Hudson said in the book, "We were really just kids, we could eat and drink anything and we never needed sleep.". Then there was Jack Coates, a 23-year-old who he wooed one afternoon over mint juleps but it fell apart because he got fed up with being what Griffin calls 'Mrs Rock Hudson'. Hudsons other hits in the 1950s included Magnificent Obsession and All That Heaven Allows the books title which was directed by melodrama maestro Douglas Sirk. Movie Stars. susan dent daughter of rock hudson. In the Rock Hudson biography "All That Heaven Allows" by Mark Griffin, the author indicates that the actor may have had a daughter, or two, that no one knew about, according to USA Today. The conversation was recorded by private eye Fred Otash, a detective that Phyllis had hired to spy on Hudson, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Hudson spent the next months denying he had AIDS as he did not want to tarnish his image. At the start of the second year Jane and I didnt show up for work, we didnt come on the first day, she recalled. Things had deteriorated to the point where Gates had hired a private detective to secretly record Hudson in their home where she had invited him to talk about their marital problems and taped him admitting he was gay. Saint James says after the shows five-year run the duo went back and sued again. First Lady Nancy Reagan denied the request. In this letter he tells his friend everythingI am sure (his mother) Kay handled the whole thing because he wasnt even at home.. Hudsons personal life had been cannibalized by his own studio; his torment over his predicament had become the ultimate Hollywood in-joke.. Griffin writes: 'Hudson insisted on sending anonymous letters to four individuals he had sexual encounters with prior to his AIDS diagnosis. When he got older, Roy-turned-Rock was a closeted gay man during an era in which it was taboo for a matinee idol to identify as homosexual. This story has been shared 41,552 times. Hudson's other hits in the 1950s included Magnificent Obsession and All That Heaven Allows - the book's title - which was directed by melodrama maestro Douglas Sirk. Willson also gave him his name, Rock Hudson, which he came to by combining the Rock of Gibraltar with the Hudson River in New York. Please go to your doctor and have a check-up.. Susan Dentis not after money, she has plenty of her own. In July 1985, Hudson collapsed at the Ritz hotel in Paris, and he was admitted to the American Hospital of Paris to cope with complications from AIDS, according to BuzzFeed. According to Miller, Gottlieb told Hudson: You are a famous man and there will be headlines when this is announced, so it is up to you whether you tell your former lover or not.. Author Don Graham wrote in his book "Giant" that Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor enjoyed spending their nights eating chocolate and drinking vodka (via Fox News). Hudson moved to Los Angeles to break into Hollywood and there he met Kenneth Hodge, a production assistant who was well known in the business and would become his first serious boyfriend. He may have fathered a child during his days in the Navy. In 2014, a woman named Susan Dent claimed that she was Hudson's biological daughter and sued the actor's estate. Susan Saint James remembers her "MacMillan & Wife" co-star Rock Hudson fondly. He will be laid to rest beside his beloved father Gordon Dent in a plot in a small country graveyard in Thurso, Quebec, which he has lovingly maintained for many years. Hudson and Gates were married two months later in a bungalow at the Biltmore Hotel in Santa Barbara, eight days before Hudson turned 30. With fame came more attention from the tabloid press and Universal became increasingly anxious about Hudson's personal life. Friends said that you 'couldn't have found a taller, blonder, sexier guy' and he was Hudson's 'dream man.'. Today. When he returned home from Tel Aviv in January 1984 Christian was shocked by his physical condition. He was a matinee idol during the '50s and '60s and appeared in various romantic comedies, several of which included the personable Doris Day as his co-star. The marriage only lasted three years and they divorced in 1958 with Gates citing extreme mental cruelty.. Instead Hudson returned to the US to star in the TV series Dynasty and returned to Paris for more treatment, but by then his condition deteriorated so much he was beyond help. According to our sources, the DNA test confirmed her mother's story: Susan Dent was Rock Hudson's daughter. Hudson became a contract player Universal Studios in 1949 and began to get press attention - mostly thanks to Willson - with one columnist calling him 'six feet four inches of manhood. According to Mark Griffin, author of the Rock Hudson biography "All That Heaven Allows," young Roy Fitzgerald's stepfather physically abused him. 'Hudson's personal life had been cannibalized by his own studio; his torment over his predicament had become the ultimate Hollywood in-joke.'. It was a cruel joke and Griffin writes: The conflicts that he grappled with daily and the deadening silence he had to endure in order to maintain his position as Hollywoods most popular leading man were being played for laughs. 