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Rock Hudson

Highest Rated: 100% Bend of the River (1952)

Lowest Rated: 8% A Farewell to Arms (1957)

Birthday: Nov 17, 1925

Birthplace: Winnetka, Illinois, USA

Rock Hudson was an Academy Award-nominated American actor, who rose to fame as one of the most popular leading men in films during the 1950s and 1960s. Born into a working class family as Roy Harold Scherer in Winnetka, Illinois in 1925, Hudson never dreamt of becoming an actor. He did, however, enjoy performing as a young teenager, and despite being shy, managed to secure a position in the school's glee club. It wasn't until Hudson began working as an usher at a local movie theater that he first became interested in acting. It was there, in the dark theater, with the smell of popcorn in the air and everyone's eyeballs focused on the giant silver screen in the forefront, that Hudson knew he was destined to become an actor. He would hit a bump in the road, however, by enlisting in the US Navy after the outbreak of World War II. After proudly serving his country, Hudson moved to Los Angeles to launch his career as an actor. He attempted to enroll in the drama program at the University of Southern California, but was denied entry due to his poor grades. Undeterred, Hudson worked a series of odd jobs to support himself, while hustling for acting work when he could. Then in 1947, Hudson was fortunate enough to be discovered by the legendary talent scout, Henry Wilson, who took the fresh young aspiring actor on as a client. From there, Hudson's career took off. He was signed to a long-term contract with Universal, and in the early 1950s began appearing regularly in films in supporting roles. Some of the movies he acted in during this period included "Winchester '73" (1950), "Tomahawk" (1951) and "The Fat Man" (1951). Given his natural charisma and photogenic presence on screen, Hudson was quickly promoted to leading man status with his starring role in 1952's "Scarlet Angel" (1952). From there he would go on to star in a number of adventure films over the next few years, before becoming a bona fide superstar with his memorable starring roles in "Magnificent Obsession" (1954) and "Giant" (1956), the latter of which earned Hudson his first and only Oscar nomination. Having already become one of Hollywood's most bankable leading men, Hudson's career further progressed throughout the late 50s and early 60s, as he ventured into the romantic comedy genre. Paired alongside the equally popular Doris Day, Hudson appeared in "Pillow Talk" (1959), "Lover Come Back" (1961) and "Send Me No Flowers" (1964), all of which were massive hits with audiences. After a decade on the top, however, Hudson began falling out of favor with audiences in the late 1960s. With his film acting career on the decline, he made a comeback of sorts by starring in a number of popular television shows, most notably "McMillan & Wife" (NBC, 1971-77) and the popular primetime soap opera "Dynasty" (ABC, 1981-89). By the mid-1980s Hudson's health began to decline rapidly, culminating with his diagnosis of HIV in June of 1984. Having kept his private life private throughout the full run of his career, Hudson kept his illness secret and continued working throughout 1984 and 1985. The disease, however, would eventually take its toll, and after a celebrated career spanning thirty plus years, Rock Hudson succumbed to AIDS on October 2, 1985. He was 59.

