---
name: "Rock Hudson"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/rock-hudson"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "17 November 1925"
died: "2 October 1985"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-20T03:09:53.877207+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Rock Hudson

Actor. Born 17 November 1925 in Winnetka, Illinois, USA. Died 2 October 1985.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 17 November 1925, Winnetka, Illinois, USA
- **Died:** 2 October 1985
- **Also known as:** Roc Hudson, Roy Fitzgerald, Roy Harold Scherer Jr., راک هادسن
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_Hudson, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q184378, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001369/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/18735

## Fi1m on Rock Hudson

> Rock Hudson's gift was to stand still and be talked at. Big, decent and slow to understand, he let cleverer people win the scene, and in *Giant* and the Sirk melodramas that patience is the whole point of him.

Early in *Giant* (1956), Elizabeth Taylor walks into a room where the men are talking politics, is told to go and rest with the women, and declines. Watch Hudson. He is a head taller than anyone else there and he does nothing with it. He listens, and loses, and pretends he has not. Most leading men of his size used the bulk to win arguments; Hudson used it to absorb them.

He came to it without training, with a name invented by an agent, and Universal put him through B-westerns and adventure pictures for the first half of the 1950s, long enough for critics to decide he was wooden and mostly playing himself. Douglas Sirk saw something more useful. *Magnificent Obsession* (1954) made him a star, and *All That Heaven Allows* (1955) and *Written on the Wind* (1956) fixed the image: the solid, gentle man in the middle of a plot nobody could quite believe, saying his lines as if he believed them, which turned out to be enough. Nine films with Sirk is the partnership that matters. Then *Giant* in the same year, and from 1959 the comedies with Doris Day, beginning with *Pillow Talk*.

*Giant* is the one to start with, and not only because it is the one of his we have reviewed. Bick Benedict is a decent, slow man who is wrong about most things and takes years to find out, and Hudson plays the years. His quarrels with Taylor are about small things, a chair at a table, a doctor for a sick baby, and we found ourselves more moved by them than by any of the film's speeches, because he plays each one as a man who already suspects he will lose and has decided to stand there anyway. The speeches he and Taylor cannot save. The marriage is theirs.

The comedies are lighter than the man in them, and reviewers at the time said so; *Seconds* (1966), which asked him to play a man remade into somebody else, is the film to see if you want him unsettled. Television took him for most of the 1970s, with *McMillan & Wife* running from 1971 to 1977. Late in his career he said that the most dangerous thing for an actor is to refuse to listen to anyone else, to feel you know more than anybody. It is the nearest thing to a method he ever admitted to, and it is there on screen in every scene where somebody smaller than him is talking.

## Biography

Rock Hudson was an American actor. He appeared in films including *Giant* (1956), in which he played Jordan 'Bick' Benedict, *All That Heaven Allows* (1955) and *Pillow Talk* (1959).

Hudson received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in *Giant*. He starred opposite Doris Day in the romantic comedies *Pillow Talk* (1959), *Lover Come Back* (1961) and *Send Me No Flowers* (1964). In the 1970s he starred in the television series *McMillan & Wife* (1971–1977).

In 1985 Hudson disclosed that he had AIDS. He died on 2 October 1985.

*Sources: britannica.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Giant* (1956), Fi1m 74, as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict — [page](https://film.one/film/giant-1956.md)

