Rock Hudson

It was widely believed that Rock Hudson was homosexual. However, he never acknowledged it publically.

He dated Phyllis Gates, his agent Henry Willson’s secretary, for a few months and married her in 1955. Gates filed for divorce in 1958 citing mental cruelty and the marriage came to an end.

His male lovers included Lee Garlington, Jack Coates, and Tom Clark. Garlington later revealed that he was once very close to Hudson and was in a relationship with him for three years.

He was born as Roy Harold Scherer, Jr. in November 17, 1925, in Winnetka, Illinois, U.S. to Katherine Wood, a telephone operator, and Roy Harold, an auto mechanic. He was the only child of his parents.

During the Great Depression his father abandoned the family. His mother later remarried and his step-father Wallace "Wally" Fitzgerald adopted the young boy.

He went to New Trier High School where he developed an interest in acting. However, he was extremely shy and had a problem remembering lines because of which he was not cast in school plays despite his great interest.

The World War II was going on when he graduated from high school in 1944 and he joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Philippines. He was discharged in 1946.

He moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. He applied to University of Southern California's dramatics program but was rejected. More disappointments followed and he struggled to find work. Eventually he resorted to working as a truck driver.

Still determined to become an actor, he sent a picture of himself to talent scout Henry Willson in 1947. Photogenic and handsome, he was successful in catching Willson’s attention who took him as a client. Willson changed the aspiring actor’s name to Rock Hudson.

He played a small role in the 1948 film ‘Fighter Squadron’, his debut. Due to his forgetfulness, it took him 38 takes to successfully deliver his only line in the film.

He was given training in acting, singing, and dancing among other skills to groom him for an acting career. Being attractive proved to be his greatest asset and soon he was featured on magazines which made him popular.

In 1954, Rock Hudson played his first leading role, in the film ‘Magnificent Obsession’, co-starring Jane Wyman. The film received positive reviews and Hudson was named the most popular actor of the year by ‘Modern Screen Magazine.’

Rock Hudson is best remembered for his role as Jordan "Bick" Benedict, Jr. in the Western drama film ‘Giant’, which also starred Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean. The film, which follows a Texas family over a quarter century from the 1920s until after World War II, was a huge box office hit.