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Rock Hudson Was Taped Coming Out As Gay
Marilyn Monroe receives her Golden Globe award from Rock Hudson at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's 19th Annual Dinner. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
In a newly-released recording, actor Rock Hudson can reportedly be heard admitting to his then-wife, Phyllis, that he was gay. The tape was made by private eye Fred Otash, and was recently released exclusively to The Hollywood Reporter. Here's what was said:
Rock: I told Dr. Rankin everything. I didn't hedge on anything at all. Phyllis: You mean about homo-sexuality?
Rock: Yes, I told him everything...
...Phyllis: Rock, your great speed with me, sexually. Are you that fast with boys?
Rock: Well, it's a physical conjunction [sic]...Boys don't fit. So, this is why it lasts longer.
Hudson was never able to be completely open about his sexuality during his lifetime, although those who were close to him were aware of it. Author Sarah Davidson, who wrote a biography about Hudson, told Roger Ebert that:
He was basically a very romantic man. He was like a woman; he'd run and tell his friends when he'd found someone new that he was in love with. He always believed there was one single right person for him, Mr. Right, and he was always looking for that person, and always finding him.
Hudson died of AIDS in 1985.
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