Armistead Maupin may be known for creating the tangled lives of his characters in Tales of the City, but it turns out the author has led quite an interesting one himself.
That’s not all that surprising, of course, but what is somewhat surprising is the fact that he’s now opened up about some of the details of his sexual adventures, and misadventures. And one name is definitely standing out.
In a new memoir called Logical Family, the author reveals he had a “friend with benefits” relationship with actor Rock Hudson, as well as a love triangle that involved Sir Ian McKellen.
Maupin is quite candid about his affair with Hudson, including the pair’s first sexual encounter together, which was less than successful.
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“I wrote that scene because sex isn’t very interesting if it goes off well – it’s just porn,” he told Chicago’s Windy City Times.
“There is something much more human about clumsy sex, and it was clumsy alright,” he added. “And it also illuminated something about the nature of his life – that people had a hard time connecting with [Hudson] on a personal level because he was competing with his own image on the screen.”
As for McKellen, there was a time that Maupin and McKellen both had eyes for the same guy — Broadway and TV actor Curt Dawson, who passed away in 1985 from AIDS.
“[Dawson] was completely with you when he was with you and that was extremely charming,” Maupin said. “And he was engaged in life. A lot of actors have that quality.
“He was very excited about the world. I remember watching him studying a tide pool up in Mendocino with utter fascination and being touched by the moment.”
The title of Maupin’s memoir, Logical Family, first appeared in the seventh installment of Tales of the City — 2007’s Michael Toliver Lives.
“It comes from Mrs. Madrigal, the land lady at Barbary Lane who has formed her own family of tenants and friends and strays, and it’s her way of saying that yes, you have a biological family, but then you have a logical family, the one that actually makes sense for you,” Maupin said.
“The one that accepts you as you are and loves you for who you are and doesn’t put requirements on you.”
MacAdvisor
One must point out, Mr. Dawson’s cause of death is listed as cancer, not AIDS.
Brian
He died in 1985. We barely even knew what AIDS was then, I doubt it was listed on anybody’s death certificate.
Plus, nobody technically dies of AIDS. They die of whatever their immune system is unable to fight off as a result of AIDS.
OGRogue
See, I’m wondering-what was your point, contrariness? ? Ignorance? disbelief?
In fact, I watched my brothers die of ignorance and homophobia?
They were ignorant, because the ignorance and homophobia of the Reaganites left everyone in the dark, and in danger.New York and San Francisco did the best they could recognizing and dealing with compromised immune systems.
I think that the proof is in the puddings, 40 years later;Blood banks still discriminate against gay men, though the disease has moved on to new prey.
MacAdvisor
My point was accuracy. If the cause of death is listed as cancer, that is what should be reported. We don’t have evidence he died from complications due to AIDS (what is said when someone dies of an opportunistic infection that AIDS permitted to manifest). For all we know, he did die of cancer. One is entitled to one’s own opinion, but not one’s own facts.
GRID, the original name for the disease, became AIDS by the end of 1982, so, by 1985, it was clearly the name of the syndrome. I saw puppet shows on safe sex by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in 1982. By 1985, most gay men in large cities were all too familiar. By 1986, the bigots knew enough to try to pass Prop 64 here in California.
Mike999
I met Rock Hudson in about 1980 at his home in Beverly Hills. He was touring in a musical at the time
and a friend of his used to throw “beauties parties” for him to come home to. There would be about 20 of the currently hottest guys in Hollywood waiting for him when he got home, hanging around the pool. I found him to be one of the most genuine and kind men I’d ever met. I was not interested in sleeping with him. he seemed like a nice old guy to me at the time, but he was very good about it and always friendly. Sad to think he has been gone so long.
krandall
One must also point out that in 1985 nearly everyone who died of AIDS officially “died of cancer”.
tejuxezeyo444
hhhhhhhhhhhh
like Timothy answered I am amazed that someone able to make $7869 in four weeks on the
computer . find out here…
okbye
Brian, exactly. My brother died about 2 years ago of brain cancer which was caused by AIDs. Some cancers are specific to AIDs. You only see them in infected patients.
That long ago they didn’t know all these complications were directly related to AIDs, like they do now. Not that you couldn’t develop a completely unrelated cancer while you had AIDs (talk about the universe hating you) but the fact that you had no immune system left is going to let that cancer run rampant.
jpcolter
You clearly don’t know anything about AIDS in the 80’s
Rocinante
I actually get your point. At that time, most famous people who died of AIDS, their family insisted on any one of the actual diseases that killed them as the official cause. I forget what Liberace and Cohn officially died of, but we know now that they died of AIDS. If you were just being analytical, your point is taken, if you were suggesting that this article is wrong in claiming something not in the official record that we all know is the real truth, then your a dick.
PinkoOfTheGange
His NYT obit listed his death as complications from cancer. The Times will print near anything, not obscene, that the survivors wish in an obit.
Unless you have a link to is death cert. your sources are suspect.
