As a mother in “An Early Frost,” Gena Rowlands helped fight the stigma of AIDS

I have not seen An early frost when it first aired on NBC in November 1985. I was in college and couldn't afford to watch a movie about gays and AIDS – especially since AIDS had become so prominent in the headlines when Rock Hudson died in October of that year. I remember the cruel treatment my college friends gave to Hudson's memory, and I shamefully went along with it.

I couldn't afford to be seen watching an AIDS movie nearly 40 years ago when I was 21. I don't remember when I first saw it, but I remember watching the movie and it shook me. It still does.

Gena Rowlands, a Hollywood acting legend, died Wednesday at the age of 94. She played the compassionate mother of the main character, played by Aidan Quinn. Quinn's character comes home to tell his family that not only is he gay, but he also has AIDS.

It was a groundbreaking television project that dealt with AIDS and homophobia. We wrote about the film in 2010 on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. As the article points out, the AIDS The epidemic spread rapidly and had already claimed over 5,000 lives. Despite growing awareness—by June, 95 percent of Americans had heard of AIDS—many believed it only affected gay men.

Those who were there at the time were also shocked by Hudson's death from AIDS. This created great fear. The mainstream media warned that the virus had entered the “general population.” This message suggested that groups such as hemophiliacs, people of color, sex workers and gay men did not fall into this category, reinforcing harmful myths and misconceptions.

Amid this climate, NBC broadcast An early frost on November 11, 1985. The film is about Michael Pierson (Quinn), a successful Chicago lawyer who is diagnosed as HIV-positive and must reveal not only his illness but also his homosexuality to his family. While the family keeps him at a distance, his mother Katherine Pierson (Rowlands) is ultimately the only one who shows true compassion.

Despite strong opposition from those in charge at the time, the film was shown and managed to move the public discussion about AIDS forward a little. It received 14 Emmy nominations and conveyed a strong message of empathy. And I will never forget this tidbit – it aired on a Monday night and actually exceeded Monday Night Footballwhich was news in itself. I'm sure I saw that, but 28 million people saw the movie.

Rowlands' portrayal of a mother struggling with the shock, confusion and emotional turmoil that accompany her son's diagnosis was both nuanced and deeply moving. There are several scenes where she cries, and it's very difficult to watch without crying with her. I've seen the film several times. And Rowlands' death has made me want to see it again.

Rowlands' character went on a journey – from initial fear and denial to acceptance and love. Because Rowlands was such an accomplished actress, her incredible performance went a long way in helping society better understand AIDS – at a time when misinformation and stigma were rampant – and she showed that love could be shown to those suffering from the disease.

When the film was released, Rowlands further enhanced her impact by participating in a public service announcement aimed at dispelling common misconceptions about AIDS. Her participation in the announcement reinforced the film's educational message and encouraged viewers to approach the epidemic with empathy and informed awareness rather than fear, making her a key figure in both the cultural and public health conversation surrounding AIDS.

This was at a time when few prominent figures were coming forward, so the fact that someone of Rowlands' stature was speaking out was in itself news.

Of course, Rowlands has done other incredible things. I also vividly remember her role as former First Lady Betty Ford in another hit TV movie. She skillfully portrayed Ford's struggle with alcoholism. Rowlands won an Emmy for it.

And their role in The notebookthe role of an elderly woman suffering from Alzheimer's was legendary. Ironically and sadly, Rowlands died at this point. She won an honorary Oscar for her lifetime achievement in 2015. She deserved it and more.

Every time after An early frostWhenever I saw Gena Rowlands in a movie, TV show, or at an awards ceremony, I immediately thought of her in that epic AIDS film and how she put her compassionate face on something that was so feared and dreaded.

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