Rock Hudson's ex-lover, who won a multimillion-dollar settlement after arguing the actor had knowingly exposed him to AIDS, is dead.

Marc Christian passed away due to pulmonary problems at the age of 56 in June at the Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, California.

He first made headlines in 1985 after suing the Pillow Talk star's estate for $10 million over claims the actor put him at risk of contracting AIDS by hiding the disease and continuing their sexual relationship.

Christian, who never developed AIDS, also sued Hudson's secretary Mark Miller, alleging the employee had lied when asked if the actor had the disease.

Hudson died in 1985 - just three months after publicly acknowledging he was suffering from the illness.

Christian's sister, Susan Dahl, told the Los Angeles Times she kept her sibling's death quiet as he had wished for privacy.

Dahl insists his passing was the result of his smoking habit.