Rock Hudson, one of Hollywood’s most iconic movie stars, led a tragic life that was fraught with pain, abuse, and turmoil.

Born Leroy Harold Scherer in Winnetka, Illinois in 1925, Rock’s father abandoned him and his mother when he was only four years old.

His mother remarried to a former Marine Corps officer who adopted Rock and subjected him to abusive and alcoholic behavior.

Despite his love for acting, he was never cast in any school plays due to his difficulty in remembering lines.

After serving in the US Navy during World War II, Rock moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor.

He caught the attention of legendary talent scout Henry Willson, who gave him the name Rock Hudson and helped launch his career.

Willson was known for managing the careers of male actors in Hollywood and was credited with creating the beefcake era of leading men.

However, he had a reputation for exploiting his clients sexually. According to Rock’s biographer Mark Griffin, “if you were a Henry Willson client, you probably had to sexually express yourself to Henry.”

Despite the success and fame that Rock achieved in Hollywood, he had to keep his personal life hidden from the public eye.

He was forced to hide his homosexuality and had multiple gay romances to further his career.

Willson even had to kill an article about Rock’s secret homosexuality in 1955.

Although Rock continued to be a leading man in romantic movies, his personal life remained a secret.

By the 1960s, Rock’s career began to decline, and he moved into television roles in the 1970s and 1980s.

However, his health deteriorated due to his heavy smoking and drinking, and he had a heart attack in 1981.

Although he continued to work in television, his ill health led to him being written out of the iconic soap opera Dynasty.

In 1985, Rock was diagnosed with AIDS, which was then a little-known disease.

He passed away on October 2, 1985, becoming one of the first high-profile celebrities to die from the disease.

His death sparked increased awareness and visibility for HIV and its treatment, especially in the United States.

Many celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor and Angie Dickinson, came out in support of Rock and his sexuality after his death.

Following his death, Rock’s former lover, Marc Christian, sued his estate for causing emotional distress by having sex with him while aware of his AIDS diagnosis.

In 1989, Christian won $21.75 million in damages, which were later reduced to $5.5 million.

The new Netflix mini-series Hollywood portrays the early days of Rock’s career and his relationship with Henry Willson.

Actor Jake Picking plays the role of Rock/Roy, while Jim Parsons takes on the role of the eccentric and villainous Willson.

Ultimately, Rock Hudson’s story is a tragic one, as he was unable to live his life as a gay man openly and was too afraid to be open about the illness that would claim his life.