ADIEU

Grab A Tissue — Doris Day Remembers Her Final Goodbye To Rock Hudson

426072_originalSince one tear-jerking remembrance of Rock Hudson wasn’t enough for the month, fellow Hollywood legend Doris Day has recently shared new details of their relationship.

On meeting him on the set of their 1959 film Pillow Talk, Doris tells People:

“I remember asking someone ‘Is his name really Rock? That’s odd, don’t you think?’ I knew nothing about him!”

“He was so funny,” she says. “He always had a nickname for me but he liked Eunice best. He’d come into the makeup area and and holler ‘Eunice, are you here? I’ll be over in a minute with a donut.’ ”

When hard times fell on Hudson as his health rapidly declined from AIDS, he still made good on a promise to appear on Day’s variety show. So in 1985, a gaunt Hudson reunited with his former costar.

“I hardly knew him,” recalls Day. “He was very sick. But I just brushed that off and I came out and put my arms around him and said ‘Am I glad to see you.'”

“He’d get very tired. I’d bring him his lunch and fix him a big platter but he couldn’t eat. I’d say ‘What if I get a fork and feed you’ but he said ‘Doris I can’t eat.'”

Their final goodbye was difficult for Doris. “They had a small plane to get him to the airport. We kissed goodbye and he gave me a big hug and he held onto me. I was in tears. That was the last time I saw him – but he’s in heaven now.”

Looking back, Doris has an idea why the two shared in such success together. “I think the reason people liked our movies is because they could tell how much we liked each other. It came across that way on screen. He was a good friend.”

Related posts:

Rock Hudson’s ‘True Love’ Reveals Intimate Details Of Their Secret Romance

Nancy Reagan Abandoned Her Friend Rock Hudson As He Was Dying Of AIDS

WATCH: Rock Hudson & Bea Arthur Trip Balls In “Turnin’ On”

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated