Rudy had many relationships in his short life ; this is a topic of
controversy with quite a few fans though I’m more open
minded in my opinion of his love life. For one I don’t believe he
was some aggressive “lothario” who just wanted to hook up
with all these women for fun ; that’s an outdated prejudiced
Italian male stereotype. But I do believe he had girlfriends
and boyfriends. Rudy had two failed marriages ; one to Jean
Acker in 1919 to 1923 and then to Winifred Hudnut in
1923 to 1925.
Both ladies used Rudy to their own advantages and were
modern women which at the time ,most young women in
the US and Europe began to shed Edwardian values for
freedom they never had before. Rudy would eventually
reconcile with Jean who was lesbian ; they ended up being
good friends .His union with Winifred aka Natasha Rambova
was toxic. Like a jazz age “Liz and Dick”. Rudy was more laid
back and she was a bit of a narcissist to say the least. Of
course Rudy did have expectations in a partner that were old
school ;he wanted a homemaker and a mother to his children.
Valentino and Winnie obviously clashed on that topic so
the union crumbled ,no surprise at all . As for his male lovers ,
there was cinematographer Paul Ivano whom Rudy lived with
before he married Natasha.There was also Norman Kerry too
back in LA after the First World War ended . Before
fame called. He and Rudy lived at the Alexandria Hotel
together while Valentino taught middle aged socialites how to
dance the tango.
In writing this I know I’ll annoy people ; actually piss them off .
Which is fine and I don’t really care . At least I’m not calling
Rudy a “lothario” . There are some theories that Rudy while
still in New York as a very young man offered “extras” with his
tango lessons I don’t think it’s true and it’s just another gross
stereotype because he was a darker skinned Italian man. His
“Camille” co-star Alla Nazimova called poor Rudy a “gigolo” for
having darker skin . Anyway , Rudy was a complicated person
but not a bad one . He was a down to earth and kindhearted
man. Yes old fashioned but not malicious or cruel . I’d like to
think if he hadn’t died young , that Rudy would have found the
person person to settle down with and have the family he
wanted !
