Posted on 12/05/2009 12:02:16 PM PST by Zakeet
He won a multimillion-dollar settlement in 1991 from the actor's estate after convincing a jury that Hudson had knowingly exposed him to AIDS.
Marc Christian MacGinnis, who won a multimillion-dollar settlement in 1991 from the estate of his ex-lover, actor Rock Hudson, after convincing a jury Hudson had knowingly exposed him to AIDS, has died. He was 56.
Known as Marc Christian, he died of pulmonary problems June 2 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. The details were confirmed Friday by his sister, Susan Dahl, who said she did not publicly announce his death earlier because of her brother's wish for privacy.
Christian, who went by his mother's maiden name, made headlines in 1985 when he sued Hudson's estate and his secretary, Mark Miller, for $10 million, alleging that he had suffered severe emotional distress after hearing on a news broadcast that the former matinee idol and television star had AIDS, which was claiming lives throughout the gay community.
[Snip]
After the settlement, Christian bought and renovated a mid-century modern house in the Hollywood Hills, filling it with his collection of musical instruments, antique Edison phonographs and tens of thousands of vintage 78s, LPs and CDs. He restored old recordings and was famous among friends for his ability to name almost any tune.
Contrary to Internet reports that said he had died of drug abuse or AIDS, which he never developed, Christian's death was the result of his heavy smoking, which began in 1998, "the day he found out Frank Sinatra died," Dahl said. "He loved Frank Sinatra."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
http://www.stevelippia.com/music-video/album/steve-lippia
Lippia sounds great on Guess I will Hang My Tears Out to Dry and Night & Day.
Sounds like Frankie in 1940s/1950s.
And the day Judy Garland died is when he decided he was gay.
Agreed. I have to rent the movie about Frank and the Rat Pack. I think with Ray Liotta as Frank. I like Ray. Frankie built this house for JFK in Palm Springs that was going to be White House West.
Well Bobby I think tells Peter Lawford that the Kennedys cannot hang with Frank after Joe (daddy) used the mob and Unions to steal the election from Nixon in WV and IL. Peter Lawford then has to break the news to Frank.
Frank supposedly goes nuts and starts tearing the house down. LOL!
Dean really loved his kids especially Dino.
LOL! Post of the week! Great.
I don’t have a link for audio, but your post reminds me that Australian actor Tom Burlinson (The Man From Snowy River) did some of the vocals for the Sinatra mini-series several years ago, he sang the early-years tunes and man, if he didn’t sound just like young, floppy-bow-tie Frankie! If I recall correctly, Frank Sinatra, Jr. sang the later years tunes for the mini-series, no surprise to the similarity in that. But I was just surprised that Burlinson not only sang so like Frank, but no trace of the Australian accent whatever.
I never understood the fascination with Sinatra. Maybe if I had been to one of the Vegas shows or night clubs when he was performing I might get it. He never seemed cool to me.
My list of cool from the pre-hippy sixties:
1. John Wayne
2. Sean Connery
3. Dean Martin
4. Robert Mitchum
5. Humphrey Bogart (I know he was dead by then, but his movies lived on)
His voice is very similar, but without Sinatra’s superb phrasing and precision.
"You don't scare me...I got chunks of guys like you in my stool!"
Just one? What good is that? Can't be very gay that way.
He sure does! I could not find him on Itunes?
Dino was, apparently, a nicer guy — though neither men was very easy to get to know. Both were very stand-offish: Dino in a colder, more indifferent fashion; Frank at times brutally. Jerry Lewis’ autobio about Dean and him is pretty revealing. As to Frank, from everything I’ve read, the public Frank was pretty much the private Frank as well.
11 years of heavy smoking can kill you of pulmonary problems?
I guess. Maybe. That would have to be some heavy smoking, though.
I remember a quote from Dino,You think NBC is going to hire
a drunk to put on this show
I used to never miss the Dean Martin Show,it was a hoot.
I know who Tom is. He was also in a BBC series about RAF pilots during the Battle of Britain called Piece of Cake.
Was he in the series as Frank? Maybe I could find it on Net Flix. I would lover to hear and or see that.
Yeah Frank’s voice when he was younger was golden.
Yup. This was when somebody said that NBC was crazy to pay him mega money for the show. He was one of the highest paid TV shows/entertainers then. He had apple juice in his glass.
Liked the western (one or two???) with Duke Wayne and Dino.
William Holden was pretty cool in Stalag 17.
Steve McQueen and Clint led into the 1960s. I also liked James Garner who could also play comedic roles with Doris Day.
I am not big on leisure reading books lately - just too busy but the Jerry one sounds interesting. What did Jerry say?
I read that after Dino died, Dean would go to same restaurant for lunch by himself. He was very unhappy, His son’s death devastated him and he never recovered.
Everyone around the RCA back then in the house would
not have believed it,we all thought he was soused,a great
talent.As cool as Steve McQueen
Remember another quote..Someone asked RH where he got aids,
he said how would I know,I don`t have eyes in the back
of my head...true story as far as I know.
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