Editing Rock Hudson (section)

== Career ==

=== 1943–1948: Military service to acting debut ===
Hudson graduated from high school in 1943, and the following year enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II.<ref name="Royce"/> After training at the [[Great Lakes Naval Training Station]], he departed San Francisco aboard the troop transport [[List of Liberty ships (Je–L)|SS ''Lew Wallace'']] with orders to report to Aviation Repair and Overhaul Unit 2, then located on [[Samar]], Philippines, as an aircraft mechanic.{{sfn|Wise|1997|p=178}}<ref name="autogenerated4">{{Cite web |last=Berger |first=Joseph |date=October 3, 1985 |title=Rock Hudson, Screen Idol, Dies at 59 |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/aids/100385sci-aids.html |access-date=November 6, 2022 |website=The New York Times |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728124316/http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/science/aids/100385sci-aids.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1946, he returned to San Francisco aboard an aircraft carrier,{{sfn|Wise|1997|p=180}} and was discharged the same year.<ref name="Royce"/>

Hudson then moved to Los Angeles to live with his biological father (who had remarried)<ref name=autogenerated4/> and to pursue an acting career. Initially he worked at odd jobs,<ref name="Royce"/> including as a truck driver.<ref name=autogenerated4/> He applied to the University of Southern California's dramatics program, but was rejected because of poor grades.<ref name="tcmdb"/> After he sent talent scout [[Henry Willson]] a picture of himself in 1947, Willson took him on as a client and changed the young actor's name to Rock Hudson; later in life, Hudson admitted that he hated the name.<ref name=autogenerated4/> The name was coined by combining the [[Rock of Gibraltar]] and the [[Hudson River]]. Hudson later named his independent film production company Gibraltar Productions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland on November 12, 1959 · 60|url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/367544265/|access-date=June 2, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 12, 1959|language=en|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602231913/https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/367544265/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1948, Hudson made his acting debut with a small part in the [[Warner Bros.]] film ''[[Fighter Squadron]]'' directed by [[Raoul Walsh]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/25536-FIGHTER-SQUADRON?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> according to a 21st-century source, it took 38 takes for Hudson to successfully deliver his only line in the film.<ref>''The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: The Pretty Boys and Dirty Deals of Henry Willson'' by Robert Hofler, Carroll & Graf, 2005, pp. 163–64; {{ISBN|0-7867-1607-X}}</ref>

===Universal-International===
Hudson was signed to a long-term contract by [[Universal-International]]. There he received coaching in acting, singing, dancing, fencing and horseback riding, and began to be featured in film magazines where, being photogenic, he was promoted.<ref name=autogenerated4/>

In 1949, Hudson received his first film credit, as Roc Hudson, in [[William Castle]]'s ''[[Undertow (1949 film)|Undertow]]'', made by Universal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26166-UNDERTOW?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>

In 1950, he acted in ''[[One Way Street]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 19, 1970 |title=Tv Programmes |work=The Age |pages=16}}</ref> [[Shakedown (1950 film)|''Shakedown'']],<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26488-SHAKEDOWN?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> ''[[I Was a Shoplifter]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26362-I-WAS-A-SHOPLIFTER?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> ''[[Peggy (1950 film)|Peggy]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26449-PEGGY?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> ''[[Winchester '73]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26569-WINCHESTER-73?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> and ''[[The Desert Hawk (1950 film)|The Desert Hawk]].''<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26292-THE-DESERT-HAWK?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>

In 1951, Hudson was billed third in William Castle's ''[[The Fat Man (film)|The Fat Man]].''<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50088-THE-FAT-MAN?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> He played an important role as a boxer in [[Joseph Pevney]]'s ''[[Iron Man (1951 film)|Iron Man]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50158-IRON-MAN?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> Other acting credit in that period include ''[[Bright Victory]],''<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/53397-BRIGHT-VICTORY?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> ''[[Tomahawk (film)|Tomahawk]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/53662-TOMAHAWK?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> and ''[[Air Cadet (film)|Air Cadet]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/50008-AIR-CADET?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 30, 2024 |website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref>

