Hollywood Icon Rock Hudson Led Secret Gay Life, Documentary Reveals

A new HBO documentary explores Rock Hudson's rise to fame and challenges as a closeted gay man in 1950s Hollywood.
Hudson maintained a heterosexual public image while living openly as a gay man in private, though persistent rumors dogged his career.
The film examines how Hudson's screen roles often hinted at his concealed identity and relationships.
Friends and former lovers discuss Hudson's charisma, relationships, and mentorship of other closeted actors in interviews.
The documentary focuses on Hudson's decline and death from AIDS-related complications, highlighting the slow response to the crisis.