Rock Hudson

Biography

Rock Hudson was an American actor whose screen career lasted more than thirty years. Born in Winnetka, Illinois, he moved to Los Angeles and was signed by Universal-International, which trained him in singing, dancing and fencing. He reached stardom with Magnificent Obsession (1954), All That Heaven Allows (1955) and Giant (1956), earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for Giant. He found further success in romantic comedies with Doris Day: Pillow Talk (1959) and Lover Come Back (1961); they also made Send Me No Flowers (1964). Late in the 1960s he appeared in Ice Station Zebra (1968), Tobruk (1967) and Seconds (1966). He formed production companies, first 7 Pictures Corporation and later Gibraltar Productions, to gain control over his roles. On television he starred in McMillan & Wife from 1971 to 1977, and his last role was on Dynasty. He also acted on stage in I Do! I Do! in 1974.

59years old at death

Born November 17, 1925Winnetka
Died October 2, 1985Marina del Rey
Star sign: ScorpioThe sign runs October 23 to November 21
Roy Harold Scherer Jr. (birth name)

Movie Career

Films: 50
Career span: 75 years1948 to 2023

Genres

Drama46%, 23 films
Romance28%, 14 films
Western20%, 10 films
Adventure16%, 8 films
Comedy16%, 8 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Hudson's acting debut came in 1948 with a small role in the Warner Bros. film Fighter Squadron, directed by Raoul Walsh. A 21st-century source says he needed 38 takes to deliver his only line.
A role that slipped away
Hudson turned down roles in Sayonara, The Bridge on the River Kwai, and Ben-Hur to make A Farewell to Arms.
About the name
After sending a picture to talent scout Henry Willson in 1947, the young actor became Willson's client and got a new name, Rock Hudson. Willson coined it by joining the Rock of Gibraltar with the Hudson River.
Early training
Universal-International gave Hudson a long-term contract. The studio had him coached in fencing, horseback riding, dancing, singing and acting, and he started to be featured in film magazines.
A first
In 1971, for the opening year of Disney's Candlelight Processional at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Hudson became its first narrator.

Rock Hudson movies on Netflix

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed2023IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
The Green Fog2018IMDb rating 6.9
The Ambassador1985IMDb rating 5.4as Frank Stevenson
The Mirror Crack'd1980IMDb rating 6.2as Jason Rudd
Embryo1976IMDb rating 5.2as Dr. Paul Holliston
Showdown1973IMDb rating 5.9as Chuck Jarvis
Pretty Maids All in a Row1971IMDb rating 6.1as Michael 'Tiger' McDrew
Darling Lili1970IMDb rating 6.1as Major William Larrabee
Hornets' Nest1970IMDb rating 5.8as Turner
The Undefeated1969IMDb rating 6.6as Col. James Langdon
Ice Station Zebra1968IMDb rating 6.6as Cdr. James Ferraday
Tobruk1967IMDb rating 6.4as Maj. Donald Craig
Seconds1966IMDb rating 7.6as Antiochus Wilson
Man's Favorite Sport?1964IMDb rating 7.0as Roger Willoughby
Send Me No Flowers1964IMDb rating 7.0as George
A Gathering of Eagles1963IMDb rating 6.1as Col. Jim Caldwell
Marilyn1963IMDb rating 7.6as Narrator
Come September1961IMDb rating 6.9as Robert L. Talbot
Lover Come Back1961IMDb rating 7.1as Jerry Webster
The Last Sunset1961IMDb rating 6.7as Dana Stribling
Pillow Talk1959IMDb rating 7.4as Brad Allen
A Farewell to Arms1957IMDb rating 5.8as Lt. Frederick Henry
Battle Hymn1957IMDb rating 6.3as Col. Dean E. Hess
Something of Value1957IMDb rating 6.5as Peter McKenzie
The James Dean Story1957IMDb rating 6.2as Himself
The Tarnished Angels1957IMDb rating 7.1as Burke Devlin
Giant1956IMDb rating 7.6as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.
Never Say Goodbye1956IMDb rating 6.1as Dr. Michael Parker
Written on the Wind1956IMDb rating 7.3as Mitch Wayne
All That Heaven Allows1955IMDb rating 7.6as Ron Kirby
Captain Lightfoot1955IMDb rating 6.1as Michael Martin
Magnificent Obsession1954IMDb rating 7.0as Bob Merrick
Taza, Son of Cochise1954IMDb rating 5.6as Taza
Beneath the 12-Mile Reef1953IMDb rating 5.6as Narrator
Gun Fury1953IMDb rating 6.1as Ben Warren
Sea Devils1953IMDb rating 5.6as Gilliatt
Seminole1953IMDb rating 6.2as Lance Caldwell
The Golden Blade1953IMDb rating 5.6as Harun Al-Rashid
Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2as Trey Wilson
Has Anybody Seen My Gal1952IMDb rating 7.1as Dan Stebbins
Horizons West1952IMDb rating 6.4as Neil Hammond
The Lawless Breed1952IMDb rating 6.3as John Wesley Hardin
Iron Man1951IMDb rating 6.2as Tommy 'Speed' O'Keefe
The Fat Man1951IMDb rating 6.2as Roy Clark
Tomahawk1951IMDb rating 6.4as Burt Hanna
One Way Street1950IMDb rating 6.5as Truck Driver
Shakedown1950IMDb rating 7.1as Ted - Bay View Club Doorman
Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6as Young Bull
Undertow1949IMDb rating 6.6as Detective
Fighter Squadron1948IMDb rating 6.2as Second Lieutenant

