Homophobia, fear and the reluctance of the federal government to intervene infuriated many and worsened the growing crisis. Among his bequests was $250,000 for medical research, funds that were used to launch the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). I am not happy that I have AIDS but if that is helping others, I can at least know that my own misfortune has had some positive worth.” Just weeks later, on October 2, 1985, Hudson died at his L.A. That September, Hudson sent a message to be read at a fundraiser hosted by friend and early AIDS activist Taylor, which read, “I am not happy that I am sick.
While Hudson had feared a backlash, the beloved star instead received tens of thousands of messages from well-wishers, and many of his fellow Hollywood stars voiced their support. While he didn’t formally announce he was gay, he knew that the admission would make that all but clear. Hudson, however, decided to tell the truth, and on July 25, his publicist released a statement revealing he had AIDS. The news flashed around the world, but his publicist team claimed that Hudson was suffering from liver cancer. Shortly after arriving, he collapsed and was hospitalized. His revelation made him one of the first public faces of the AIDS epidemicĭays later Hudson traveled to France, where he had been receiving a promising new treatment. When the former on-screen couple appeared at a press conference on July 16, 1985, viewers were shocked at the physical decline of the once virile star.
He made a guest stint on Dynasty (where he carefully tailored his love scenes with Linda Evans to protect her from any possible transmission) and agreed to appear on Day’s new tv talk show. In those early years, a diagnosis was tantamount to a death sentence, and Hudson spent nearly a year seeking out experimental treatments that he hoped would save his life.ĭespite his worsening condition, he continued to work. Still protective of his public reputation, and fearful of the reaction of his fans, Hudson kept his diagnosis a secret, telling only a few former partners and a handful of friends. Hudson would never remarry, and he would soon end his business relationship with Willson. The marriage was tumultuous, and the couple divorced three years later. Gates would later claim that she’d had no idea that Hudson was gay before they married, but those close to Hudson were convinced that it had all been arranged by Willson. Just weeks after he finished filming, Hudson shocked many by marrying Phyllis Gates, Willson’s secretary.
The movie would earn him his only Academy Award nomination and saw the beginning of a lifelong friendship with co-star Elizabeth Taylor. In late 1955, Hudson had just wrapped work on his most important film yet, Giant. He offered up damaging evidence on other actors he had managed, including Troy Donahue and Rory Calhoun, in exchange for Confidential killing its story on Hudson. Well aware that Hudson was his most important client, Willson acted quickly.
Equally troublesome was a threat to “out” Hudson by Confidential, a tabloid magazine that titillated its readers with steamy stories of stars’ private lives.