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Highest rated movies

100% 79% Bend of the River
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100% 82% Bright Victory
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100% 86% Winchester '73
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100% 69% The Tarnished Angels
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94% 87% Pillow Talk
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92% 77% Lover Come Back
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91% 81% All That Heaven Allows
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88% 76% Written on the Wind
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88% 72% Magnificent Obsession
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86% 78% Come September
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Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet 33% The Ambassador Frank Stevenson (Character) - 1984
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Vegas Strip Wars Neil Chaine (Character) - 1984
No Score Yet 77% World War III President Thomas McKenna (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Star Maker Danny Youngblood (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Patricia Neal Story Self - 1981
62% 47% The Mirror Crack'd Jason Rudd (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Martian Chronicles Col. John Wilder (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet 0% Avalanche David Shelby (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 17% Embryo Dr. Paul Holliston (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet 41% Showdown Chuck Jarvis (Character) - 1973
8% 47% Pretty Maids All in a Row Michael "Tiger" McDrew (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Once Upon a Dead Man Commissioner Stewart McMillan (Character) - 1971
40% 68% Darling Lili Maj. William Larrabee (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet 30% Hornet's Nest Turner (Character) $255.8K 1970
44% 66% The Undefeated Col. James Langdon (Character) - 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Fine Pair Capt. Mike Harmon (Character) - 1968
47% 58% Ice Station Zebra Cdr. James Ferraday (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet 50% Tobruk Major Craig (Character) - 1967
79% 87% Seconds Tony Wilson (Character) - 1966
No Score Yet 50% Blindfold Dr. Bartholomew Snow (Character) - 1966
No Score Yet 42% A Very Special Favor Paul Chadwick (Character) - 1965
No Score Yet 42% Strange Bedfellows Carter Harrison (Character) - 1965
60% 74% Send Me No Flowers George (Character) - 1964
63% 72% Man's Favorite Sport? Roger Willoughby (Character) - 1964
No Score Yet 57% A Gathering of Eagles Col. Jim Caldwell (Character) - 1963
No Score Yet No Score Yet Marilyn Narrator - 1963
No Score Yet 27% The Spiral Road Dr. Anton Drager (Character) - 1962
60% 58% The Last Sunset Dana Stribling (Character) - 1961
92% 77% Lover Come Back Jerry Webster (Character) - 1961
86% 78% Come September Robert L. Talbot (Character) - 1961
94% 87% Pillow Talk Brad Allen/Rex Stetson (Character) - 1959
No Score Yet No Score Yet This Earth Is Mine John Rambeau (Character) - 1959
No Score Yet No Score Yet Twilight for the Gods Captain David Bell (Character) - 1958
50% 48% Something of Value Peter (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet 22% Battle Hymn Col. Dean Hess (Character) - 1957
100% 69% The Tarnished Angels Burke Devlin (Character) - 1957
8% 36% A Farewell to Arms Lieutenant Frederick Henry (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet 40% Never Say Goodbye Dr. Michael Parker (Character) - 1956
88% 76% Written on the Wind Mitch Wayne (Character) - 1956
86% 87% Giant Jordan "Bick" Benedict (Character) $183.9K 1956
91% 81% All That Heaven Allows Ron Kirby (Character) - 1955
No Score Yet No Score Yet One Desire Clint Saunders (Character) - 1955
No Score Yet 33% Captain Lightfoot Michael Martin (Character) - 1955
No Score Yet 25% Bengal Brigade Capt. Jeffrey Claybourne (Character) - 1954
No Score Yet 27% Taza, Son of Cochise Taza (Character) - 1954
88% 72% Magnificent Obsession Dr. Bob Merrick (Character) - 1954
No Score Yet No Score Yet Back to God's Country Peter Keith (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 40% Seminole Lance Caldwell (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 19% The Golden Blade Harun (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 57% Sea Devils Gilliatt (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 67% The Lawless Breed John Wesley Hardin (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet 30% Gun Fury Ben Warren (Character) - 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Scarlet Angel Frank Truscott (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet 40% Horizons West Neil Hammond (Character) - 1952
100% 79% Bend of the River Trey Wilson (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet 86% Has Anybody Seen My Gal? Dan Stebbins (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet Here Come the Nelsons Charles E. "Charlie" Jones (Character) - 1952
No Score Yet No Score Yet Iron Man Tommy "Speed" O'Keefe/Kosco (Character) - 1951
No Score Yet 11% Tomahawk Burt Hanna (Character) - 1951
No Score Yet No Score Yet Air Cadet Upper Classman (Character) - 1951
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fat Man Roy Clark (Character) - 1951
100% 82% Bright Victory Dudek (Character) - 1951
100% 86% Winchester '73 Young Bull (Character) - 1950
No Score Yet No Score Yet Peggy Johnny "Scat" Mitchell (Character) - 1950
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shakedown Ted (Character) - 1950
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Desert Hawk Captain Ras (Character) - 1950
No Score Yet No Score Yet I Was a Shoplifter Store Detective (Character) - 1950

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Devlin Connection Brian Devlin (Character) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Carol Burnett Show Guest 1975 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet McMillan and Wife Stewart McMillan (Character) 1971-1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Jack Benny Program: The Lost Episodes Guest 1962
No Score Yet 97% I Love Lucy Unknown (Guest Star) 1955