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Giant1956 Dramaas Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.
IMDb rating 7.644K votes
Seconds1966 Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Antiochus Wilson
IMDb rating 7.624K votes
Pillow Talk1959as Brad Allen
IMDb rating 7.421K votes
Written on the Wind1956as Mitch Wayne
IMDb rating 7.315K votes
All That Heaven Allows1955as Ron Kirby
IMDb rating 7.619K votes
Ice Station Zebra1968as Cdr. James Ferraday
IMDb rating 6.613K votes
Lover Come Back1961as Jerry Webster
IMDb rating 7.19.8K votes
Send Me No Flowers1964as George
IMDb rating 7.08.2K votes

Most often with

Douglas Sirk directed nine of these films, Raoul Walsh four and Anthony Mann two. Forrest Lewis appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Forrest Lewis

Doris Day

James Dean

Elizabeth Taylor

John McIntire

William Schallert

Douglas SirkDirector, 9 films

Raoul WalshDirector, 4 films Anthony MannDirector, 2 films

Films together

Forrest Lewis5 films together, 1952 to 1964
Forrest Lewis's page
- Man's Favorite Sport?1964IMDb rating 7.0Hudson as Roger WilloughbyLewis as Harvey Skaggs
- All That Heaven Allows1955IMDb rating 7.6Hudson as Ron KirbyLewis as Mr. Weeks
- Gun Fury1953IMDb rating 6.1Hudson as Ben WarrenLewis as Weatherby
- Has Anybody Seen My Gal1952IMDb rating 7.1Hudson as Dan StebbinsLewis as Martin Quinn
- The Lawless Breed1952IMDb rating 6.3Hudson as John Wesley HardinLewis as Zeke Jenkins
Doris Day4 films together, 1959 to 2023
Doris Day's page
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed2023IMDb rating 7.3Hudson as HimselfDay as Himself
- Send Me No Flowers1964IMDb rating 7.0Hudson as GeorgeDay as Judy
- Lover Come Back1961IMDb rating 7.1Hudson as Jerry WebsterDay as Carol Templeton
- Pillow Talk1959IMDb rating 7.4Hudson as Brad AllenDay as Jan Morrow
James Dean4 films together, 1952 to 2023
James Dean's page
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed2023IMDb rating 7.3Hudson as HimselfDean as Himself
- The James Dean Story1957IMDb rating 6.2Hudson as HimselfDean as Himself
- Giant1956IMDb rating 7.6Hudson as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.Dean as Jett Rink
- Has Anybody Seen My Gal1952IMDb rating 7.1Hudson as Dan StebbinsDean as Youth at Soda Fountain
Elizabeth Taylor3 films together, 1956 to 2023
Elizabeth Taylor's page
- Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed2023IMDb rating 7.3Hudson as HimselfTaylor as Himself
- The Mirror Crack'd1980IMDb rating 6.2Hudson as Jason RuddTaylor as Marina Rudd
- Giant1956IMDb rating 7.6Hudson as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict Jr.Taylor as Leslie Benedict
John McIntire3 films together, 1950 to 1952
John McIntire's page
- Horizons West1952IMDb rating 6.4Hudson as Neil HammondMcIntire as Ira Hammond
- The Lawless Breed1952IMDb rating 6.3Hudson as John Wesley HardinMcIntire as J.G. Hardin / John Clements
- Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6Hudson as Young BullMcIntire as Joe Lamont
William Schallert3 films together, 1956 to 1959
William Schallert's page
- Pillow Talk1959IMDb rating 7.4Hudson as Brad AllenSchallert as Hotel Clerk
- The Tarnished Angels1957IMDb rating 7.1Hudson as Burke DevlinSchallert as Ted Baker
- Written on the Wind1956IMDb rating 7.3Hudson as Mitch WayneSchallert as Reporter
Douglas SirkDirector, 9 films, 1952 to 1957
All films by Douglas Sirk
- Battle Hymn1957IMDb rating 6.3Hudson as Col. Dean E. Hess
- The Tarnished Angels1957IMDb rating 7.1Hudson as Burke Devlin
- Never Say Goodbye1956IMDb rating 6.1Hudson as Dr. Michael Parker
- Written on the Wind1956IMDb rating 7.3Hudson as Mitch Wayne
- All That Heaven Allows1955IMDb rating 7.6Hudson as Ron Kirby
- Captain Lightfoot1955IMDb rating 6.1Hudson as Michael Martin
- Magnificent Obsession1954IMDb rating 7.0Hudson as Bob Merrick
- Taza, Son of Cochise1954IMDb rating 5.6Hudson as Taza
- Has Anybody Seen My Gal1952IMDb rating 7.1Hudson as Dan Stebbins
Raoul WalshDirector, 4 films, 1948 to 1953
All films by Raoul Walsh
- Gun Fury1953IMDb rating 6.1Hudson as Ben Warren
- Sea Devils1953IMDb rating 5.6Hudson as Gilliatt
- The Lawless Breed1952IMDb rating 6.3Hudson as John Wesley Hardin
- Fighter Squadron1948IMDb rating 6.2Hudson as Second Lieutenant
Anthony MannDirector, 2 films, 1950 to 1952
All films by Anthony Mann
- Bend of the River1952IMDb rating 7.2Hudson as Trey Wilson
- Winchester '731950IMDb rating 7.6Hudson as Young Bull
Also three films together8 more actors
- Dan DuryeaBattle Hymn (1957), One Way Street (1950) and Winchester '73 (1950)
- James BestSeminole (1953), One Way Street (1950) and Winchester '73 (1950)
- Piper LaurieRock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023), The Golden Blade (1953) and Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952)
- Dorothy MaloneThe Last Sunset (1961), The Tarnished Angels (1957) and Written on the Wind (1956)
- Robert StackThe Tarnished Angels (1957), Written on the Wind (1956) and Fighter Squadron (1948)
- Barbara RushCaptain Lightfoot (1955), Magnificent Obsession (1954) and Taza, Son of Cochise (1954)
- Julie AdamsBend of the River (1952), Horizons West (1952) and The Lawless Breed (1952)
- Tony RandallSend Me No Flowers (1964), Lover Come Back (1961) and Pillow Talk (1959)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.