'It sounds like they had a one time fling. Genealogy profile for Susan Dent Susan Dent (Crabb) (1809 - 1886) - Genealogy Genealogy for Susan Dent (Crabb) (1809 - 1886) family tree on Geni, with over 225 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. '(His friend) George Nader mailed the letters from Palm Springs so that they recipients wouldn't immediately connect the dots as to who the sender was'. In interviews Hudson would return to the phrase 'I just kept my mouth shut' again and again when talking about his youth. In letters published in author Mark GriffinsAll That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson, the actor wrote: We have recently had sex together and I have been informed by my doctor that I may have AIDS. Peter had worked tirelessly on behalf of Susan for the past ten years seeking to prove in the American courts that she was the daughter of film star Rock Hudson (Roy Fitzgerald). She explained, "I think the reason people liked our movies is because they could tell how much we liked each other. Ive known Ive had it for ten years. At the time AIDS was considered a disease that 'fairies on Santa Monica Boulevard got', as Miller put it, and was deeply misunderstood by the wider public. Iron Man, a boxing drama, was an early hit followed by Bend of the River alongside James Stewart, which legitimized him in the eyes of the Hollywood system. Then he set his eyes on Hollywood, investing $55 in a new suit and trying to make his presence known to Hollywood executives by spending time around studio lots. But oh, it gets juicier. Long before he landed in Hollywood, he understood that if he wanted to be accepted, the very essence of who he was would have to be edited out of the frame, the author writes. Hudson met Elizabeth Taylor, on the set of Giant, where he played Texas oilman Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr alongside the James Dean, with whom he competed for Taylor's attention, Taylor, pictured with Hudson in London in 1980, would become his lifelong friend. At one of Hodges parties he threw to help Hudson make connections, he was introduced to the infamous agent Henry Willson who would take him on as a client. America was initially shocked at the revelation and his implied homosexuality, but it became a milestone in the fight against intolerance toward gay people and those with AIDS. Jul 16, 2021 - ROCK HUDSON AND HIS DAUGHTER JUDY DENT. When Dean was killed in a car crash in September 1955 before filming had finished Hudson was 'shattered', Gates said, and his huge frame 'convulsed' with sobs. And that made them really mad," Graham explained. Dent says she . Before his death, actor Rock Hudson sent his male lovers heartbreaking letters urging them to get tested after he was diagnosed with AIDS, a new book has revea. Nader was also an author who penned the science fiction novel Chrome, which featured a gay romance, according to the New York Times. When he was a young man, Hudson briefly joined the army, and evidence suggests that while serving, he fathered at least one child. In January 1944 Hudson voluntarily enlisted in the US Navy as an Apprentice Seaman. Hudson spent the next months denying he had AIDS as he did not want to tarnish his image. She later said that their friendship was more about cutting loose and that they spent most of their time laughing and being silly. Within Hollywoods inner circles, Hudsons homosexuality was not a secret but he kept his sexuality private throughout his life. His induction photo, described by the author as the saddest image of him ever captured, screamed somebody please help me a depiction of Hudson forcing himself to live up to the idea of what a man should be. But while she claims her intentions are good, his estate isnt so sure. Jul 16, 2021 - ROCK HUDSON AND HIS DAUGHTER JUDY DENT. Like a father," Griffin wrote (via USA Today). Saint James is set to reunite with actress Jane Curtin, with whom she starred on Kate & Allie from 1984-1989, for a Stars in the House event, which will live-stream on YouTube Friday at 8 p.m. Lee Garlington read in Rock Hudson's bio, after his 1985 death, Rock called Lee his "true love." . Watch. Hudson was afraid Dean was monopolizing both his friend and the film. Christian later sued Hudson's estate claiming Hudson had carried on sleeping with him for eight months after he got his diagnosis, leaving him a 'dead man'. . 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Griffin speculates that he knew about Hudsons sexuality and had nudged him into roles that were characters who are in the throes of an identity crisis. In letters published in author Mark Griffin'sAll That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson, the actor wrote: 'We have recently had sex together and I have been informed by my doctor that I may have AIDS. He died that October from AIDS-related complications. In the Rock Hudson biography "All That Heaven Allows" by Mark Griffin, the author indicates that the actor may have had a daughter, or two, that no one knew about, according to USA Today. America was initially shocked at the revelation and his implied homosexuality, but it became a milestone in the fight against intolerance toward gay people and those with AIDS. Before his death, actor Rock Hudson sent his male lovers heartbreaking letters urging them to get tested after he was diagnosed with AIDS, a new book has revealed. Studio executives apparently had faith in the burgeoning actor despite his embarrassing screen test, and Hudson had time to cultivate some self-confidence because Hollywood made so many films. Photo By Getty Images/ Bettmann. As for whether he would change anything about his life, Hudson said he wouldn't. Griffin writes that Hudson was interested in 'extremely masculine men, preferably those who identified as straight or were at least known to go "both ways. Willson's pitch for Hudson was as a simple Midwestern hunk, a former truck driver who had turned to acting. Hudson was seen with a male Italian actor in public on several occasions their response was to put out a press release saying he was dating Jill Clifford, a British heiress. Dent then hired attorneys and began the legal process with her goal being to change her birth certificate to reflect her updated lineage. All That Heaven Allows: A Biography of Rock Hudson was released December 4. If I'm dying it's from liver cancer. Dent has been fighting this in court for years. He spent two decades restoring the Spanish-style home, which sat on 3.5 acres and contained a greenhouse with orchids, according to Queerest Places. The comments below have been moderated in advance. Police and security officers closed off the street to prevent the media and others from attempting to get into the event. (His friend) George Nader mailed the letters from Palm Springs so that