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01
He turned down the role that went to Marlon Brando in Sayonara 1957 to star in A Farewell to Arms 1957, a decision that proved costly as the three films he passed on became hits while his film flopped.
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02
Although commonly listed as 6’4, he is believed to have downplayed his height; his character in Pillow Talk 1959 is repeatedly referred to as 6’6, and he was taller than John Wayne and James Stewart.
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03
Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS on 5 June 1984 but his publicity staff told the public he had liver cancer; less than a month after announcing he had AIDS, he wrote a check for $250,000 to help start the National AIDS Research Foundation.
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04
He was in talks with Doris Day and Tony Randall for a Pillow Talk 1959 sequel at the time he was diagnosed with AIDS; the story would have involved his character and Day’s being married and dealing with their daughter’s upcoming marriage.
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05
Although Hudson never publicly came out as gay during his lifetime, he authorized a biography by Sara Davidson, Rock Hudson: His Story 1986, which discussed his private life in detail.
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06
Hudson 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 declining health; the part went to Charlton Heston.
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07
Involved with Marc Christian during the period he knew he had AIDS, but allegedly did not disclose it to Christian; Christian sued his estate and won a $21.7 million jury award in 1989, later reduced to $5.5 million.
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08
Early in his career he had surgery on his vocal chords to make his voice deeper and had his teeth capped; the surgery made it impossible for him to learn to sing, so when he played King Arthur in Camelot he had to talk his way through the songs like Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady 1964.
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09
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 personally telephoned him at the hospital.
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10
He has appeared in five films selected for the National Film Registry: Winchester ’73 1950, All That Heaven Allows 1955, Giant 1956, Pillow Talk 1959, and Seconds 1966.
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11
Along with Cary Grant, he was regarded as one of the best-dressed male stars in Hollywood.
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12
When agent Henry Willson suggested the name Rock, Hudson objected when Universal tried to shorten the spelling to Roc.
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13
He was very disappointed by the box office failure of Seconds 1966, which he considered his best performance and hoped would show his versatility.
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14
He stood six foot by the time he was fourteen.
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15
Hudson and Doris Day struck up a lifelong friendship after making Pillow Talk 1959; Day claimed she had no idea he was homosexual.
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16
He had always been critical of plastic surgery, but in 1981 he had surgery on his eyelids after a cameraman convinced him it would improve his on-screen appearance.
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17
Worked as a truck driver when he first moved to Los Angeles, spending his spare time idling outside studio gates and sending photographs to producers.
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18
Enamored of movies as a teenager, he worked as an usher; before his first film role, he got his teeth capped and was coached in acting, singing, dancing, fencing, and riding.
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19
Had a priceless record collection, which was taken by Marc Christian after his death.
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20
He was reportedly Universal Studio’s first choice to play Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird 1962, but was rejected as too youthful at age 36.
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21
He started smoking when he was twelve years old.
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22
His agent subtracted two years from his date of birth, from 1925 to 1923, to get him more mature roles.
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23
Went to the same school, New Trier Township High School East, as Ann-Margret, Charlton Heston, Ralph Bellamy, Hugh O’Brian, Bruce Dern, and others.
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24
Was very close friends with singer Dusty Springfield.
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25
Hudson and his partner Marc Christian went out of their way while traveling near downtown Los Angeles so they could meet Michael Jackson during the filming of Michael Jackson: Thriller 1983.
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26
Underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery in November 1981 after suffering chest pains, and began smoking again soon after leaving the hospital.
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27
Talent scout Henry Willson coined the stage name Rock Hudson by combining the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River.
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28
Grew a mustache and sideburns for his role in The Undefeated 1969 and retained that look throughout the 1970s.
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29
In the summer of 1966 he was released from his studio contract after filming Tobruk 1967; five years later, he signed with Universal for McMillan & Wife 1971 for one of the largest TV salaries at the time.
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30
Hollywood writer Sidney Skolsky reportedly coined the term Beefcake with Hudson in mind.
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31
He was very near-sighted and wore glasses off screen, rarely allowing himself to be photographed with glasses.
