Page 29 - AT

A29
PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 19 december 2018
Book reflects on Rock Hudson's stardom, closeted love life

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL at the Winnetka movie the- zine image of the happy
Associated Press ater was a must for the boy if lonely bachelor trying to
"All That Heaven Allows: A with an overprotective and find the right woman when
Biography of Rock Hudson" domineering mother, a fa- he was actually trying to
(Harper), by Mark Griffin ther who walked out on the find the right man. Promis-
Had Rock Hudson not died family, and a stepfather cuity as well as meaningful
of AIDS in 1985, he might who beat him. Childhood relationships marked his pri-
be best remembered as friends remembered Roy vate life. Had Hudson been
the most successful of the for many of the same quali- a straight star, he may
postwar male stars who ties that made him a favor- have been married several
got into the movies solely ite with fellow actors and times and envied as a la-
on their looks. He remained film crews: diligence, gen- dies' man. Griffin suggests
on the screen for decades erosity, easygoing charm that Hudson's better per-
because of a likability that and fun-loving spirit. formances — the paranoia
can't be learned or manu- Living a closeted life and classic "Seconds" (1966) be-
factured. trying to make it as an ac- ing one example — came
Instead, Hudson became tor only added to his inse- with roles in which he could
the first celebrity to ac- curities. With his new name, identify with a character's
knowledge that he suf- Hudson appeared in more internal turmoil. Wisely, the
fered from the mysterious than two dozen films under writer explores Hudson's
disease that seemed to tar- contract to Universal be- films and TV shows without
get gay men. The poten- tween 1948 and 1954. Ea- trying to make them more
tially career-ending sexual ger to learn, he blossomed than what they were —
secret he had protected under the direction of generally average enter-
was all but confirmed in the Douglas Sirk, whose roman- tainments punctuated by
last months of his life. tic tearjerkers "Magnificent occasional hits and many,
Mark Griffin's perceptive Obsession" (1954) and "All many misses. (TV's "McMil-
and sympathetic biogra- That Heaven Allows" (1955) lan & Wife" resuscitated
phy "All That Heaven Al- turned Hudson into a heart- his flagging career in the
lows" gives Hudson, both throb at 30. 1970s.) Like most other ag-
the movie star and the With the hugely successful ing stars, Hudson struggled
man, the kind of reassess- epic "Giant" (1956), Hud- to find good roles as the
ment only time can allow. son was an Oscar-nomi- wrinkles appeared. Alcohol
He improved as an actor nated actor and soon Hol- and cigarettes took a toll
yet never lost the fear that lywood's most popular star. This cover image released by Harper shows "All That Heaven Al- on his health long before
moviegoers would discover Routine dramas followed lows: A Biography of Rock Hudson," by Mark Griffin. the AIDS diagnosis.
that their ideal leading man until 1959's "Pillow Talk" with Associated Press Given his generation's in-
was only playing a role. Doris Day revealed Hud- tense homophobia and
While he needed time and son's knack for light com- Universal followed through and loved on the down- the 1950s communist witch
experience to hone his edy. He remained an au- on its original plan to cast low. A sham marriage hunt that ruined so many
craft, pretending for the dience favorite for several Hudson as lawyer Atticus around the time of "Giant" careers, it's understand-
cameras came easy to more years despite undis- Finch in "To Kill a Mocking- quelled the gossip for a able that Hudson didn't
handsome, Illinois-born Roy tinguished movies. Imagine bird." time. Publicly, he played want to risk everything as a
Fitzgerald. Escaping reality what might have been had All the while Hudson lived along with the fan maga- gay-rights pioneer. q

Actress and director Penny Marshall dies at age 75

By JAKE COYLE "Laverne & Shirley" before That, too, crossed $100 mil-
Associated Press making her feature film di- lion, making $107.5 million
NEW YORK (AP) — Penny rectorial debut in "Jumpin' domestically.
Marshall, who starred in Jack Flash," the 1986 com- A Bronx native, Marshall
"Laverne & Shirley" before edy starring Whoopi Gold- became a dedicated Los
becoming one of the top- berg. Angeles Lakers fan, and
grossing female directors in Her next film made Marshall a courtside regular. Her
Hollywood, has died. She the first woman to direct brother Garry Marshall,
was 75. a film that grossed more who died in 2016, was also
Marshall's publicist, Michelle than $100 million. Her 1988 one of Hollywood's top
Bega, said Marshall died in hit comedy "Big," starring comedy directors. Penny
her Los Angeles home on Tom Hanks, was about a Marshall was married to Mi-
Monday due to complica- 12-year-old boy who wakes chael Henry for two years in
tions from diabetes. "Our up in the body of a 30-year- the 1960s and to the direc-
family is heartbroken," the old New York City man. The tor Rob Reiner from 1971-
Marshall family said in a film earned Hanks an Oscar 1981. Their daughter Tracy
statement. In this Feb. 15, 2015 file photo, actress and director Penny Mar- nomination. Reiner is an actress; one of
Marshall starred as Laverne shall attends the SNL 40th Anniversary Special in New York. Marshall reteamed with her first roles was a brief ap-
DeFazio, the Milwaukee Associated Press Hanks for "A League of Their pearance in her mother's
brewery worker, alongside Own," the 1992 comedy "Jumpin' Jack Flash."
Cindy Williams in the hit aired from 1976 to 1983, It also gave Marshall her about the women's pro- Marshall is also survived by
ABC comedy "Laverne & was among the biggest hits start as a filmmaker. She di- fessional baseball league her older sister, Ronny, and
Shirley." The series, which of its era. rected several episodes of begun during World War II. three grandchildren.q