- Born
- DiedFebruary 4, 2002 · Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA (cardiac pulmonary failure, pneumonia and multiple cerebral infarctions)
- Birth nameGeorge Garfield Nader Jr.
- Height6′ 1″ (1.85 m)
- Born in Pasadena, California, George Nader became interested in acting
while still in school and appeared in several productions at the
Pasadena Playhouse. This led to several small parts in movies before
earning the lead role in the ridiculous 3-D thriller Robot Monster (1953). The movie
was bad but profitable, and Nader soon had a contract with Universal
Pictures. Unfortunately, the studio already had on its roster such
good-looking and athletic actors as Rock Hudson, Tony Curtis and Jeff Chandler, so
Nader often found himself being cast in their leftovers, usually
playing parts that emphasized his "beefcake" appeal. (At 6' 1" and 180
pounds, Nader had the kind of physique fan magazines drooled over and
unlike many of his colleagues, he frequently appeared with his chest
hair intact.) However, he did enjoy a few good years in the mid-1950s,
turning in a commendable performance in Away All Boats (1956) before his career began
to decline. He tried his hand at three TV series and then relocated to
Europe, where he enjoyed a modest revival in the late 1960s starring as
"Jerry Cotton" in a series of West German films.- IMDb Mini Biography By: dinky-4 of minneapolis
- ParentsGeorge G. NaderAlice Scott
- A longtime Palm Springs resident, Nader is survived by Mark Miller and
three cousins. Following a private service, Nader was cremated and his
ashes scattered at sea. - Despite the fact Nader's career was more or less sabotaged by Universal
and sacrificed to the tabloids in order to save Rock's much more
lucrative reputation, Hudson and Nader remained life-long friends.
Nader was named one of the beneficiaries of Hudson's $27M estate when
the star died of AIDS in 1985. - Resigned to being a 'B' list actor after agreeing to be outed by Confidential magazine as gay rather than his good friend Rock Hudson, 'A' list actor. Hudson and Nader were lifelong friends, but never lovers.
- Nader's longtime companion, Mark Miller, was Rock Hudson's personal
secretary for nearly 13 years. - In their early film prime (1950s), he and fellow "beefcake" star Rock
Hudson helped cover for each other in protecting their "straight" image
in Hollywood.
- We lived in fear of an exposé, or even one small remark, a veiled suggestion that someone was homosexual. Such a remark would have caused an earthquake at the studio. Every month, when Confidential came out, our stomachs began to turn. Which of us would be it?
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