rumors that he was suffering from liver cancer (among other ailments) because of his increasingly gaunt face and build. Unknown to the public, Hudson was diagnosed with HIV on 5 June 1984, just three years after the existence of HIV and AIDS had been discovered by scientists. … Read More Hudson kept his illness a secret and continued to work while, at the same time, traveling to France and other countries seeking a cureâor at least treatment to slow the progress of the disease.

Read Less From December 1984 to April 1985, Hudson appeared in a recurring role on the ABC prime time soap opera Dynasty as Daniel Reece, the love interest for Krystle Carrington (played by Linda Evans) and biological father of the character Sammy Jo Carrington (Heather Locklear). … Read More While he had long been known to have difficulty memorizing lines, which resulted in his use of cue cards, it was Hudson's speech itself that began to visibly deteriorate on Dynasty. He was originally slated to appear for the duration of the show's fifth season; however, because of his progressing ill health, his character was abruptly written out of the show and died off screen. Read Less Show Less On 16 July 1985, Hudson joined his old friend Doris Day for a press conference announcing the launch of her new TV cable show Doris Day's Best Friends in which Hudson was videotaped visiting Day's ranch in Carmel, California, a few days earlier. … Read More His gaunt appearance and almost incoherent speech were so shocking, that the reunion was broadcast repeatedly over national news shows that night and for days to come.

Media outlets speculated on Hudson's health.<br /><br /> Two days later, Hudson traveled to Paris, France, for another round of treatment. After Hudson collapsed in his room at the Ritz Hotel in Paris on July 21, his publicist, Dale Olson, released a statement claiming that Hudson had inoperable liver cancer. Olson denied reports that Hudson had AIDS and would say only that he was undergoing tests for "everything" at the American Hospital of Paris. Read Less But, four days later, July 25, 1985, Hudson's publicist confirmed that Hudson did in fact have AIDS. … Read More He was among the first notable individuals to have been diagnosed with the disease. In another press release a month later, Hudson speculated he might have contracted HIV through transfused blood from an infected donor during the multiple blood transfusions he received during his heart bypass procedure in November 1981.<br /><br /> Hudson flew back to Los Angeles on July 30. He was so weak, that he was removed by stretcher from the Air France Boeing 747 he had chartered, and on which he and his medical attendants were the only passengers.

He was flown by helicopter to UCLA Medical Center, where he spent nearly a month undergoing further treatment. Read Less He was released from the hospital in late August 1985 and returned to his home, "The Castle", in Beverly Hills for private hospice care. On the morning of October 2, 1985, Hudson died in his sleep from AIDS-related complications at his home in Beverly Hills at age 59, less than two months before what would have been his 60th birthday. … Read More Hudson requested that no funeral be held. His body was cremated hours after his death and a cenotaph was later established at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cathedral City, California. Read Less The disclosure of Hudson's AIDS diagnosis provoked widespread public discussion of his homosexuality (or, some would say, bisexuality). In its August 15, 1985 issue, People published a story that discussed his disease in the context of his sexuality. … Read More The largely sympathetic article featured comments from famous show business colleagues such as Angie Dickinson, Robert Stack, and Mamie Van Doren, who claimed they knew about Hudson's homosexuality and expressed their support for him.

At that time, People had a circulation of more than 2.8 million, and, as a result of this and other stories, Hudson's homosexuality became fully public.<br /><br /> Hudson's revelation had an immediate impact on the visibility of AIDS, and on the funding of medical research related to the disease. Among activists who were seeking to de-stigmatize AIDS and its victims, Hudson's revelation of his own infection with the disease was viewed as an event that could transform the public's perception of AIDS. Read Less Shortly after Hudson's press release disclosing his infection, William M. Hoffman, the author of As Is, a play about AIDS that appeared on Broadway in 1985, stated: "If Rock Hudson can have it, nice people can have it. … Read More It's just a disease, not a moral affliction." At the same time, Joan Rivers was quoted as saying: "Two years ago, when I hosted a benefit for AIDS, I couldn't get one major star to turn out.... Rock's admission is a horrendous way to bring AIDS to the attention of the American public, but by doing so, Rock, in his life, has helped millions in the process.

What Rock has done takes true courage." Morgan Fairchild said that "Rock Hudson's death gave AIDS a face." Read Less In a telegram Hudson sent to a September 1985 Hollywood AIDS benefit, Commitment to Life, which he was too ill to attend in person, Hudson said: "I am not happy that I am sick. … Read More I am not happy that I have AIDS. But if that is helping others, I can at least know that my own misfortune has had some positive worth."<br /><br /> Shortly after his death, People reported: "Since Hudson made his announcement, more than $1.8 million in private contributions (more than double the amount collected in 1984) has been raised to support AIDS research and to care for AIDS victims (5,523 reported in 1985 alone). A few days after Hudson died, Congress set aside $221 million to develop a cure for AIDS." Organizers of the Hollywood AIDS benefit, Commitment to Life, reported after Hudson's announcement that he was suffering from the disease, it was necessary to move the event to a larger venue to accommodate the increased attendance.

Shortly before his death Hudson made the first direct contribution, $250,000, to amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, helping launch the non-profit organization dedicated to AIDS/HIV research and prevention; it was formed by a merger of a Los Angeles organization founded by Dr. Michael S. Gottlieb, Hudson's physician, and Elizabeth Taylor, his friend and onetime co-star, and a New York-based group. Read Less … However, Hudson's revelation did not immediately dispel the stigma of AIDS. Although then-president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy were friends of Hudson, Reagan, who was viewed by some as indifferent to the disease and its sufferers, made no public statement concerning Hudson's condition. Read Less However, Reagan did in fact phone Hudson privately in his Paris hospital room where he was being treated in July 1985 and released a condolence statement after his death. … Read More After Hudson revealed his diagnosis, a controversy arose concerning his participation in a scene in the television drama Dynasty in which he shared a long and repeated kiss with actress Linda Evans in one episode (first aired in February 1985). When filming the scene, Hudson was aware that he had AIDS, but did not inform Evans.

Some felt that he should have disclosed his condition to her beforehand. At the time, it was thought that the virus was present in low quantities in saliva and tears, but there had been no reported cases of transmission by kissing. Nevertheless, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had warned against exchanging saliva with members of groups perceived to be at high risk for AIDS. Read Less According to comments given in August 1985 by Ed Asner, then president of the Screen Actors Guild, Hudson's revelation caused incipient "panic" within the film and television industry. … Read More Asner said that he was aware of scripts being rewritten to eliminate kissing scenes. Later in the same year, the Guild issued rules requiring that actors be notified in advance of any "open-mouth" kissing scenes, and providing that they could refuse to participate in such scenes without penalty. Read Less Linda Evans herself appears not to have been angry at Hudson, and asked to introduce the segment of the 1985 Commitment to Life benefit that was dedicated to Hudson. … Read More For his contribution to the motion picture industry, Hudson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame located at 6116 Hollywood Blvd.

Following his death, Elizabeth Taylor, his co-star in the film Giant, purchased a bronze plaque for Hudson on the West Hollywood Memorial Walk. In 2002, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to him. Read Less Following Hudson's death, Marc Christian, Hudson's former lover, sued his estate on grounds of "intentional infliction of emotional distress". Christian claimed that Hudson continued having sex with him until February 1985, more than eight months after Hudson knew that he had HIV. … Read More Although he repeatedly tested negative for HIV, Christian claimed that he suffered from "severe emotional distress" after learning from a newscast that Hudson had died of AIDS. Christian also sued Hudson's personal secretary, Mark Miller, for $10 million because Miller allegedly lied to him about Hudson's illness. In 1989, a jury awarded Christian $21.75 million in damages, later reduced to $5.5 million. Christian later defended Hudson's reputation in not telling him he was infected: "You can't dismiss a man's whole life with a single act.

This thing about AIDS was totally out of character for him," he said in an interview.<br /><br /> In 1990, Hudson's live-in publicist Tom Clark and publicist Dick Kleiner published Rock Hudson, Friend of Mine. In the book Clark said he believed Hudson acquired HIV from blood transfusions during quintuple bypass open-heart surgery in 1981; never acknowledged that their relationship went beyond being roommates; and characterized Christian as disreputable. Christian filed a $22 million libel suit against the authors and publisher, charging that he had been labelled "a criminal, a thief, an unclean person, a blackmailer, a psychotic, an extortionist, a forger, a perjurer, a liar, a whore, an arsonist and a squatter". Christian died of "pulmonary problems" caused by years of heavy smoking in June 2009. Christian's partner of nine years, Brent Beckwith, took legal action against Christian's sister after not securing an expected share of his estate. Read Less Hudson is mentioned in the 1985 Faith No More song "We Care a Lot".

… Read More Homosexual protesters in the 2015 Chuck Palahniuk story "Inclinations" are referred to as "Rock Hudsons". Read Less Religion re-entered Hudson's life in his last weeks. Although he was raised a Roman Catholic, Hudson hadn't practiced in years and had come to regard himself as an atheist. But on September 25, 1985, at his publicist Tom Clark's request, a priest visited. … Read More Hudson made his confession and received Communion. Then he was administered the last rites. Read Less LATE ADULTHOOD 1985 60 Years Old … Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr.; November 17, 1925October 2, 1985) was an American actor. Hudson is generally known for his turns as a leading man in the 1950s and 1960s and is viewed as a prominent actor and 'heartthrob' of the Hollywood Golden Age.

He achieved stardom with roles in films such as Magnificent Obsession (1954), All That Heaven Allows (1955) and Giant (1956), and found continued success with a string of romantic comedies co-starring Doris Day in Pillow Talk (1959), Lover Come Back (1961) and Send Me No Flowers (1964). After appearing in films like Seconds (1966), Tobruk (1967) and Ice Station Zebra (1968) in the late 1960s, Hudson began a second career in television through the 1970s and '80s, starring in the popular mystery series McMillan & Wife and the soap opera Dynasty. <br /><br />Hudson was voted Star of the Year, Favorite Leading Man, and similar titles by numerous film magazines. He completed nearly 70 films and starred in several television productions during a career that spanned over four decades. Read Less Hudson died from AIDS-related complications in 1985, becoming the first major celebrity to die from an AIDS-related illness.

… Read More Hudson was born in Winnetka, Illinois, the only child of telephone operator Katherine Wood (of English and Irish descent) and auto mechanic Roy Harold Scherer, Sr. (of German and Swiss descent), who abandoned the family during the depths of the Great Depression. His mother remarried and his stepfather, Wallace "Wally" Fitzgerald, adopted him and changed his surname to Fitzgerald. Hudson's years at New Trier High School were unremarkable, although he sang in the school's glee club and was remembered as a shy boy who delivered newspapers, ran errands, and worked as a golf caddy. Although he tried out for roles in many of his school plays, Hudson failed to win any because he could not remember his lines, a problem that continued to occur through his early acting career. Working as an usher in his teenage years, he developed an interest in film and stardom at a young age. Read Less Original Authors of this text are noted on .

Rock Hudson - Biography - IMDb Rock Hudson Biography Showing all 111 items Jump to: Overview (5) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trade Mark (5) | Trivia (69) | Personal Quotes (24) | Salary (6) Overview (5) 6' 5" (1.96 m) Mini Bio (1) Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr. in Winnetka, Illinois, to Katherine (Wood), a telephone operator, and Roy Harold Scherer, an auto mechanic. He was of German, Swiss-German, English, and Irish descent. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. He failed to obtain parts in school plays because he couldn't remember lines. After high school he was a postal employee and during WW II served as a Navy airplane mechanic. After the war he was a truck driver. His size and good looks got him into movies. His name was changed to Rock Hudson, his teeth were capped, he took lessons in acting, singing, fencing and riding. One line in his first picture, Fighter Squadron (1948), needed 38 takes.

In 1956 he received an Oscar nomination for Giant (1956) and two years later Look magazine named him Star of the Year. He starred in a number of bedroom comedies, many with Doris Day , and had his own popular TV series McMillan & Wife (1971). He had a recurring role in TV's Dynasty (1981) (1984-5). He was the first major public figure to announce he had AIDS, and his worldwide search for a cure drew international attention. After his death his long-time lover Marc Christian successfully sued his estate, again calling attention to the homosexuality Rock had hidden from most throughout his career. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Ed Stephan < stephan@cc.wwu.edu> Spouse (1) Moved from westerns to sob stories to sosphisticated comedies Towering, sculpted frame Ideal leading-man good looks Trivia (69) Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#28). [1995] The Prudential Life Insurance Co.

stopped using its slogan "Own A Piece Of The Rock" after Hudson died of AIDS and many jokes were made about him and the slogan. He was cremated and his ashes are scattered into the sea. Went to the same school, New Trier Township High School East (Winnetka, Illinois), as Ann-Margret , Charlton Heston , Ralph Bellamy , Hugh O'Brian , Bruce Dern , Penelope Milford , Virginia Madsen and Liz Phair . Worked as a truck driver when he first moved to Los Angeles, but he spent his spare time idling outside of studio gates and sending photographs of himself to various producers. Talent scout Henry Willson coined the stage name, "Rock Hudson", by combining the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River. Although he tried out for roles in school plays, Hudson failed to win any because he could not remember lines. Enamored of movies as a teenager, he worked as an usher. Before taking his first film role, he got 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 (1948). Production on the television series The Devlin Connection (1982) was suspended for a year while he was recovering from quintuple heart bypass surgery. By the time he had taken the guest role of Daniel Reece, a suave and stately horse breeder on Dynasty (1981) late in 1984, the AIDS virus was consuming him. Before long, he was suffering from memory loss and was forced to use cue cards to read his lines. He also had difficulty speaking. The media first began to suspect he had serious health problems when he came to Carmel, California, in July 1985 to help his Pillow Talk (1959) co-star Doris Day launch her cable series, Doris Day's Best Friends (1985). His gaunt appearance and obvious disorientation suddenly became the focus of what was meant to be a joyous reunion of one of Hollywood's favorite on-screen couples. He died just three months later. Involved with Marc Christian during the period he knew he had AIDS, but did not disclose it to Christian.

Christian hired Marvin Mitchelson , and sued Hudson's estate for damages and emotional distress. He won a $21.7 million jury award in 1989, which was reduced to $5.5 million in 1991. Underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery to relieve severely clogged coronary arteries in November 1981 after suffering chest pains, and began smoking again soon after leaving the hospital. Consequently he was very frail during the filming of The Ambassador (1984), while in Israel during the winter of 1983-1984, and he did not get along with his alcoholic co-star Robert Mitchum . Died the same day as George Savalas . He and Savalas' older brother, Telly Savalas appeared in Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971). Hudson and his partner Marc Christian went out of their way while traveling near downtown Los Angeles, so that the couple could meet Michael Jackson during the filming of his award-winning music video, Michael Jackson: Thriller (1983).

According to the book, "The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson", the original plan was to call him "Roc" but someone pointed out the possibility of confusion with the 1940s actress, Rochelle Hudson , so a "k" was added and "Roc" became "Rock". Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS on 5 June 1984 but when the signs of illness became apparent, his publicity staff and doctors told the public that he had liver cancer. Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981- 1985, pages 405-407. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. His favorite performances were in Giant (1956) and Seconds (1966). When Hudson initially became ill with AIDS, his lover Marc Christian thought he had lung cancer because he was a heavy smoker. Became very close to Roman Gabriel while filming The Undefeated (1969).

Following a right-shoulder injury in 1973, often used his left hand to write and pick up objects on McMillan & Wife (1971). Less than a month after announcing he had AIDS, Hudson wrote a check for $250,000 to help get the then-fledgling National AIDS Research Foundation (NARF) off the ground. Following his diagnosis of AIDS in June 1984, Hudson told his doctor that he hoped he would die from a heart attack (he had undergone an emergency quintuple heart bypass in 1981) before the public could find out the truth. In 1977 he toured 13 cities as King Arthur in the musical "Camelot". He stayed at the White House in May 1984 as a guest of then President Ronald Reagan . First Lady Nancy Reagan wrote to Hudson saying how glad she and her husband were to see him looking well following his operation. A conservative Republican, Hudson joined Ronald Reagan , John Wayne , Irene Dunne and Raymond Massey in campaigning for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election.

Made "Top 10 stars of the year" a record eight times from 1957 to 1964. His favorite of his films was the Cold War drama Ice Station Zebra (1968). Was very close friends with singer Dusty Springfield . Grew a mustache and sideburns for his role in The Undefeated (1969). Afterwards he decided to retain that look throughout the 1970s. Early in his career he had surgery on his vocal chords to make his voice deeper, and had his teeth capped. The surgery had the unfortunate side effect of making it impossible for Hudson to learn to sing. Therefore when he played King Arthur in "Camelot" he had to talk his way through the songs, just as Rex Harrison did in My Fair Lady (1964). He was the original choice to play Jason Colby in the Dynasty (1981) spin off The Colbys (1985), but had to turn it down due to his declining health. The part went to Charlton Heston instead. Pat Boone was allowed inside Hudson's Hollywood mansion to pray for his soul as the actor lay dying.

