Marilyn is mentioned briefly in a cover story on Rock Hudson for the latest issue of UK nostalgia mag Yours Retro (#69, dated December 2023.) There’s also a photo of Hudson with Marilyn at the Golden Globes in 1962, when he presented her with the ‘World Film Favourite’ award.
In a six-page article, ‘Hollywood’s Mr. Nice Guy,’ Allan Hunter writes that Hudson was a ‘fun-loving, loyal and gallant friend’ to Elizabeth Taylor, Doris Day and many others. But was Marilyn part of Rock’s inner circle? Hunter says yes…
“A gentle giant, Hudson was always available for a comforting word or a reassuring chat. His secretary Lois Rupert recalled, ‘If it wasn’t Marilyn Monroe crying on his shoulder, then it was Judy Garland. It was almost like they took turns. Marilyn would call one night and Judy the next. He was always very patient, very understanding with both of them, even though he wasn’t getting much sleep. I think he liked playing the big brother who comes to the rescue.'”
This quote comes from Mark Griffin’s 2018 biography of Hudson, All That Heaven Allows. However, as researcher April VeVea informs me, Rock wasn’t listed in Marilyn’s address books. Although she regularly called friends at all hours for long conversations, he wasn’t one of them.
In some ways, Hudson was Marilyn’s male equivalent as a misunderstood sex symbol of 1950s Hollywood. They were photographed together at the star-studded premiere of How to Marry a Millionaire in 1953, alongside Terry Moore and Robert Mitchum.
Although Marilyn and Rock never worked together, they came close several times…
- Hudson was the initial favourite at Twentieth Century-Fox for Marilyn’s leading man in Bus Stop (1956.) However, he was under contract at Universal and the part ultimately went to newcomer Don Murray.
- In 1958, Marilyn was among the names mooted for Rock’s leading lady in Pillow Talk before Doris Day took the part, forging one of romantic comedy’s greatest partnerships.
- And in 1960, Hudson was one of several Hollywood actors approached to replace Gregory Peck in Let’s Make Love, before Fox cast Yves Montand at Marilyn’s suggestion. (He may also have been considered for Something’s Got to Give.)
They hugged for the cameras at the Golden Globes in 1962, when Hudson appeared to be propping up a slightly worse-for-wear Marilyn. Five months later, he heard the news of her death. As Lois Rupert recalled, “Rock met me at his front door with the news … ‘Monroe is dead’ is all he said.”
In 1963, Fox released a ‘hastily assembled’ documentary, Marilyn, narrated by Hudson after Frank Sinatra backed out. Always a class act, Rock is said to have donated his salary to help establish the Marilyn Monroe Memorial Fund at the Actors Studio.
The Marilyn Report 