## Complete filmography (90)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mythos Côte d'Azur - Liebe, Luxus, Leidenschaft* (2021), Actor
- *These Dead Souls* (2018), as (archive footage)
- *Hollywood: No Sex, Please!* (2018), Actor
- *The Green Fog* (2018), Actor
- *When Fear Eats the Soul* (2007), as Ron Kirby (archive footage)
- *Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files* (1992), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Death In Hollywood* (1990), Actor
- *Hollywood Heaven: Tragic Lives, Tragic Deaths* (1990), as (archive footage)
- *Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies* (1988), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey* (1985), as (archive footage)
- *The Ambassador* (1985), as Frank Stevenson
- *The Vegas Strip War* (1984), as Neil Chaine
- *The Devlin Connection* (1982), series, as Brian Devlin
- *World War III* (1982), series, as President Thomas McKenna
- *The Patricia Neal Story* (1981), as Rock Hudson (uncredited)
- *The Star Maker* (1981), as Danny Youngblood
- *Dynasty* (1981), series, as Daniel Reece
- *The Mirror Crack'd* (1980), as Jason Rudd
- *The Martian Chronicles* (1980), series, as Col. John Wilder
- *Musical Comedy Tonight* (1979), Actor
- *Avalanche* (1978), as David Shelby
- *Wheels* (1978), series, as Adam Trenton
- *Embryo* (1976), as Dr. Paul Holliston
- *Showdown* (1973), as Chuck Jarvis
- *McMillan & Wife* (1971), series, as Stewart 'Mac' McMillan
- *Once Upon a Dead Man* (1971), as Stewart McMillan
- *Pretty Maids All in a Row* (1971), as Michael 'Tiger' McDrew
- *Hornets' Nest* (1970), as Turner
- *Darling Lili* (1970), as Major William Larrabee
- *The Undefeated* (1969), as Colonel James Langdon
- *A Fine Pair* (1968), as Capt. Mike Harmon
- *Ice Station Zebra* (1968), as Cdr. James Ferraday
- *Mondo Hollywood* (1967), Actor
- *Tobruk* (1967), as Major Donald Craig
- *Seconds* (1966), as Antiochus 'Tony' Wilson · Associate Producer
- *Blindfold* (1966), as Dr. Bartholomew Snow
- *A Very Special Favor* (1965), as Paul Chadwick
- *Uncertain Verification* (1965), as (archive footage)
- *Strange Bedfellows* (1965), as Carter Harrison
- *Send Me No Flowers* (1964), as George Kimball
- *Man's Favorite Sport?* (1964), as Roger Willoughby
- *A Gathering of Eagles* (1963), as Col. Jim Caldwell
- *Marilyn* (1963), as Narrator (voice)
- *The Spiral Road* (1962), as Dr. Anton Drager
- *Lover Come Back* (1961), as Jerry Webster
- *Come September* (1961), as Robert L. Talbot
- *The Last Sunset* (1961), as Dana Stribling
- *Pillow Talk* (1959), as Brad Allen
- *This Earth Is Mine* (1959), as John Rambeau
- *Twilight for the Gods* (1958), as Captain David Bell
- *A Farewell to Arms* (1957), as Lt. Frederick Henry
- *The Tarnished Angels* (1957), as Burke Devlin
- *Something of Value* (1957), as Peter McKenzie
- *Battle Hymn* (1957), as Col. Dean E. Hess
- *Giant* (1956), as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/giant-1956.md)
- *Written on the Wind* (1956), as Mitch Wayne
- *Never Say Goodbye* (1956), as Dr. Michael Parker
- *All That Heaven Allows* (1955), as Ron Kirby
- *One Desire* (1955), as Clint Saunders
- *Captain Lightfoot* (1955), as Michael Martin
- *Bengal Brigade* (1954), as Capt. Jeffrey Claybourne
- *Magnificent Obsession* (1954), as Bob Merrick
- *Taza, Son of Cochise* (1954), as Taza
- *Beneath the 12-Mile Reef* (1953), as Narrator (uncredited)
- *Back to God's Country* (1953), as Peter Keith
- *Gun Fury* (1953), as Ben Warren
- *The Golden Blade* (1953), as Harun Al-Rashid
- *Sea Devils* (1953), as Gilliatt
- *Seminole* (1953), as Lance Caldwell
- *The Lawless Breed* (1952), as John Wesley Hardin
- *Horizons West* (1952), as Neil Hammond
- *Has Anybody Seen My Gal?* (1952), as Dan Stebbins
- *Scarlet Angel* (1952), as Frank Truscott
- *Here Come the Nelsons* (1952), as Charlie Jones
- *Bend of the River* (1952), as Trey Wilson
- *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Rock Hudson
- *Iron Man* (1951), as Tommy 'Speed' O'Keefe
- *Bright Victory* (1951), as Dudek
- *The Fat Man* (1951), as Roy Clark
- *Air Cadet* (1951), as Upper Classman
- *Tomahawk* (1951), as Burt Hanna
- *The Jack Benny Program* (1950), series, as Rock Hudson
- *Shakedown* (1950), as Ted - Bay View Club Doorman (uncredited)
- *The Desert Hawk* (1950), as Captain Ras
- *Winchester '73* (1950), as Young Bull
- *Peggy* (1950), as Johnny "Scat" Mitchell
- *I Was a Shoplifter* (1950), as Si Swanson - Store Detective
- *One Way Street* (1950), as Truck Driver (uncredited)
- *Undertow* (1949), as Detective (as Roc Hudson)
- *Fighter Squadron* (1948), as Second Lieutenant (uncredited)

## Gallery

- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-130f992fdcc3.jpg) Rock Hudson — Universal Pictures/ Photographer not credited [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Rock_Hudson_in_1954.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman in a publicity still for All That Heaven Allows (1955), directed by Douglas Sirk and produced Universal-International. This photograp](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-09a5ab397c8b.jpg) Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman in a publicity still for All That Heaven Allows (1955), directed by Douglas Sirk and produced Universal-International. This photograp — Universal Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/All_That_Heaven_Allows_publicity_still.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Rock Hudson & Jane Wyman in All That Heaven Allows - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1955)](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-4482d6e1fe1c.jpg) Rock Hudson & Jane Wyman in All That Heaven Allows - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1955) — film trailer screenshot (Universal Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/All_That_Heaven_Allows_%281955%29_trailer_1.jpg/1280px-All_That_Heaven_Allows_%281955%29_trailer_1.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Mexican singer Amalia Mendoza dancing with American actor Rock Hudson in 1960.](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-eaf36bad9305.jpg) Mexican singer Amalia Mendoza dancing with American actor Rock Hudson in 1960. — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/Amalia_Mendoza_and_Rock_Hudson_in_1960.jpg/1280px-Amalia_Mendoza_and_Rock_Hudson_in_1960.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-2eb9e8028774.jpg) Rock Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-e30aa7c2fa8e.jpg) Rock Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-f7a2613814dd.jpg) Rock Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Eugene Iglesias (left) & Rock Hudson in Taza, Son of Cochise - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1954)](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-0d7ce3a375fd.jpg) Eugene Iglesias (left) & Rock Hudson in Taza, Son of Cochise - trailer (cropped screenshot) (1954) — Film trailer screenshot (Universal Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Eugene_Iglesias-Rock_Hudson_in_Taza%2C_Son_of_Cochise.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity photo of Rock Hudson kissing Julie Andrews for film Darling Lilli (1970). (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-c11be024ec08.jpg) Publicity photo of Rock Hudson kissing Julie Andrews for film Darling Lilli (1970). (1968) — UPI, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Rock_Hudson_-_Julie_Andrews.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-fcc62a6e28d9.jpg) Rock Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-3adea5d33389.jpg) Rock Hudson — Image via TMDB
- ![Rock Hudson](https://film.one/media/person/1238680/gallery-df90ec80f8fe.jpg) Rock Hudson — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1957: Best Actor (nominated), for *Giant*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/rock-hudson