[[File:Rock Hudson, January 1953 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Hudson in January 1953]]

===Leading man===
Hudson was promoted to leading man for ''[[Scarlet Angel]]'' (1952), opposite [[Yvonne De Carlo]]. He co-starred with [[Piper Laurie]] in ''[[Has Anybody Seen My Gal? (film)|Has Anybody Seen My Gal?]]'' (1952), the first of his films directed by [[Douglas Sirk]]. He also appeared as a gambler in ''[[Bend of the River]]'' (1952). He supported the Nelson family in ''[[Here Come the Nelsons]]'' (1952).

In ''[[Horizons West]]'' (1952) Hudson supported [[Robert Ryan]], but he was star again for ''[[The Lawless Breed]]'' (1953) and ''[[Seminole (film)|Seminole]]'' (1953). In 1953, he appeared in a [[Camel (cigarette)|Camel]] commercial that showed him on the set of ''Seminole''.<ref>{{cite AV media|people=Rock Hudson (Actor)|year=1953|title=Camel Cigarette Commercials, 16mm Transfers Reel # 8. [Part 1]|medium=commercial|url=https://archive.org/details/tobacco_sle13d00a|access-date=December 7, 2013|format=MPEG1 and MPEG4|time=19:18|location=U.S.|publisher=Camel}}</ref>

He and De Carlo were borrowed by [[RKO]] for ''[[Sea Devils (1953 film)|Sea Devils]]'' (1953), an adventure set during the Napoleonic Wars. Back at Universal he played [[Harun al-Rashid]] in ''[[The Golden Blade]]'' (1953). There was ''[[Gun Fury]]'' (1953) and ''[[Back to God's Country (1953 film)|Back to God's Country]]'' (1953). Hudson had the title role in ''[[Taza, Son of Cochise]]'' (1954), directed by Sirk and produced by [[Ross Hunter]].

===''Magnificent Obsession'' and stardom===
Hudson was by now firmly established as a leading man in adventure films. What turned him into a star was the romantic drama ''[[Magnificent Obsession (1954 film)|Magnificent Obsession]]'' (1954), co-starring [[Jane Wyman]], produced by Hunter and directed by Sirk.<ref name=autogenerated4/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Kashner|first1=Sam|last2=MacNair|first2=Jennifer|title=The bad & the beautiful : Hollywood in the fifties|date=2003|publisher=W.W. Norton|location=New York|isbn=0-393-32436-2|pages=144–54}}</ref> The film received positive reviews, with ''Modern Screen Magazine'' citing Hudson as the most popular actor of the year. It made over $5&nbsp;million at the box office.

Hudson returned to adventure films with ''[[Bengal Brigade]]'' (1954), set during the Indian Mutiny, and ''[[Captain Lightfoot]]'' (1955), produced by Hunter and directed by Sirk. In 1954, exhibitors voted Hudson the 17th most popular star in the country. Hunter used him in the melodramas ''[[One Desire]]'' (1955) and ''[[All That Heaven Allows]]'' (1955), which reunited him with Sirk and Wyman.

[[File:Taylor - Hudson - Giant.jpg|thumb|upright|Hudson, pictured with [[Elizabeth Taylor]] in ''[[Giant (1956 film)|Giant]]'' (1956), the film that led to his only [[Academy Award]] nomination]]

