Rock Hudson: A Life in Pictures

Today is Rock Hudson's 100th birthday. With a career that spanned over three decades, he was one of the most prominent male stars during Hollywood's Golden Age. From his debut in a small uncredited part in Fighter Squadron (1948), he went on to achieve leading man status with acclaimed performances in films such as Magnificent Obsession (1954), All That Heaven Allows (1955), Giant (1956) — for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor — and Pillow Talk (1959). Tall, dark and handsome, he represented the Hollywood ideal of masculinity in the 1950s and 1960s, but societal norms of the time meant that his true nature had to be kept hidden from the public. In 1985, he became one of the first celebrities to reveal he had been diagnosed with AIDS, which claimed his life at the age of 59. At the height of the AIDS pandemic, the disclosure of Rock's diagnosis had a an immediate impact on the visibility of the disease and on the funding of medical research that helped thousands of people afflicted by the same condition. In the years after his death — and still to this day — his life became a topic of fascination, and people came to understand that Rock Hudson was far more complex than what his Hollywood public persona led on.

To celebrate Rock Hudson and every facet of his personality, let us take a look at his life in pictures.

 

With his Aunt Evelyn at the age of two, while on a visit to his grandmother's farm in Olney, Illinois.

 

 His junior high graduation photo (1938).

 

Portrait from 1952. 

 

With Ann Sothern at a St. Patrick's Day party at Van Johnson's house, in 1952. 

 

 

Having a picnic with Barbara Rush (right) and script supervisor Betty Abbott, on a farm owned by Prince Aly Khan, outside Dublin, Ireland, in August 1954, during location shooting for Captain Lightfoot (1955).

 

With Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on the set of I Love Lucy (1951-1957), in April 1955.

 

With James Dean and Elizabeth Taylor at a press luncheon in Hollywood to mark the start of filming on Giant. 

 

With Elizabeth Taylor, after a handprint and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, on 26 September 1956. 

 

With Joan Crawford at an event, circa 1956.

 

 

Visiting Rome, Italy, in 1956.

  

On the set of A Farewell to Arms (1957). 

 

 

On the deck of his beach house in Malibu Beach, California, circa 1958.  

 

With Cyd Charisse and director Joseph Pevney during the making of Twilight for the Gods (1958). 

 

 With Tony Randall on the set of Pillow Talk.

 

In Portofino, Italy, in 1960. 

 

Sailing with Linda Cristal in February 1960. 

 

At his house in Los Angeles in 1961.

 

With Doris Day during the making of Lover Come Back (1961).

 

Photographed by Life magazine while in Suriname in 1961, for the making of The Spiral Road (1962). 

 

With Rita Moreno at the 34th Academy Awards ceremony, on April 9, 1962.

 

Accepting his Golden Globe for World Film Favorite — Male in 1963. 

 

 

With Doris Day during the making of Send Me No Flowers (1964). 

 

On the set of A Very Special Favor (1965). 

 

With Pamela Tiffin at the Cannes Film Festival in May 1965. 

 

With Bruce Cabot and John Wayne during the making of The Undefeated (1969). 

 

On the set of his TV show McMillan & Wife (1971-1977), circa 1971. 

 

With his dogs at his home in Beverly Hills, in May 1977. 

 

With Dusty Springfield in New York City, circa 1980.

 

With Robert Mitchum on the set of The Ambassador (1984). 

 

At the Festival de Deauville in France, in September 1984.

 

In an episode of the soap opera Dynasty (1981-1989), in December 1984. 

 

With Liza Minnelli and Elizabeth Taylor at the 42nd Golden Globes ceremony, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, on January 27, 1985. 

 

At this home in Beverly Hills in 1985.

 

Although he was unable to live his life as true self for fear of reprisals, Rock Hudson left a legacy both in film and in history that he can be proud of. Happy birthday to him.