JamJewel
Exactly, OGRouge: On June 5, 1981, MMWR [the CDCs ‘Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’] published a report of five cases of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) among previously healthy young men in Los Angeles. All of the men were described as “homosexuals”; two had died. As to cause of death, MacAdvisor, as late as 1990 when funeral homes were still discriminating against us, all manner of ailments were being listed as cause of death; I forget now what we said about my ex-husband to get him buried in Brooklyn, but it certainly wasn’t HIV that was on his death certificate in 1990.
Curtispsf
Tales of the City will go down in history as having captured that quintessential magical moment that was San Francisco in the late 70s and early 80’s pre AIDS. It was a heady glorious time when the gay community reveled in the freedom from societal constraints and norms. Who knew that a storm brewed just over the horizon…a storm that would shake the world to its very foundation and would change life as we knew it ? Tales of the City captured the innocence of a community that would forever more be altered by the advent of a simple retro virus. And the Band Played On.
Mark Behar
Thanks for a most astute summary, Curtipsf! I lived in WDC riding the Metro, reading Tales of the City, laughing out loud at that very time.
Rex Huskey
I much preferred Kew West during that time…..talking about magical! the Monster with BJ Flats and dollar dinners, Michael’s bar, Key West Fragrance and Key Wet Hand Print fabrics, Alligator book store, La Te Da, tea dances at Atlantic Shore, dick dock during day and the beach after dark, Fantasy Fest, Pier House etc. etc. etc. Ah…… those were the days!
Charlie in Charge
Ah so the legends are true, it was Hudson. It will be very interesting to compare Maupin’s life with his stand-in Michael Tolliver and see where their paths converged and diverged.
NateOcean
Brik Oldcar
Brian
Well that’s a disappointing reveal. I wanted it to be somebody like Sylvester Stallone or Harrison Ford, not the guy we’ve known was gay for 3 decades.
dubril
Brian,
Amen.
DeaconMac
Not much of a revelation, considering that Maupin spoke openly about his relationship with Hudson in the early 1980s.
This new memoir is really excellent and any fan of Maupin’s will want to read it. You’ll likely also be happy to know that “Tales of the City” is being remade for Netflix. Olympia Dukakis and Laura Linney will be returning in their roles.
He BGB
I thought everyone has known this for a long long time. In Tales the description of Hudson was very obvious but maybe it was just recently that he admitted it was Hudson. I also knew about his awkward and sometimes impotence from being famous and his partners being so nervous they were impotent, or sonething to that affect. In a bio written in the 80s by a close friend it was spoken about.
It’s true gay men died of AIDS related diseases in the 80s but not AIDS and that many were so embarrassed by it or their families were, that they had cancer or heart attackput on the death certificate. Especially celebs like Liberace, and Rudolph, the ballet dancer. Such sad times.
He BGB
Also, when I read about the awkward sex back in the 80s, I assumed Hudson was a bottom. I could be wrong and it isn’t important. They didn’t use those terms back then anyway.
He BGB
I said 80s but it was more 60s, 70s and before in the comment below
JamJewel
Even by 1990 when my ex died, you couldn’t find a funeral home in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn to bury someone who died of AIDS-related complications so we had to make sure that alternate facts were used on the death certificate.
Danny595
So his tales of promiscuity involve 4 men and a 50% early death rate. How charming and entertaining!
mujerado
A memoir is not necessarily “charming and entertaining.” Your disdain is misplaced.
OGRogue
, Danny,
Go buy a beach novel, then. This was true fiction/memoirs with the names changed. This was also a damn well written, humorous and loving way to cope with our losses and grief. Seemed like, one day the Castro was full to bursting with life, and 6 months later, it was a ghost town. Not fiction, not a snarky punch line.
ChrisK
Go find another bridge to inhabit.
Gaytaffuk
Danielle! There is no need to be nasty!
We all know that you have a ‘thing’ about effeminate men and your internalised homophobia drives you to constantly get your panties in a bunch about all sorts of men who are happy to express their feminine side, but this is low.
Using the AIDS epidemic to ridicule people is not only nasty, it is unnecessary. There are plenty of other targets out there without you having to resort to attacking the sick!
We should be supporting the people who have this dreadful disease, not using them for target practise. You are better than this – grow up and behave like a ‘real’ man!
Juanjo
Oh god this biotch again. Let’s write an autobiography, all of us who lived through the epidemic of our earlier years before HIV but scrub all reference to sex or the other antics which took place then. God forbid anyone should get an honest story because writing about having sex with more than one person might encourage the reader to have sex with someone. Danny is one of the most sex phobic drivel masters to post here. BTW Danny what is your Ph.D. in this time? It seems to regularly move about from one discipline to another.
Rex Huskey
It was terrible, fool….certainly not charming and entertaining….. you are who and where you are now by way of those many many men who died the those who fought for recognition and cared for their dying brothers…. You kinda make me sick!
frankcar1965
If people want to be “promiscuous” then that is their choice. Maybe you need to mind your own business. Are you the church lady who lashes out with judgement and disdain? And maybe a little bit bitter too? AssholeBitch.
Wolfie
I’m surprised. Rock used to go to the Ninth Circle in NYC and have the downstairs closed and his agent would send only blond boys downstairs. They were Hudson’s passion. Not dark hair. Oh well
OGRogue
Mssr. Maupin has always looked quite blonde to me.
ChrisK
Ha. Yeah, looks quite blonde to me.
Wolfie
Maybe https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Armistead_Maupin_and_friend_posing_at_San_Jose_Pride_Celebration_in_the_late_1970s..jpg
geb1966
Maupin WAS a dishwater blonde in his younger days
Juanjo
Miss Maupin was a blond in her youth. If you had lived in SF back then, you would know this already.
Rex Huskey
yes he def had a thing for blonds….but I’m not telling.
DISQUS
Sex doesn’t sell this book to me. Nor anything e else for that matter.
inbama
I hate kiss-and-tell books.
Especially when one party is dead, and the teller is ridiculously out of his league.
OGRogue
Hate “kiss and tell” books; don’t read them and don’t review them.(If you did read it)
There are NO convocations of writers or handsome men where Mr. Maupin
is “ridiculously out of his league’.
Finally, as I recall from Rock’s biography, people were exhorted, contractually bound, and/or paid to keep his secrets
Minerva Pomerantz
The implication of ‘friend with benefits’ implies that there were numerous sexual episodes. Armi needs go into more detail. Does anyone know when the Roddy McDowell 50 years is up?
kelliadkins4444
like Stanley implied I’m startled that people able to profit $5278 in one month on the
computer . Find Out More
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krandall
Note: Armistead HATES being referred to as Armi.
krandall
Armistead is one of the kindest, most generous men I’ve ever known. He was so kind to me after I published The President’s Son and was struggling with my next book. We walked our dogs together in Dolores Park for 6 months before I knew who he was and not once did he try to lord it over me about publishing or tell me who who or how famous he was. My partner and I became good friends with him and his partner Terry Anderson and I will respect him forever for the person he is, over and above his wonderful books, and, after all, what is more important than that. Everyone’s a critic of someone else’s work, but not everyone is a kind and virtuous person.
PinkoOfTheGange
Hey I just finished some book cases in the loft and put your book on the shelf after it being boxed up for years. I enjoyed it. I am going to have to check if it is the story that turns on a bed bolt, or am I conflating it with another book. Oh well the search is a foot.
It probably still has some Blacks Beach sand in the binding.
Thanks for the insight into Mr Maupin.
Josh447
ah pre-aids, no gay marriage and religious attack in the news constantly. None ever. Fabulous times. Under the radar and free. Noone even cared about marriage per se, never talked about it. Me and most of my gay friends fell in love with their special guy and hung onto it. It Dasani awesome innocent time free of plague and discrimination, both miles took the child for some. Looking forward to getting over the hump completely, though that may never happen. Dreaming on. Be strong and love yourself regardless! Happy Holidays.
Josh447
ah pre-aids, no gay marriage and religious attack in the news constantly. None ever. Fabulous times. Under the radar and free. Noone even cared about marriage per se, never talked about it. Me and most of my gay friends fell in love with their special guy and hung onto them It was an awesome innocent time free of plague and discrimination, both killers to the core for some. Looking forward to getting over the hump completely, though that may never happen. Dream’n on. Be strong and love yourselves regardless! Happy Holidays.
Kangol
A lovely reminiscence, Josh, and let’s not ever give up. Getting over every hump has required struggle, including with people among us working for our enemies yet hoping to benefit from every advance we make. So it will be, but holding onto the dream and fighting for it go hand in hand. Happy holidays to you and everyone else on Queerty.
Josh447
Thanks Kangol. Backatya and yay to the great indomitable spirit of moving forward with grace in our hearts!
Rex Huskey
I am blessed for having lived then and survived to remember. God I loved Bruno and Roger!!!!!
Young Timer
Armistead’s big “revelation” is not news.
It was mentioned in Rock Hudson’s autobiography shortly after he died.
In the autobiography, Armistead also said the Rock encounter was awkward.
Is there some reason why it’s a revelation now? What the heck was it then?
sdd
It was a prerevelation….
Jaxton
AIDS is a fixation of misguided gay guys who need their cultural anchor to keep their victimhood in lights. Get over it. It’s an ordinary syndrome caused by very poor lifestyle choices.
Rex Huskey
So what is your “cultural anchor” ??? Grindr, instagram, reality TV? I feel sorry for you kid.
frankcar1965
Yea, just like all the many fat people who get diabetes and heart disease and strokes. Poor lifestyle choices indeed.
sdd
poor life style choices…jaxton, pull in your claws!
PinkoOfTheGange
his bitterness ate his claws decades ago.
CastleSF
The gay generation in the 70s were so reckless in their behaviors. I think the Millennials are much more sophisticated in their taste and smarter too.
frankcar1965
When will you eat rat poison and bleed out, my god, now now now!
Knight
This is just an aging queen’s desperate grasp at relevance. Anyone who saw the 3rd installation of Tales of the City just assumed the person in question was Rock Hudson. And now DECADES after the fact, who cares?
Rex Huskey
I think you represent the majority of the gurls commenting on this site. Sad day for queers if you are voice.
Knight
Rex you might want to adjust your tampon, as it’s letting the sand up inside your vadge.