Up and coming actor Jake Pickering has been cast as legendary screen star Rock Hudson in Ryan Murphy’s new series Hollywood.

Hudson, who passed away on this day in 1985, was the first high profile celebrity to die from an AIDS related illness. His death brought attention to the disease and highlighted the stigma and paranoia surrounding HIV in the early years of the pandemic.

A 1950’s matinee idol, Hudson was remembered for his starring roles, especially those alongside actress Doris Day. He made three films with Day including Pillow Talk, Send Me No Flowers, and Lover Come Back. In the 1970’s he starred in the TV series McMillan & Wife, and in the 1980’s joined the cast of Dynasty. Over four decades he starred in over 70 films.

It was only after his passing that his sexual orientation became public knowledge. Following his death there was a significant increase in donations to support research into HIV/AIDS.

Pickering is set to portray Hudson is a new TV series from Ryan Murphy. The show centres on Hollywood’s ‘golden age’ of the 1950’s and features an impressive cast, many who have previously appeared in productions from Murphy.

Darren Criss, Jim Parsons, Dylan McDermott, Joe Mantello, Patti LuPone, Holland Taylor, Jeremy Pope, David Corenswet, Samara Weaving, Maude Apatow, and Laura Harrier have all signed on to the series that has already started filming.

It’s the most prominent role so far in Jake Pickering’s career. He’ll soon be seen alongside Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick.