Less than a month after announcing he had AIDS, Hudson wrote a check for $250,000 to help get the then-fledgling National AIDS Research Foundation (NARF) off the ground.

Went to New Trier Township High School East in Winnetka, IL, as did Ralph Bellamy, Charlton Heston, Hugh O'Brien, Ann-Margret, Bruce Dern, Penelope Milford, Virginia Madsenand Liz Phair.

Pat Boone was allowed inside Hudson's Hollywood mansion to pray for his soul as the actor lay dying. Ironically, according to his close friends, Hudson was a lifelong atheist.

He stayed at the White House in May 1984 as a guest of then President Ronald Reagan. First Lady Nancy Davis wrote to Hudson saying how glad she and her husband were to see him looking well following his operation.

Even though some sources claimed he was 6' 6" tall, he was actually 6' 5", which can be seen in such films as Send Me No Flowers (1964), in which Clint Walker, at 6' 6" looks taller than Hudson, and in The Undefeated (1969), in which he looks about an inch taller than John Wayne, who was 6' 4" tall. It should be noted however that by 1969 Wayne was no longer at his peak height following the removal of his entire left lung and two ribs five years earlier, and therefore wore lifts inside his boots.

Early in his career he had surgery on his vocal chords to make his voice deeper, and had his teeth capped. The surgery had the unfortunate side effect of making it impossible for Hudson to learn to sing. Therefore when he played King Arthur in "Camelot" he had to talk his way through the songs, just as Rex Harrison did in My Fair Lady (1964).

After announcing he had AIDS in July 1985, Hudson received telegrams of support from Frank Sinatra, Gregory Peck, Marlene Dietrich, James Garner, Carol Burnett, Ali MacGraw, Jack Lemmon, Richard Dreyfuss, Ava Gardner, Mickey Rooney, Milton Berle and Madonna. President Ronald Reagan, who had recently undergone surgery for colon cancer, personally telephoned him at the hospital.

He actively sought the leading role in Ice Station Zebra (1968), and after Laurence Harvey backed out of the project, Hudson was cast.

In order to make A Farewell to Arms (1957), he turned down Marlon Brando's role in Sayonara (1957), William Holden's role in The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), and Charlton Heston's role in Ben-Hur (1959). The three films he had turned down went on to become hugely successful and were critically acclaimed, while A Farewell to Arms (1957) proved to be one of the biggest flops in history.

Made "Top 10 stars of the year" a record eight times from 1957 to 1964.

Hudson was diagnosed with AIDS on 5 June 1984 but when the signs of illness became apparent, his publicity staff and doctors told the public that he had liver cancer.

The media first began to suspect he had serious health problems when he came to Carmel, California, in July 1985 to help his Pillow Talk (1959) co-star Doris Day launch her cable series, "Doris Day's Best Friends" (1985). His gaunt appearance and obvious disorientation suddenly became the focus of what was meant to be a joyous reunion of one of Hollywood's favorite on-screen couples. He died just three months later.

Died the same day as George Savalas. He and Savalas' older brother, Telly Savalas appeared in Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971).

Following his diagnosis of AIDS in 1984, Hudson told his doctor that he hoped he would die from a heart attack (he had undergone an emergency quintuple heart bypass in 1981) before the public could find out the truth.

He was very disappointed by the box office failure of Seconds (1966), which he considered to be his best performance and had hoped would show the public that he could be a versatile film actor.

Ashes scattered at sea.

In 1979 he was involved in a DUI incident when he crashed his car into a palm tree in Los Angeles late one night.

According to the book, "The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson," the original plan was to call him "Roc" but someone pointed out the possibility of confusion with the 1940s actress, Rochelle Hudson, so a "k" was added and "Roc" became "Rock."

His real name was Roy Scherer, but talent scout Henry Wilson invented a new name for his protégé by combining the Rock of Gibraltar and the Hudson River.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#28). [1995]

When Hudson initially became ill with AIDS his boyfriend Marc Christian thought he had lung cancer, because he was a heavy smoker.

Although Hudson never publicly came out as gay during his lifetime, he did authorize a biography by Sara Davidson, "Rock Hudson: His Story" (1986), which discussed his private life in great detail.

Was seriously considered for the male lead in Alfred Hitchcock's Marnie (1964), and actually met with Hitchcock, but was turned down in favor of Sean Connery.

His longtime boyfriend Marc Christian sued his estate and won because he continued to have sex with him without telling him he had the AIDS virus

He was very near-sighted and wore glasses all the time off screen. He would rarely allow himself to be photographed wearing glasses though.

Hudson and his partner Marc Christian went out of their way while traveling near downtown Los Angeles, so that the couple could meet Michael Jackson during the filming of his award-winning music video, Thriller (1983) (V).

His favorite of his films was the Cold War drama Ice Station Zebra (1968).

The Prudential Life Insurance Co. stopped using its slogan "Own A Piece Of The Rock" after Hudson died of AIDS and many jokes were made about him and the slogan.

Grew a mustache and sideburns for his role in The Undefeated (1969). Afterwards he decided to retain that look throughout the 1970s.

By the time he had taken the role of a suave and stately horse breeder on "Dynasty" (1981), the AIDS virus was consuming him. Before long, he suffered memory loss and was forced to use cue cards. He also had difficulty speaking.

Went to same school as Ann-Margret and Charlton Heston in Winnetka, Illinois

At the time of his death, his estate was valued at $22 million.

Although he tried out for roles in school plays, Hudson failed to win any because he could not remember lines.

Underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery to relieve severely clogged coronary arteries in November 1981 after suffering chest pains, and began smoking again at the hospital immediately after the operation. Consequently he was very frail during the filming of The Ambassador (1984), and did not get along with his co- star Robert Mitchum.

In 1977 he toured 13 cities as King Arthur in the musical "Camelot".

A conservative Republican, Hudson joined Ronald Reagan, John Wayne, Irene Dunne and Raymond Massey in campaigning for Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election.

Became very close to Roman Gabriel while filming The Undefeated (1969).

Worked as a truck driver when he first moved to Los Angeles, but he spent his spare time idling outside of studio gates and sending photographs of himself to various producers.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981- 1985, pages 405-407. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.

Before taking his first film role, he got his teeth capped and was coached intensively in acting, singing, dancing, fencing and riding. Still, it took no less than 38 takes before he could successfully complete one line in his first picture, Fighter Squadron (1948).

He stood six foot by the time he was fourteen.

In the last eighteen months of his life, his weight dropped from 215 lbs to 140 lbs.

Was very close friends with singer Dusty Springfield.

Enamored of movies as a teenager, he worked as an usher.

Production on the television series "The Devlin Connection" (1982) was suspended for a year while he was recovering from quintuple heart bypass surgery.

He had always been critical of plastic surgery, although in 1981 he had surgery on his eyelids after a cameraman convinced him it would make him look better on screen.

Is portrayed by Thomas Ian Griffith in Rock Hudson (1990) (TV)

An accomplished bridge player.

Following a right-shoulder injury in 1973, often used his left hand to write and pick up objects on "McMillan & Wife".

Had a priceless record collection, which was taken by Marc Christian after his death.

His favorite performances were in Giant (1956) and Seconds (1966).

He was the original choice to play Jason Colby in the "Dynasty" (1981) spin off "The Colbys" (1985), but had to turn it down due to his declining health. The part went to Charlton Heston instead.