Hudson, who had been a major Hollywood star in the 1950s and 1960s, was not only dealing with the physical toll of the illness but also the stigma surrounding it, as AIDS was not well understood at the time.
His health was deteriorating rapidly during the production of Avalanche Express, a spy thriller in which he played a key role. His appearance had noticeably changed due to the disease, and he was already facing considerable physical challenges.
Despite his declining health, Hudson continued to work, showing great professionalism in finishing the film. It was only after the movie's completion and Hudson’s passing in October 1985 that the public learned of his AIDS diagnosis. His death at the age of 59 brought much-needed attention to the AIDS epidemic, especially since he was one of the first major celebrities to publicly be associated with the disease.
His final film, Avalanche Express, thus became not just a piece of entertainment but also a part of his legacy as an actor facing his own mortality.