 by Dennis Ayers |
Rock Hudson remembered
Today is the 22nd anniversary of Rock Hudson’s death. Hudson’s deterioration and demise was played out for the public back in 1985. First there was his appearance on Dynasty. He looked gaunt and prematurely old frolicking on on a picnic blanket with Linda Evans. And then a few months later he showed up on Doris Day’s syndicated show, Doris & Friends. If he had been gaunt on Dynasty, now he was downright skeletal. Clips of the appearance were replayed endlessly on news shows and there was public speculation about what exactly was wrong with Rock Hudson. At first Hudson, through statements from his doctors and publicist, maintained that he had liver cancer. Finally, in July 1985, while in Paris for experimental medical treatment, the actor announced that he had AIDS. Even then, he did not publicly disclose his sexual orientation. He conjectured that he had been exposed to the virus via blood transfusions. The unpleasant images of Rock Hudson’s passing have somewhat overshadowed his career as a Hollywood screen idol. Which is unfortunate, because in his prime Hudson was glorious. Back in 2003, Larry King invited friends and colleagues of Rock Hudson onto his show to reminisce. The panel included Elaine Stritch, Tony Randall, Gina Lollabrigida, Liz Smith, and Hudson's friend and publicist, Dale Olson. For Rock Hudson fans the transcript is definitely worth a read. Check out a Hudson video montage after the break. Submitted by on Tue, 2007-10-02 11:55. |
|
Welcome to AfterElton.com!
- Login
- Join Now!
News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media
ah, yes...
rock hudson. he was a hell of a handsome guy. :-)
you say "while in Paris for experimental medical treatment, the actor announced that he had AIDS. Even then, he did not publicly disclose his sexual orientation"
now, i've looked him up before on the internet and i did it again just now, because i've found the following line on a few websites: "He was the first major public figure to announce he was a homosexual with AIDS, and his worldwide search for a cure drew international attention."
i'm not saying you're wrong, but eh, it grabbed my attention.
hey liz
Interesting that you mention he did not disclose his sexual orientation. You could very well be right about that. I thought like you he hadn't, but then came across the source below which said he did announce he was gay at the same time he disclosed the AIDS diagnosis.
http://www.amuseyourself.com/goodreads/rockhudson/index.html
They could very easily have it wrong. I wish I could find the exact language of his public statement made from Paris in July, 1985. If anybody has the text for it please share.
hey dennis
"Interesting that you mention he did not disclose his sexual orientation."
^ i was actually quoting you there when i mentioned him not disclosing it, then i quoted another quote from a website saying he HAD disclosed it.
...but yeah, i can't seem to find an official "transcript" of his "i have aids" announcement and yeah, it would be nice to have the official words, instead of "he said this, and he said that" all over the place. ;-)
i know a few rock fans. i'll ask around. ;-)
It's not the full transcript...
...but here's a link to the NY Times story that ran July 26, when Yanou Collart (a French publicist speaking on behalf of Hudson) made the announcement in Paris:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9806E1D71238F935A15754C0A963948260&n=Top%2fNews%2fHealth%2fDiseases%2c%20Conditions%2c%20and%20Health%20Topics%2fAIDS
He was a tragic figure
in many ways, and an underrated actor. It is sad that it took his illness to wake up the Reagan administration to publicly acknowledge the scourge of AIDS. By that time the proverbial horse had left the barn. Heaven only knows what this abdication of responsibility has cost the human race in terms of lives (and don't retort that he was busy defeating the Soviet Union in the cold war, that country was well on its' way to collapse before Reagan was elected). Compare the government's reaction to AIDS to that during the Legionnaire's Disease outbreak in Philadelphia that cost less than 100 lives.
I would strongly recommend reading "And The Band Played On" by Randy Shilts to get an excellent account of the AIDS crisis and how different groups reacted to it. It will make you sad, angry and proud all at the same time.
Cheers
JBE
Rock Hudson & Doris Day
In my opinion, one of the greatest cinema comedy duos of all time.
With Rock's suave charm and Doris's quirky expressions, I spent many a rainy afternoon watching their movies. I think Down With Love did a fine job of honouring their movies, even if it didn't quite capture the magic.
I didn't realise that Rock had filmed a science-fiction movie called Seconds - has anyone here seen it?
I have seen snippets
of their movies, they looked very funny. I want to rent "Pillow Talk" one of these days I heard it was very good (I think that is the name). I have always admired Doris Day for her broad-mindedness in befriending Rock Hudson, in the those days gay men were persona non grata in the entertainment industry (even closeted ones).
Cheers
JBE
Yes, rent Pillow Talk.
Yes, Pillow Talk is a brilliant film and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
My mum is a big Doris Day fan and Doris sounds like a wonderful woman who endured through a troubled private life and much personal loss. Let's hope she is awarded the honorary Oscar she deserves.
According to Wikipedia, Doris Day claimed she never knew that Rock was gay...
If Wikipedia is right
then he was a genius at keeping his secret, well secret. I will look for Pillow Talk thanks for the confirmation.
Cheers
JBE