Rock Hudson Has Cancer, AIDS Feared

Rock Hudson, last of the traditional square-jawed, romantic leading men known recently for his TV roles on “McMillan & Wife” and “Dynasty,” is suffering from inoperable liver cancer possibly linked to AIDS, it was disclosed today.

The 59-year-old actor, said to be in and out of a coma suffering advanced stages of the fatal disease, was hospitalized today at the American Hospital in Paris, a spokesman said in Los Angeles.

The spokesman, Dale Olson, said there have been conflicting diagnoses from various doctors that the longtime movie star is suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome, cancer, or both.

“Rock is currently in a Paris hospital where his doctor said he has cancer of the liver and it is not operable,” Olson said. “The doctor also said there were indications of cancer in his blood.

“But this doctor said there was no indication of AIDS.

“However, we have had reports from others (doctors who examined Hudson) that Rock was suffering from AIDS. We simply don’t know. The reports have been confused.”

Hudson looked gaunt in recent public appearances and few people recognized him. His most recent public appearance was in Carmel, Calif., last week with Doris Day, helping her launch a TV show on animals.