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From its glorious era with Gable and Lombard to the present day with Cruise and Kidman, Hollywood has always been a town notorious for its glamour and mystique. Even in the most public lives, people strive to hide their deepest secrets. Amidst this air of secrecy, Rock Hudson emerged as the quintessential matinee idol. His masculine name, growling voice, hulking frame, and perfect Hollywood smile endeared him to audiences around the world. Then, in 1985, Hudson shocked his fans when, in an effort to find a cure, he publicly announced he had AIDS. Hudson was born Roy Scherer Jr. and lived an ordinary life before his Hollywood breakout. He worked odd jobs as a moving man, postman, telephone company worker and truck driver. Hudson's transformation into a movie star ironically paralleled his film Seconds (1966). The film takes an aging man and, through the miracles of modern medicine, transforms him into a gorgeous Rock Hudson. Somewhat similarly, Hudson's own makeover included a new name, capped teeth, and an artificially lowered voice.
The Hollywood underground long hinted at the irony revealed nearly 30 years later--that Hudson was gay. He himself hinted at it and even alluded to it in several of his films with Doris Day. However, despite these early jokes and rumors contrary to his Hollywood persona, Hudson remained a huge box office draw among more than just teenage girls, garnering five Golden Globes as Favorite Male Actor. Evading the hunk-of-the-month aura that had once confined him to "B" pictures, Hudson landed the lead role opposite Jane Wyman in Magnificent Obsession (1954). Hudson proved his ability and range as an actor by tackling nearly every genre, from Westerns and action-adventure films such as Winchester '73 (1950) and Ice Station Zebra (1968) to melodramas and socially motivated films such as Written on the Wind (1956) and Something of Value (1957). Hudson's venture into "A" films with Magnificent Obsession not only opened the door for better roles but also catapulted him into worldwide fame. His role in Giant (1956), opposite Elizabeth Taylor and James Dean, earned him much acclaim in Hollywood and an Oscar nomination. Hudson's fame only increased in films such as A Farewell to Arms (1957). His films with Doris Day became one of the quintessential screen rivalry romances in several bedroom farces, especially Pillow Talk (1959) and Lover Come Back (1961). His success in films carried over later to include over a decade's worth of success in television with hit series McMillan and Wife (1971-77) and Dynasty (1984-85). At his peak, Hudson was one of Hollywood's prized possessions for his box office appeal. Now, he is remembered for his role in bringing AIDS into the popular consciousness. Hollywood and the public are quick to recognize and remember Rock Hudson as a courageous man valiantly fighting the deadly disease; sadly, his film repertoire ranks second in the minds of some. As a salute to the man and his work, TCM presents four films representative of his range and depth as an actor. 
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