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 infamous 3D thriller _Robot Monster 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.
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.
Uncle of Michael Nader
Naders longtime companion, Mark Miller, was Rock Hudsons personal secretary for nearly 13 years.
Retired completely from acting in 1974 after sustaining an eye injury and developing glaucoma.
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.
Despite the fact Naders career was more or less sabotaged by Universal and sacrificed to the tabloids in order to save Rocks much more lucrative reputation, Hudson and Nader remained life-long friends. Nader was named one of the beneficiaries of Hudsons $27M estate when the star died of AIDS in 1985.
After Nader was finished in films, he turned to writing. His 1978 novel "Chrome" broke major ground in that it was the first sci-fi thriller to have a homosexual theme (gay robots!).
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.
We lived in fear of an expos, 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?.
