Rock Hudson: The Man He Was

He starred in more than 70 motion pictures over four decades, lighting up the screen as the dashing lead in epic dramas (1955's Giant), action thrillers (1968's Ice Station Zebra), and zingy romantic comedies (any of his several films opposite Doris Day). But in later years, as his career shifted to television roles, Rock Hudson became quite famous for another reason, unrelated to his professional life: On July 25, 1985, the actor issued a statement that he was dying of AIDS. Not much was known about the disease at that time, and the mysteries surrounding how it was contracted stigmatized sufferers -- but Hudson's tragic diagnosis gave AIDS a recognizable, beloved human face, and led to calls for more research into a cure. Here, take a look back at the man and his life. Pictured: Hudson circa 1950, two years after his film debut -- one line in the war flick Fighter Squadron.