Ironically, according to his close friends, Hudson was a lifelong atheist. Was seriously considered for the male lead in Alfred Hitchcock 's Marnie (1964), and actually met with Hitchcock, but was turned down in favor of Sean Connery . In order to make A Farewell to Arms (1957), he turned down Marlon Brando 's role in Sayonara (1957), William Holden 's role in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and Charlton Heston 's role in Ben-Hur (1959). The three films he had turned down went on to become hugely successful and were critically acclaimed, while A Farewell to Arms (1957) proved to be one of the biggest flops in history. At the time of his death, his estate was valued at $22 million. After announcing he had AIDS in July 1985, Hudson received telegrams of support from Frank Sinatra , Gregory Peck , Marlene Dietrich , James Garner , Carol Burnett , Ali MacGraw , Jack Lemmon , Richard Dreyfuss , Ava Gardner , Mickey Rooney , Milton Berle and Madonna .

President Ronald Reagan , who had recently undergone surgery for colon cancer, personally telephoned him at the hospital. He was very near-sighted and wore glasses all the time off screen. He would rarely allow himself to be photographed wearing glasses though. Although Hudson never publicly came out as gay during his lifetime, he did authorize a biography by Sara Davidson, "Rock Hudson: His Story" (1986), which discussed his private life in great detail. In the last 18 months of his life, his weight dropped from 215 lbs to 140 lbs. He weighed 126 lbs at the time of his death. Had a priceless record collection, which was taken by Marc Christian after his death. He stood six foot by the time he was fourteen. An accomplished bridge player. He had always been critical of plastic surgery, although in 1981 he had surgery on his eyelids after a cameraman convinced him it would make him look better on screen. He actively sought the leading role in Ice Station Zebra (1968), and after Laurence Harvey backed out of the project, Hudson was cast.

He was very disappointed by the box office failure of Seconds (1966), which he considered to be his best performance and had hoped would show the public that he could be a versatile film actor. In 1979 he was involved in a DUI incident when he crashed his car into a palm tree in Los Angeles late one night. Once said he knew had made it in Hollywood after he received more applause and cheers at the premiere of Bend of the River (1952) than the film's star, James Stewart . He was Universal Studio's first choice to play Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), but was rejected as being too young at 36. Along with Cary Grant , he was regarded as one of the best-dressed male stars in Hollywood. In the summer of 1966 he was released from his studio contract after filming Tobruk (1967) and proceeded to work independently for the rest of his career. It is not known how he contracted AIDS. In Sara Davidson's biography of him, she (quoting a friend indirectly) speculates that he might have picked up the virus through blood transfusions related to his 1981 heart surgery.

He signed a contract with Universal Studios to do McMillan & Wife (1971) in 1971 for one of the largest salaries ever seen in television at the time. Although commonly listed as 6'4", he is believed to have downplayed his height. His character is repeatedly referred to as being 6'6" in the film Pillow Talk (1959) and, upon co-starring with John Wayne and James Stewart , he was clearly taller than those very tall stars. Many sources list him 6'5", which would put him as equal to Vince Vaughn , Tim Robbins and, the tallest leading man per the Guinness Book of World Records, Christopher Lee as the tallest leading men. His agent subtracted two years from his date of birth--from 1925 to 1923--in order to get Hudson more mature roles. Was in talks, with Doris Day and Tony Randall , for a Pillow Talk (1959) sequel at the time he was diagnosed was AIDS. The story reportedly would have him and Doris Day's character being married and dealing with their daughter's upcoming marriage to Tony Randall's son. Universal agreed to loan Hudson to his original studio Warner Bros.

in exchange for the services of Warner contractee Virginia Mayo for the potboiler Congo Crossing (1956). MGM offered Universal $750,000 for Hudson to play the starring role in Ben-Hur (1959) but the studio refused. After Husdon had chosen his new name Rock, when it was suggested by agent Henry Willson , the actor objected when Universal tried to shorten the spelling to Roc. After Raoul Walsh sold Rock Hudson's contract to Universal, he retained the right to his services in one film. This was ultimately settled a decade later, when Walsh was assigned a percentage of the profits from Come September (1961). Hudson was assigned to The Golden Blade (1953) only after Tony Curtis and Farley Granger turned it down. Hollywood writer Sidney Skilosky coined the cliché "Beefcake" to describe Hudson. Despite playing their father in Giant (1956), Hudson was just 6 years older than Carroll Baker , 9 years older than Fran Bennett and 11 years older than Dennis Hopper . In June 2014, he was honored as Turner Classic Movies' Star of the Month.

