For the past seven weeks, CINE 345 has primarily focused on female stars. As a marginalized group of people, female stars have often shifted cultural views in society, which is why they’re so interesting to explore. However, that’s not to say that males haven’t done the same. One of the most interesting male stars is Rock Hudson. Being one of the last stars to emerge from the Hollywood movie era, Rock became recognized for both his looks and the types of roles he took. But, despite the immense success he was able to garner during his prime, it was his last few years that really shaped Hudson’s image and left an overall impact on society.
Starring in films such as Pillow Talk and Lover Come Back, Rock Hudson would often be portrayed as this masculine figure that was a women magnet. He had the looks, body, and comedic charm that made him distinguishable and a star at the time. Basically, he was the epitome of societal views of a man at the time. He was recognized for his acting roles, and even went on to win an Academy Award.
While it may seem that Rock Hudson had it all, there was a secret he possessed that would make him live a double life. During his lifetime, homosexuality wasn’t accepted in society. Because of this, he had to hide his true self from the public, and would play heterosexual roles to disguise his identity. While it was unknown that he was homosexual until near the time of his death, a lot of roles hinted towards not being fully heterosexual. Many of his roles were ambiguous, meaning that they hinted to him possibly being homosexual. However, because he didn’t really fit into any categories other possible LGBTQ+ actors fit into (such as James Dean), Hudson wasn’t suspected of anything. Basically, Hudson’s private life was completely opposite of his public image.
It wasn’t until 1984 when Rock Hudson’s life flipped around. With the HIV/AIDS pandemic growing rapidly, Society had a view that this STD only affected people in the LGBTQ+ community. While it did affect this community at larger percentages in the beginning, HIV can affect anyone. However, a stigma against specifically homosexual men was crafted from it. After a year of trying different treatments, Hudson’s health couldn’t be kept a secret anymore. With his announcement of having AIDS, he became the known first celebrity to have this illness. With the virus attacking his immune system, Hudson passed away just a few months after his announcement. With his death, many revelations came out about Hudson, such as his sexual orientation, as well as several partners.
Hudson’s impact on society can be seen especially after his death. With him being the first celebrity to get HIV, it not only showed the seriousness of this virus, but also spread awareness of it. Not only that, but him being homosexual demonstrated that he was more than capable of playing roles meant for heterosexual men (despite him keeping his orientation a secret). In some ways, he opened doors for a more inclusive Hollywood. Today, we witness famous actors such as Neil Patrick Harris dominate the industry. While more work needs to be done for a more equitable industry, Hudson demonstrated that anyone can do it!