Phyllis Gates

Phyllis Gates, a name that might not immediately ring a bell, held a unique and pivotal place in Hollywood history through her marriage to silver screen idol Rock Hudson. Their union was, for years, seen as the epitome of Tinseltown glamour, yet it concealed a profound secret that would later redefine public perceptions of celebrity and sexuality. Her story offers a fascinating glimpse behind the carefully constructed façade of mid-century stardom. Phyllis Gates's journey from a Minnesota farm girl to a Hollywood insider led her directly into the orbit of one of the era's biggest stars, Rock Hudson. Their marriage, initially a picture of domestic bliss, quickly unraveled amid rumors of infidelity, leading to a groundbreaking divorce that hinted at deeper truths. Decades later, Gates's autobiography and subsequent biographical accounts offered conflicting narratives, leaving a complex legacy about her awareness and role in Hudson's carefully guarded secret.

Source: Wikipedia

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Phyllis Gates, a name that might not immediately ring a bell, held a unique and pivotal place in Hollywood history through her marriage to silver screen idol Rock Hudson. Their union was, for years, seen as the epitome of Tinseltown glamour, yet it concealed a profound secret that would later redefine public perceptions of celebrity and sexuality. Her story offers a fascinating glimpse behind the carefully constructed façade of mid-century stardom.

From Farm Life to Hollywood Glamour

Phyllis Lucille Gates was born in a small Minnesota town, Dawson, in 1925, and grew up on a farm. Her early life was far removed from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, marked instead by practical work — from a department store sales clerk to a flight attendant.

Her ambition, however, was undeniable. She eventually found her way to New York City, working as a secretary for a talent agent. This initial step into the entertainment world proved to be a pivotal one, setting her on a collision course with destiny.

A Secretary in Stardom's Shadow

Gates's career path soon led her to Hollywood, where she secured a position with the powerful talent agent Henry Willson. Willson was known for discovering and carefully cultivating some of the era's biggest heartthrobs, including the ruggedly handsome Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, and Rory Calhoun.

It was through this professional connection that Phyllis Gates first met Rock Hudson in October 1954. What began as a professional encounter soon blossomed into a whirlwind romance, culminating in their marriage in November 1955, shortly after Hudson completed filming his iconic role in 'Giant'.

The Unraveling of a Hollywood Marriage

Despite outward appearances, the newlywed bliss was short-lived. Following a brief honeymoon in Jamaica, their marriage began to rapidly deteriorate. By 1957, whispers of infidelity plagued their union, particularly while Hudson was filming 'A Farewell to Arms' in Italy.

The couple separated that same year, and their divorce was finalized in 1958. It was a close friend who delivered the crushing confirmation to Gates: the rumors of Hudson's affair were true, but with an unexpected twist — the individual involved was a man.

Life Beyond the Limelight

After her high-profile divorce, Phyllis Gates carved out a successful new career as an interior decorator, proving her resilience and independent spirit. She lived a private yet productive life for decades, far from the scrutiny of the tabloids.

Gates passed away from lung cancer in 2006 at the age of 80 in Marina del Rey, California. She left behind a legacy that would continue to be debated and re-examined long after her death.

Conflicting Narratives and Lingering Questions

In 1987, two years after Rock Hudson's death from AIDS, Phyllis Gates published her autobiography, 'My Husband, Rock Hudson'. In it, she maintained that she was genuinely in love with him and had been completely unaware of his homosexuality during their marriage. She asserted she was not complicit in any deception.

However, subsequent biographies, notably Robert Hofler's 'The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson', presented a starkly different picture. Hofler's account suggested that those close to Gates believed she might have been a lesbian herself and that she had attempted to blackmail Hudson, or that she was addicted to the celebrity lifestyle and feared the loss of her 'gravy train' if his sexuality became public.

Phyllis Gates vehemently disputed these claims in a television interview with Larry King. She stated that she was the one who initiated the divorce due to Hudson's behavior, and that she intentionally sought minimal financial settlement because she didn't want to take advantage of him. She also shared that, despite everything, he remained the 'love of her life'.

Her Enduring Contribution

Her autobiography, 'My Husband, Rock Hudson', co-written with Sara Davidson, remains a crucial, if controversial, primary source for understanding this complex chapter of Hollywood history. It offers her personal perspective on a relationship shrouded in secrecy and societal pressures.

Article

Phyllis Gates

Phyllis Lucille Gates (December 7, 1925 – January 4, 2006) was an American secretary and interior decorator, known for her three-year marriage to the actor Rock Hudson. The story of their marriage was depicted in the TV film Rock Hudson (1990), starring Daphne Ashbrook as Gates and Thomas Ian Griffith as Hudson.

Early life

Phyllis Gates

Gates was born in Dawson, Minnesota, to Leo Gates (1896–1970) and Mabel (née Johnson) Gates (1900–1999), and raised on a farm. She graduated from Clarkfield High School in June 1943. Early in her life, she worked as a sales clerk in a department store, flight attendant, and secretary for a New York City talent agent, before moving to Hollywood to work for talent agent Henry Willson, who represented actors Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, and Rory Calhoun.

Marriage to Rock Hudson

Phyllis Gates

Gates met Rock Hudson in October 1954. They started dating some time later and were married in Santa Barbara, California, on November 9, 1955, shortly after he finished filming Giant. Following a brief honeymoon in Jamaica, their marriage began to disintegrate. They separated in 1957, following rumors that Hudson had committed adultery while on location in Italy for the film A Farewell to Arms. The rumors were later confirmed by a close friend of Gates's, who also revealed to her that the individual Hudson had the affair with was a man. In 1958, Gates secretly recorded Hudson confessing his sexual orientation to her. Their divorce was finalized in 1958.

Later life

Phyllis Gates

Gates later became a successful interior decorator. She died from lung cancer at her home in Marina del Rey, California, aged 80. She was survived by her sister Marvis Ketelsen and brother Russell Gates.

In her autobiography, published in 1987 after Hudson's 1985 death from AIDS, Gates wrote that she was in love with Hudson and unaware that he was gay when they got married. However, author and journalist Robert Hofler wrote in the biography The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson: "Those who knew her (Gates) say she was a lesbian who tried to blackmail her movie star husband (Hudson)" or "She then became addicted to being the wife of a star, and didn't want the divorce (...) Phyllis could play around with women, but Rock had to remain faithful to her. In a way, she was just being pragmatic: she feared that Rock's exposure would ruin his fame, which was in turn her gravy train."

This was disputed by Gates in an interview with Larry King in which she also said that she had been the one to initiate the divorce based on her husband's behavior. Gates said she did not get much in the divorce because she did not want to take advantage of him. She also said that she had never stopped loving him, and that he was the 'love of her life'.

Published works

Phyllis Gates

• Gates, Phyllis (1987) and Sara Davidson, My Husband, Rock Hudson, Doubleday, 232 pages. ISBN 978-0207157844