In the glorious era of the 1950s and '60s, Rock Hudson, a renowned actor, shone brightly as Hollywood's heartthrob – embodying the quintessential “American man” with his tall, dark, and handsome appearance.
With notable roles alongside leading ladies like Elizabeth Taylor in Giant, where he clinched an Oscar nomination, and Doris Day in beloved romantic comedies, Hudson was a constant presence on the silver screen.
However, as the mid-1980s rolled in, Hudson's once robust image dwindled.
Despite maintaining close ties with Hollywood legends like Day and the then-president Ronald Reagan, along with his wife Nancy Reagan, Hudson's health had deteriorated significantly.
Struggling with illness, he was so feeble that airline officials almost denied him boarding on a direct flight to France.
Following a collapse at the Ritz, Hudson received medical attention from the hotel's physician before being swiftly transported to the American Hospital in Paris.
Initially, reports cited liver cancer as the cause of his condition, while conflicting accounts suggested fatigue or anorexia.
Contrary to these speculations, Hudson was battling complications arising from AIDS, a fact known only to a select few.
Seeking treatment for AIDS, an ailment for which options were limited in the U.S. back in 1985, Hudson made a desperate journey to Paris, aiming to consult Dr. Dominique Dormant, a French army doctor who had been discreetly treating him for AIDS the previous autumn.
Despite efforts to facilitate Hudson's transfer to a military hospital for treatment, bureaucratic hurdles impeded immediate action.
Mark Miller, Hudson's devoted assistant, hastened to Paris upon learning of his condition, collaborating with French publicist Yanou Collart and American publicist Dale Olson to navigate the complex healthcare system.
The ensuing ten days proved pivotal, unveiling Hudson's s–ual orientation and shedding light on the circumstances surrounding his illness.
Hudson's battle with AIDS was thrust into the limelight, dominating headlines across the United States and sparking heightened awareness of the disease.
His demise on October 2, 1985, marked a turning point, as he became one of the first high-profile celebrities to succumb to AIDS amid public acknowledgment.
While extensive coverage of Hudson's plight emerged during that period, it wasn't until now that a crucial aspect of the narrative surfaced – a plea sent by Olson, Hudson's publicist, to the Reagan administration seeking assistance with the hospital transfer, a plea that went unanswered.
