Hayden Rorke was a popular American actor who starred in many films and TV shows, but he is best remembered for his role as Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. He was also a gay man who lived openly with his partner Justus Addiss for over 40 years, at a time when homosexuality was taboo and even illegal in some states. But what was Hayden Rorke’s cause of death, and how did it reflect his brave and adventurous life?
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A Passion for Acting and a Love for Justus
Hayden Rorke was born William Henry Rorke in Brooklyn, New York, on October 23, 1910. He was the son of Margaret Hayden Rorke, a famous color standards expert and actress, and William Henry Rorke, a civil engineer who helped build New York’s subway system. He took his stage name from his mother’s maiden name, and followed her footsteps into the theater world.
He attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and began his stage career in the 1930s with the Hampden Theatrical Company. He met Justus Addiss, a stage manager and director, in the mid-1930s, and they became inseparable both in life and work. They formed their own production company, Addiss & Rorke, and produced summer stock plays starring famous actresses like Ruth Chatterton and Ann Corio.
During World War II, Hayden and Justus served in the US Army as assistant stage managers of Irving Berlin’s musical This Is the Army, an all-soldier revue that toured the world to entertain the troops. Hayden also had a role impersonating his hero Noël Coward in the show. They were among the many gay men who served in the war, and they found a safe space to live openly among their fellow soldiers.
A Successful Career in Hollywood and TV
After the war, Hayden and Justus moved to Hollywood, where Hayden pursued a career in film and TV. He appeared in many movies, such as Lust for Gold, Rope of Sand, An American in Paris, Pillow Talk, and The Night Walker. He often played supporting roles as doctors, lawyers, judges, or military officers. He also had recurring roles on TV shows like No Time for Sergeants and Dr. Kildare.
His most famous role was as Dr. Alfred E. Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie, a comedy about an astronaut who finds a genie in a bottle. Dr. Bellows was the psychiatrist who always suspected that something was strange about the astronaut and his mysterious girlfriend (the genie), but never could prove it. Hayden played the role with humor and charm, and became a household name.
He also helped his partner Justus with his directing career, often appearing in episodes that Justus directed for shows like Perry Mason, The Twilight Zone, The Fugitive, and Bonanza. They lived together in Toluca Lake, California, where they hosted parties for their friends and colleagues.
A Courageous Battle with Cancer
Hayden Rorke’s cause of death was multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1980, and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. He continued to work despite his illness, appearing in two more episodes of I Dream of Jeannie (a reunion movie in 1985 and a special episode in 1986).
He died at his home on August 19, 1987, at the age of 76. He was surrounded by his loved ones, including Justus Addiss, who died two years later from AIDS-related complications. They are buried together at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Hayden Rorke’s cause of death revealed his courageous life as an actor and a gay man who lived openly and proudly with his partner for over four decades. He left behind a legacy of laughter and love that will always be remembered by his fans and friends.