===Forming of 7 Pictures Corporation and ''Giant''===
On September 9, 1955,<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Variety |url=https://archive.org/details/variety214-1959-04 |title=Variety (April 1959) |date=April 1959 |publisher=Variety Inc. |others=Media History Digital Library}}</ref> Hudson formed his first film production company, 7 Pictures Corporation, with partners producer [[Henry Ginsberg]], his agent [[Henry Willson]], and his lawyer [[Greg Bautzer]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=March 6, 1956 |title=Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/524022871/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Hudson owned only 36% of the company's stocks, with Ginsberg owning the second-largest share with 35%, Wilson with 16%, and Bautzer with 5%; the remaining 8% was owned by Hudson's then-wife [[Phyllis Gates]].<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/motionpicturedai85unse_0 |title=Motion picture daily |date=1959 |publisher=New York [Motion picture daily, inc.] |others=MBRS Library of Congress}}</ref> Though Hudson's exclusive contract with Universal-International Pictures allowed him to produce films outside his obligation to the studio, he was not allowed to appear in them unless he was granted permission for each film.<ref name=":2" /> When forming 7 Pictures Corporation, the agreement between partners called for Hudson to appear in five films over seven years (hence the name of the corporation) for the company, regardless of his commitment with Universal-International Pictures.<ref name=":6" /> In May 1958, a month following Gates' filing for divorce, the company's agreement was amended for Hudson to only appear in two pictures for the company, though Ginsberg later objected to the modification of terms and sued the actor and other share-holders in April 1959, leading Hudson to form a new company, Gibraltar Productions.<ref name=":7" /><ref name=":6" />

He next acted in ''[[Never Say Goodbye (1956 film)|Never Say Goodbye]]'' (1956). Hudson's popularity soared with [[George Stevens]]' film ''[[Giant (1956 film)|Giant]]'' (1956). Hudson and his co-star [[James Dean]] were nominated for [[Oscars]] in the [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] category.

Another hit was ''[[Written on the Wind]]'' (1956), directed by Sirk and produced by [[Albert Zugsmith]]. Sirk also directed Hudson in ''[[Battle Hymn (film)|Battle Hymn]]'' (1957), produced by Hudson, playing [[Dean Hess]]. These films propelled Hudson to be voted the most popular actor in American cinemas in 1957. He stayed in the "top ten" until 1964.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Hudson was borrowed by [[MGM]] to appear in [[Richard Brooks]]' ''[[Something of Value]]'' (1957), a box-office disappointment. So too was his next film, a remake of ''[[A Farewell to Arms (1957 film)|A Farewell to Arms]]'' (1957). To make ''A Farewell to Arms'', he 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 (1959 film)|Ben-Hur]]''. ''A Farewell to Arms'' received negative reviews, failed at the box office and became the last production by [[David O. Selznick]].<ref>David Thomson (1993). ''Showman: The Life of David O. Selznick'', London: Abacus, p. 656. {{ISBN|978-0349105239}}, {{OCLC|1000546022}}</ref> Hudson was reunited with the producer, director and two stars of ''Written on the Wind'' in ''[[The Tarnished Angels]]'' (1958), at Universal. He then made ''[[Twilight for the Gods]]'' (1958) and ''[[This Earth Is Mine (1959 film)|This Earth Is Mine]]'' (1959).

===Romantic comedy star and forming Gibraltar Productions===
[[File:Rock Hudson - Julie Andrews.JPG|thumb|Hudson and [[Julie Andrews]] in ''[[Darling Lili]]'', one of the many romantic comedies he filmed in the 1960s]]
Ross Hunter teamed Hudson with [[Doris Day]] in the romantic comedy ''[[Pillow Talk]]'' (1959), which was a massive hit. Hudson was voted the most popular star in the country for 1959 and was the second most popular for the next three years.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Hudson told the press that he wanted to co-star in ''[[Let's Make Love]]'' with [[Marilyn Monroe]] but Universal-International Pictures denied him permission; the role went to [[Yves Montand]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=January 30, 1960 |title=Daily Record from Banning, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/748772388/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> In late 1959, Hudson formed a new [[film production company]], Gibraltar Productions.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=November 12, 1959 |title=The Evening Sun from Baltimore, Maryland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/367544265/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Now that his contract with Universal-International Pictures was about to end, he used his company to lease his acting services to Universal-International Pictures (and others), retaining a percentage of his film's profits, and with the added freedom to pick his own roles.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=March 8, 1962 |title=Brooklyn Daily from Brooklyn, New York |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/576070397/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The previously formed 7 Pictures Corporation was only briefly used because its assets were co-owned by Hudson's ex-wife Phyllis Gates; after the divorce, Hudson only produced through Gibraltar Productions, but Gates sued for a share in that company, too.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=June 5, 1961 |title=Los Angeles Evening Citizen News from Hollywood, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/684258640/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Hudson later sold his assets of 7 Pictures Corporation to MCA, in exchange for stock in MCA/Universal-International Pictures.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=April 6, 1965 |title=The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/382083376/ |access-date=February 12, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