they recipients wouldnt immediately connect the dots as to who the sender was. The film starred Hudson and James Dean, who butted heads on set. One of the men realized it was Hudson and sold his story to a tabloid but it did not appear until 18 months after Hudson's death in 1985, making him the public face of the AIDS crisis and changing America's view of the disease. Gates later claimed she had been manipulated into marrying Hudson and painted herself as a victim of a ploy. Do not sell or share my personal information. Around this time Hudson met the actor George Nader and his partner, Miller, a gay couple who would become so close to him he would leave everything to them upon his death in 1985. However, last January a woman named Susan Dent announced an ongoing legal battle to . Hudson said that Christian would 'destroy me' if he found out so he decided not to tell him. When Dean was killed in a car crash in September 1955 before filming had finished Hudson was shattered, Gates said, and his huge frame convulsed with sobs. Even after Hudson received his AIDS diagnosis (before he went public with the news), he chose to appear on Day's variety show in July 1985. Some of the most disturbing scenes are likely to be Hudsons early life in rural Winnetka, Illinois, where he was beaten by his step father Wallace Fitzgerald, an abusive drunk. Alexander was born in 1823, in 1925 and moved to California in 1946 to pursue an action establish. But their friend Stockton Briggle described it as an arranged marriage that obviously was never going to work., Briggle said: One of the few things (Hudson) ever said to me about that was that he always resented being manipulated like that and it was a very dark period in his life.. To pre-order Rock Hudson: Erotic Fire, by Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince, published by Blue Moon, 24.99, on December 2, please call the Express Bookshop with your card details on 01872 562310. From an early age, he learned that you could talk about pretty much anything except what you truly felt and what you really wanted, the author writes. Dr Dominique Dormont, one of the specialists at the Institut Pasteur, said that Hudson had been 'too optimistic' in his interpretation of this and he should have stayed in Paris longer. When she objected she screamed at Hudson: 'Because he's a silly little fruitcake' - Gates claimed that Hudson hit her so hard her necklace broke, sending pearls all over the hotel corridor. What is all this AIDS s***?. The film was an instant classic and Hudson became the biggest star in the world on the back of it. After a major setback, an appeals court has once again given her claim life. She was also friends with Dean. He reportedly took toys away from Roy that he believed were effeminate and tried to squash Roy's dreams of acting. Rock Hudson (born Roy Harold Scherer Jr.; November 17, 1925 - October 2, 1985) was an American actor.One of the most popular movie stars of his time, he had a screen career spanning more than three decades. Your Ad Choices Rock Hudson's body was cremated pretty quickly following his death, the Washington Postreported in 1985. Christian filed a lawsuit purporting he became severely stressed after learning Hudson had AIDS, reported the Los Angeles Times. She initially filed her petition to establish paternity on December 23, 2014. He starred with actress Jane Wyman in All That Heaven Allows, the title of the book, Infamous Hollywood agent Henry Willson transformed Hudson's image into the hunky male star he came to be and called him a 'perfect specimen', Willson's pitch for Hudson was as a simple Midwestern hunk, a former truck driver who had turned to acting. He doesn't perspire. Miller, Hudson's close friend, said that Christian even confessed to him that he had been working as a male escort in the past which caused further tension. In a touching gesture she included a note asking him to get it checked out. It sounds like they had a one time fling. At the time of his death, Hudson was worth $10 million, the equivalent of $23 million today if adjusted for inflation, reports Celebrity Net Worth. Dent is a woman in her early-70s from Canada. For Christs sake! In 2014, a woman named Susan Dent surfaced, claiming she was his long-lost daughter. Hudson, who was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr, had already seen the man who he thought was his father walk out when he discovered he was not his biological dad. Nader died in 2002 and Miller passed away in 2015. Rock Hudson. He smells of milk. Friends said that you couldnt have found a taller, blonder, sexier guy and he was Hudsons dream man.. Because he chose to make 1957's "A Farewell to Arms," he was unable to take the role offered to Marlon Brando in "Sayonara" and Charlton Heston's famous role in "Ben-Hur,"according to Classic Movie Hub. Hudson told her: I wanted him to die, I hated him. Published: 16:22 EST, 5 December 2018 | Updated: 19:24 EST, 5 December 2018. The marriage only lasted three years and they divorced in 1958 with Gates citing 'extreme mental cruelty. In addition, Hudson enjoyed spending time drinking and hanging out with Taylor into the early morning, and Dean tried to cut in and disturb their friendship. At the time AIDS was considered a disease that fairies on Santa Monica Boulevard got, as Miller put it, and was deeply misunderstood by the wider public. Christian tested negative for AIDS several times after finding out Hudson had the virus but was upset that he had been put at risk of contracting it. Actors & Actresses . White House staff member Mark Weinberg explained, "The Reagans were very conscious of not making exceptions for people just because they were friends of theirs or celebrities or things of that kind," according to The Guardian. William M. Hoffman, the author of As Is, on of the first Broadway plays about AIDS which debuted in 1985, summed up the mood when he said: 'If Rock Hudson can have it, nice people can have it'. 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