Petrelis Files

The FBI File on Rock Hudson

I never knew the FBI kept a file on closeted matinee idol Rock Hudson, but thanks to the FBI FOIA reading room, I do now.

The 34-page file on Hudson contains nothing explosive and the FBI apparently never put him under surveillance, but a file was kept on him.

What fascinates me is the language used by the agents in their written reports to headquarters about Hudson.

From the FBI file on Hudson, in which the documents are present out of chronological order:

June 2, 1965

Memorandum recommends Los Angeles be authorized to interview movie actor Rock Hudson for information about subject [redacted]. [...]

Bureau and Los Angeles Office files contain no derogatory security-type information concerning Hudson. Los Angeles has advised that it is common knowledge in the motion picture industry that Hudson is suspected of having homosexual tendencies. [...]

In view of the information that Hudson has homosexual tendencies, interview will be conducted by two mature experienced Special Agents. [...]

Hudson was interviewed on June 23, 1965, and the FBI report on that meeting deals mainly with questions about his former wife, Phyllis Gates:

Mr. Hudson made a telephone call in the presence of the SAs, FBI, and confirmed that his divorced wife is reported to be in Europe, at an unknown address, and that her alimony checks are sent to the Swafford [advertising] agency. [...]

This document contains neither recommendations nor conclusions of the FBI. [...]

There was also a heavily redacted report to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in February 1960 from the Hollywood Vice Squad:

Files of guests' names were confiscated during the raid and as a result, many prominent names have reportedly been revealed as participating in these orgies. Among these, according to [redacted] are the movie names [redacted], ROCK HUDSON, [redacted]. [...]

This excerpt appeared in an October 28, 1966, memorandum to a special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson in response to a request for information on Hudson:

Rock Hudson has not been the subject of an FBI investigation. During 1965, however, a confidential informant reported that several years ago while he was in New York he had an "affair" with movie star Rock Hudson. The informant stated that from personal knowledge he knew that Rock Hudson was a homosexual. The belief was expressed that by "personal knowledge" the informant meant he had personally indulged in homosexual acts with Hudson or had witnessed or received the information from individuals who had done so.

On July 16, 1969, a few short weeks after the Stonewall Riots in New York, the Los Angeles bureau wrote a memo to the FBI director about Hudson and a new movie he was getting ready to film, and what the bureau found in the files on him:

There were several references to ROCK HUDSON, actor, alleging he was a homosexual and/or bi-sexual.

After that sentence, someone hand wrote "SEX OFFENDER" on the memo.

FBI director Hoover, himself a closet case, must have received great perverse pleasure keeping tabs on homosexuals like Hudson and the Gay Activists Alliance.

It's a crying shame, to put it mildly, the FBI at the time didn't devote all of its resources and agents to protecting civil rights workers, African Americans trying to register to vote and cast ballots or stopping the Mafia's criminal activities.