A great man is gone - but why could he never admit his mistakes?

ROCK Hudson died in October 1985. His death convulsed the world not because a handsome if minor star had passed away, but because of how he died.

As his death approached, he confirmed that he was suffering from AIDS, and it became clear that his condition was related to his homosexual activity.

He was the first famous person to die of the terrible disease, and with his death the world finally became aware of something that until then was regarded as rare and mysterious.