Memorial Service Scheduled at Hudson’s Home

A private memorial service for Rock Hudson will be held Oct. 19 at the actor’s Beverly Hills home, it was announced Wednesday.

Chen Sam, a spokeswoman for actress Elizabeth Taylor, who heads the foundation set up to combat AIDS the week before Hudson died of the disease, said the service will “celebrate and share memories of Rock Hudson.”

The service will be attended by 150 people by invitation only, Sam said. The guest list was not disclosed.

Since Hudson’s death Oct. 2, controversy has arisen over whether the actor was aware not only that his disease had become public knowledge but also of how involved he was, given the advanced state of his illness, in AIDS fund-raising activities announced in his name.

Reaction to Column

Most of the controversy stemmed from statements attributed to Ross Hunter, a friend of Hudson’s and the producer of several of his movies, in an article by syndicated columnist Marilyn Beck after the actor died.

Beck quoted Hunter, who had visited Hudson during his final weeks, as saying of Hudson: “Ninety-five per cent of the time, he wasn’t lucid.” He was also quoted as saying that Hudson “knew nothing” about the statements attributed to him.

In an interview this week, however, Hunter said he meant only to refer to Hudson’s behavior with him personally, and not with others.

“See, I wasn’t there most of the time,” he said. “How would I know?”

‘Private Man’

Hunter described Hudson as such a “private man” that, even though he was a longtime friend, the actor “never discussed anything about his private life,” and even in the final weeks, “never, never discussed AIDS with me.”

During the last month of his life, Hudson--through spokesmen and statements made in his name--seemed to have accepted the fact that he was the first celebrity victim of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the fatal disease that has primarily affected homosexuals and intravenous drug users.

A message from Hudson, read at a Sept. 19 AIDS benefit by actor Burt Lancaster, said: “I am not happy that I have AIDS, but if that is helping others, I can, at least, know that my own misfortune has had some positive worth.”

A week later, Hudson’s contribution of $250,000 accompanied Taylor’s announcement of the new American Foundation for AIDS Research.

Hudson Autobiography

A Hudson autobiography, “Rock Hudson, His Own Story,” co-written with Sara Davidson and published by William Morrow & Co., was also announced, with Hudson’s proceeds to be donated to AIDS research.

A Morrow spokeswoman said a statement by Hudson to be printed in the book says: “I want the truth to be told, because it sure as hell hasn’t been told before.”

While Hunter’s remarks indicated that the actor may not have been fully aware of these activities, other Hudson associates insisted he was “lucid” and involved in all plans.

Nevertheless, Dale Olson, Hudson’s spokesman, did tell reporters that it was he and not Hudson who had had written the Sept. 19 statement.

And Hudson’s business manager and executor, New York accountant Wallace Sheft, said the $250,000 check was issued from his office. Sheft, who could not be reached Wednesday, told a Washington Post reporter that he had handled the check because Hudson “never signs any checks--ever.” Sheft said he had “advised” Hudson to make the contribution and that the actor had “agreed wholeheartedly . . . . He was very lucid.”

‘Approved by Rock Hudson’

Olson said the benefit message he wrote “was approved by Rock Hudson and released. He was lucid and understood every word.”

Paul Sherman, Hudson’s New York-based attorney, said he had visited the actor on Sept. 4, 5, and 6, “and on those occasions, he was lucid.” The actor at that time signed the statement prepared for his autobiography, Sherman recalled in a phone interview.

“I asked him if he wanted me to read it to him, and he said, ‘No, I’ll read it.’ He not only read it but signed it.”

Hudson was “aware that he had assigned or transferred all of his proceeds” from the book to AIDS research, Sherman added.

A spokesman for UCLA Medical Center, where Hudson was treated recently, said none of the doctors involved in the case would comment.

Dr. Rex Kennamer, Hudson’s personal physician, said: “He was seriously ill and drowsy most of the time.”

Kennamer would not comment on the extent to which he felt Hudson could have participated in the decisions made in his behalf.