After ''[[The Last Sunset (film)|The Last Sunset]]'' (1961), co-starring [[Kirk Douglas]] and produced for Douglas' company [[Bryna Productions]], Hudson made two comedies: ''[[Come September]]'' (1961) with [[Gina Lollobrigida]], [[Sandra Dee]] and [[Bobby Darin]], directed by [[Robert Mulligan]]; and ''[[Lover Come Back (1961 film)|Lover Come Back]]'' (1961) with Day; both films were produced through his 7 Pictures Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 1960 |title=The Hastings Daily Tribune from Hastings, Nebraska |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/701138050/ |access-date=February 11, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

He made two dramas: ''[[The Spiral Road]]'' (1962), directed by Mulligan, and ''[[A Gathering of Eagles]]'' (1963), directed by [[Delbert Mann]]. Hudson was still voted the third most popular star in 1963. Hudson went back to comedy for ''[[Man's Favorite Sport?]]'' (1964), directed by [[Howard Hawks]] and co-produced through Gibraltar Productions,<ref name=":4" /> and ''[[Send Me No Flowers]]'' (1964), his third and final film with Day. 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.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

===Decline as a star===
[[File:Rock Hudson, Gene Roddenberry, Roger Vadim, and cast of Pretty Maids All in a Row.jpg|thumb|Cast of ''[[Pretty Maids All in a Row]]'' (L-R): (front row) [[June Fairchild]], [[Joy Bang]], Aimee Eccles; (middle row) [[Joanna Cameron]], [[Gene Roddenberry]], Rock Hudson, [[Roger Vadim]]; (back row) [[Margaret Markov]], [[Brenda Sykes]], Diane Sherry, Gretchen Burrell]]
''[[Strange Bedfellows (1965 film)|Strange Bedfellows]]'' (1965), with [[Gina Lollobrigida]], was a box-office disappointment. So too was ''[[A Very Special Favor]]'' (1965), despite having the same writer and director as ''Pillow Talk''.

Hudson next appeared in ''[[Blindfold (1966 film)|Blindfold]]'' (1966). Then, working outside his usual range, he starred in the science-fiction thriller ''[[Seconds (1966 film)|Seconds]]'' (1966), directed by [[John Frankenheimer]] and co-produced through his own film production company Gibraltar Productions.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gillies|first=Jamie|url=http://www.apolloguide.com/mov_fullrev.asp?CID=3835|title=Seconds|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040915124517/http://www.apolloguide.com/mov_fullrev.asp?CID=3835|date=September 15, 2004|work=apollo guide|archive-date=September 15, 2004}}</ref>

He also tried his hand in the action genre with ''[[Tobruk (1967 film)|Tobruk]]'' (1967), directed by [[Arthur Hiller]]. After the comedy ''[[A Fine Pair]]'' (1968) with [[Claudia Cardinale]], he starred in the action thriller ''[[Ice Station Zebra]]'' (1968) at MGM, a role which remained his personal favorite. The film was a hit but struggled to recoup its large cost.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