His father left the family and his mother married Wallace Fitzgerald. Hudson's legal name was then changed from Scherer to Fitzgerald. His father was of German and Swiss-German descent. His maternal grandfather was an English immigrant, and his maternal grandmother was born in Illinois, to Irish parents. Personal Quotes (24) His legal name was Roy Fitzgerald. When meeting John F. Kennedy , the American president remarked: "They say all Fitzgeralds are related", to which Hudson replied, "I guess that would make Ella happy". I had to overcome the name Rock. If I'd been as hip then as I am now, I would have never consented to be named Rock. John Wayne was then the Hollywood legend, and I was on screen with him. The guy is an angel. He saved my life back then when no other film maker wanted to know me. - On The Undefeated (1969) I did a movie [ The Undefeated (1969)] with Duke Wayne [ John Wayne ] and was very surprised to find out he had small feet, wore lifts, and a corset. Hollywood is seldom what it seems. I can't play a loser - I don't look like one.

I have no philosophy about acting or anything else. You just do it. And I mean that. You just do it. However, I can say that with ease after thirty-five years. "I am not happy that I am sick. I am not happy that I have AIDS. But if that is helping others, I can at least know that my own misfortune has had some positive worth." (1985) (In the early 1980s, before his sickness was publicly known) " I always consider my job just as someone working in an office. Past 5 P.M., I lead my very own existence far from the cameras. It's essential for an actor to clearly separate private life from work... essential for me, anyway." I also remember meeting Gary Cooper at a party. I was so impressed that I blurted out that all the stars I had met before had been terrific people. Cooper thought about it for a minute, then said, "Yes, I suppose we are, the ones who are on top. But watch out for the ones who haven't quite made it, or are past it." It was valuable advice. [on Elizabeth Taylor ] She's indestructible.

Someone asked me once what my philosophy of life was, and I said some crazy thing. I should have said, how the hell do I know? I love to smoke. I keep hoping someone will discover it's a healthy habit because the smoke kills all the germs in your system. I love to drink, and I hate exercise. I don't mind going out on the side of a hill and chopping down a tree, but I hate organized exercise. I built a gym in my house but I never use it. I don't even like to walk through it. Nobody is discovered. Ever. Publicity departments loved to say that Lana Turner was discovered sitting at a soda fountain counter, drinking a chocolate soda ... It isn't true. I mean, there are too many interesting-looking people on Earth for that to ever happen. It was the biggest mistake of my career. - On A Farewell to Arms (1957) It was better than I thought. Why didn't I put more into it? - On McMillan & Wife (1971) I welcome my birthdays. Relish them, as a matter of fact. I have confidence now and can look forward to trying new things. I don't think fifty was a crucial age.

Forty was, and thirty-nine because I was facing forty. But lately everything has fallen into place. (1983) I've heard that rumor for years and I just don't care about it. I know lots of gays in Hollywood. Some have tried it on with me, but I've always said, 'Come on, you've got the wrong guy!' As soon as they know that, it's okay! (1978) Television is the monster of all time that eats everything and everybody. When they wanted McMillan & Wife (1971) to go to two hours I said, 'Why? The thing doesn't even hold up for ninety minutes!'. Right from the start, I hated the script. I just didn't believe in that man for one minute. Making fun of death is difficult and dangerous. That scene where I went out and bought a plot for myself in the cemetery - to me it was completely distasteful. - On Send Me No Flowers (1964) If you're cast in crap like Taza, Son of Cochise (1954), it doesn't matter if you experiment with a scene and it goes wrong. Who's gonna notice?

But if it works, you can use it in a better film. Like Giant (1956), perhaps. Do you want to know the secret of my second youth? Well, it must have something to do with my being surrounded by men. Women put too much of a strain on the heart! (1984) [After walking out of Los Angeles premiere of 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)] Will someone tell me what the hell this is about? He was like ol' Dad to me, and I was like a son to him, I think. When you're scared and new and you're trying to figure out this thing, and suddenly an older man will reach out and say, 'There, there, it's okay,' that was Douglas Sirk .

[on the scene in Pillow Talk (1959) in which he carries Doris Day through the streets of Manhattan] "I could have managed if only one take had been involved, but we went on endlessly, primarily because there was a bit actor who played a cop on the street, and as we passed him, Doris' line was 'Officer, arrest this man,' and the cop was supposed to say to me, 'How you doing, Brad?' but that stupid actor kept calling me Rock. So back to our marks we went for another take and another and another. I'll bet we did that scene twenty times. That's why we had the shelf for Doris to sit on." (Hudson ultimately had to carry Day on a shelf after numerous takes.) Salary (6)

Question: Which actor's last TV appearance before his death in 1985 was as Daniel Reece in Dynasty ?
Answer: ROCK HUDSON