In the glamorous world of 1949 Hollywood, a young and aspiring actor named Rock Hudson found himself in awe at a star-studded party. Just 23 years old at the time, Rock couldn't believe his eyes when he spotted one of his idols, the legendary Judy Garland. "Judy Garland is my favorite female singer," Rock whispered to his host, almost in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm here, getting to see and hear her in person." At just 26 years old, Garland was already a star, barefoot and commanding attention as she sang passionately next to a piano.
A Night That Changed Everything
Rock had arrived at the party alone, and fate had other plans for him that evening. Since Judy had enjoyed a few too many drinks, Rock was asked to be her designated driver home. As they formally introduced themselves, Judy looked up at him and said, "What a big, strong, handsome man with a kind, loving face." She playfully kissed his lips, standing on her toes to do so. "The type of man I always fail to attract," she added with a laugh. According to the book Rock Hudson: Erotic Fire by Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince, that night marked the beginning of an unbreakable bond between the struggling newcomer and the troubled superstar.
Two Souls Finding Each Other
As the night unfolded, the two kindred spirits talked for hours, feeling as if they had finally found a trusted friend. "We ripped open each other’s insides," Rock later recalled, describing the cathartic release of exposing their deepest, darkest secrets to one another. This openness and vulnerability became the foundation of their friendship, lasting until Judy's final days.
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Rock and Judy with Doris Day.
Opening Up About Their Struggles
Judy spoke to Rock with an honesty he had never experienced before. "She spoke to me with an openness and candor that I’d never known," Rock remembered. At the time, Judy was dealing with marital issues with her husband, director Vincente Minnelli, and the challenges of raising their young daughter, Liza. "She spoke of her failed marriage and her love for her daughter," Rock recalled. Judy even addressed Vincente's ambiguous sexuality, saying, "At times, my husband wore more lipstick than I did." She revealed that Vincente had long admired her co-star Gene Kelly, leading to marital troubles that fueled her depression and addictions. "When one of my dark spells comes, it follows with uncontrollable weeping," she admitted, confessing her reliance on pills to cope.
A Friendship That Evolved
Rock and Judy's relationship was physically intimate in the early years, but it eventually turned platonic. Rock became a steadfast support system for Judy during her most challenging breakdowns, often receiving phone calls from her at all hours of the night. "I fear every morning when the sun comes up, and I have to go out in the world and be Judy Garland," she once confided in him. Sometimes, Rock would stay with her all night to help her fall asleep. Through it all, Rock remained unwaveringly loyal, and Judy, in return, loved and accepted him unconditionally. He even attended her legendary 1961 Carnegie Hall comeback concert, proving that his faith in her talent never wavered.
Despite her struggles, Judy's resilience shone through. "Even as a kid, I was a born trouper come hell or high water," she told Rock. And she proved it on that historic night at Carnegie Hall, showing the world that her star was far from fading. Rock, always her biggest fan, never doubted her. "She was still Judy with that amazing talent," he said. "Privately, I knew she was a time bomb waiting to go off, but I was there for her every step of the way."
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