In November 1969, [[Andrew V. McLaglen]]'s ''[[The Undefeated (1969 film)|The Undefeated]]'', a western with Hudson starring opposite [[John Wayne]], was released.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFI{{!}}Catalog |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/20617-THE-UNDEFEATED?cxt=filmography |access-date=June 4, 2021 |website=catalog.afi.com |archive-date=June 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604192157/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/20617-THE-UNDEFEATED?cxt=filmography |url-status=live }}</ref>

He co-starred as a [[World War I]] flier opposite [[Julie Andrews]] in the [[Blake Edwards]] musical ''[[Darling Lili]]'' (1970), a film notorious for its bloated budget.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

===Television===
During the 1970s and 1980s, he starred in a number of TV movies and series. His most successful television series was ''[[McMillan & Wife]]'' opposite [[Susan Saint James]], which ran from 1971 to 1977. 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.
[[File:Rock Hudson en 'Embryo'.png|thumb|Hudson in the lead role of ''[[Embryo (film)|Embryo]]'' (1976), a horror/sci-fi film]]
During the series, Hudson appeared in ''[[Showdown (1973 film)|Showdown]]'' (1973), a western with [[Dean Martin]], and ''[[Embryo (film)|Embryo]]'' (1976), a science-fiction film. Hudson took a risk and surprised many by making a successful foray into live theater late in his career, and the best received of his efforts was ''[[I Do! I Do!]]'' in 1974.

After ''McMillan'' ended, Hudson made the disaster movie ''[[Avalanche (1978 film)|Avalanche]]'' (1978) and the miniseries ''Wheels'' (1978) and ''[[The Martian Chronicles (miniseries)|The Martian Chronicles]]'' (1980). He was one of several stars in ''[[The Mirror Crack'd]]'' (reuniting him with ''Giant'' co-star Elizabeth Taylor) (1980) and co-starred in ''[[The Beatrice Arthur Special]]'' (1980).

===Later years===
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2017}}
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. 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 aired. His health problems forced him to turn down the role of Col. Sam Trautman in ''[[First Blood]]''. Hudson was the first to narrate for [[Disney's Candlelight Processional]] at [[Magic Kingdom]] in [[Walt Disney World]] for its opening year in 1971. His final appearance as narrator was in 1984.<ref>[https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2022/12/15/a-look-at-prolific-candlelight-processional-narrators-and-a-few-surprises/ ''Orlando Sentinel'' Rock Hudson Prolific Narrators] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731052707/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2022/12/15/a-look-at-prolific-candlelight-processional-narrators-and-a-few-surprises/ |date=July 31, 2023 }} accessed 07-31-23</ref>

Hudson recovered from the heart surgery but did not quit smoking. He continued to work, appearing in several TV movies such as ''[[World War III (miniseries)|World War III]]'' (1982). He was in ill health while filming the action-drama ''[[The Ambassador (1984 American film)|The Ambassador]]'' in Israel during the winter months from late 1983 to early 1984. 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.<ref>Server, Lee ''Baby, I Don't Care'' (2001)</ref>

From December 1984 to April 1985, Hudson appeared in a recurring role on the prime time soap opera ''[[Dynasty (1981 TV series)|Dynasty]]'' as [[Daniel Reece (Dynasty character)|Daniel Reece]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Rock Hudson, George Hamilton and more notable 'Dynasty' stars |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/rock-hudson-george-hamilton-and-more-notable-dynasty-stars-u32674 |website=Newsday|date=October 2, 2017 }}</ref> a wealthy horse breeder and a potential love interest for [[Krystle Carrington]] (played by [[Linda Evans]]), and biological father of the character [[Sammy Jo Carrington]] ([[Heather Locklear]]). While Hudson had long been known to have difficulty memorizing lines, resulting in his use of cue cards, his speech began to visibly deteriorate on ''Dynasty.'' He was slated to appear for the duration of the second half of its fifth season; however because of his progressing ill health, his character was abruptly written out of the show and died off-screen.