Clark Gable

NAME William Clark Gable, though professionally known simply as Clark Gable. He was named William after his father, but even in childhood he was almost always called Clark. He was often referred to as "The King of Hollywood" or just "The King" throughout his career.

WHAT FAMOUS FOR  Clark Gable was an iconic American actor, widely known as the "King of Hollywood." He achieved immense fame for his leading roles in numerous films during the Golden Age of Hollywood, particularly for his rugged masculinity, charming smile, and distinctive voice. He is best remembered for his portrayal of Rhett Butler in the epic 1939 film Gone With the Wind, for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

BIRTH William Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio. Interestingly, he was mistakenly listed as a girl on his birth certificate.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Gable was born to William Henry "Will" Gable (1870-1948), an oil-well driller, and his wife Adeline (née Hershelman). His father was Protestant while his mother was Catholic. Tragically, his mother died when he was only ten months old. 

After his mother's death, his father refused to raise him in the Catholic faith, which caused friction with the Hershelman family. This dispute was eventually resolved when his father agreed to allow young Clark to spend time with his maternal uncle Charles Hershelman and his wife on their farm in Vernon Township, Pennsylvania. 

In April 1903, Gable's father married Jennie Dunlap (1874-1920), who became Clark's stepmother. (1)

CHILDHOOD  After his father's remarriage, Gable was raised by his stepmother Jennie, who taught him to be well-dressed and well-groomed. She played the piano and gave him lessons at home. At age 13, he became the only boy in the Hopedale Men's town band, having taken up brass instruments. 

His father insisted that he engage in traditionally masculine activities such as hunting and hard physical work, though Gable also developed a love for literature and would recite Shakespeare among trusted company, particularly the sonnets. 

In 1917, Gable's father experienced financial difficulties and moved the family to Palmyra Township, near Akron, Ohio, to try farming. His father insisted that he work the farm, but Gable soon left to work at the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron. (1)

At seventeen he was inspired to be an actor after seeing the play The Bird of Paradise.

Gable was reportedly a shy child, but also had a mischievous side.

EDUCATION Gable's formal education was sporadic. He attended various schools but dropped out of high school at the age of 16. Despite his limited formal education, he maintained a keen interest in reading and music. 

His real education came later through his first wife, Josephine Dillon, who was 17 years his senior and served as his acting coach. She trained him in elocution, proper body posture, and helped him lower his naturally high-pitched voice.

CAREER RECORD Gable's career began in theatre, where he worked in various stock companies and toured with plays. He made his Broadway debut in 1928. He transitioned to film in the early 1930s, and his breakthrough came with The Painted Desert (1931), which convinced MGM executives of his talent and screen presence. 

APPEARANCE Clark Gable was known for his rugged good looks and masculine appeal. He stood 6'1" tall and had a powerful physical presence. His most distinctive facial feature was his mustache, which became his trademark. 

Initially, Hollywood studios were concerned about his appearance, with Louis B. Mayer of MGM once dismissing him as "unattractive" and "elephant-eared". The studio arranged for him to have dental work to fix his teeth, which were in poor condition due to a gum infection in his youth. Despite these early concerns, his rugged charm and charisma made him one of Hollywood's most appealing leading men.

Gable in a publicity portrait in 1940

FASHION Clark Gable’s fashion evolved significantly over the course of his career. In the 1920s, his style leaned toward the formal and slightly effeminate, often featuring tailcoat tuxedos. By the mid-1920s and into the 1930s, he embraced a more traditionally masculine and sophisticated look, favoring double-breasted jackets with wide lapels and deep notches. His signature touches included collar stay pins, white French-cuffed dress shirts, diagonally striped ties, and crisp white pocket squares.

In It Happened One Night (1934), Gable’s wardrobe reflected both casual and refined styles—he sported a loose-fitting, sporty grey tweed suit with patch pockets in one scene, and a sharp black three-piece gabardine suit in another. By the 1940s, his style had relaxed somewhat, with photos showing him in grey herringbone tweed jackets with notched lapels, occasionally pairing them with a sweater instead of a waistcoat for a more laid-back look. (2)

CHARACTER Despite his "King of Hollywood" status, Gable was known for being down-to-earth, unpretentious, and a man of simple tastes. He was friendly and approachable, with a reputation for being a good sport. He valued privacy and disliked the excesses of Hollywood. Gable was also known for his punctuality and professionalism on set.

Behind his tough image, he had a sensitive side—actress Myrna Loy revealed that he loved poetry and read beautifully with great sensitivity, though he wouldn't let others know it for fear of appearing weak or effeminate.

SPEAKING VOICE Gable's distinctive voice was not natural but the result of extensive training. His first wife, Josephine Dillon, discovered that he had a surprisingly high-pitched natural voice and worked with him to develop the deeper, resonant tones that would become his trademark. Through rigorous exercises focusing on posture, breathing, and poise, he transformed his voice into the dulcet tones that made him an industry icon. By the 1950s, his voice had become so husky that audiences thought he sounded exactly like President Eisenhower. His vocal delivery was so distinctive that mimics loved to imitate him, and his speaking style became an integral part of his screen persona.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Gable was known for his self-deprecating humor, which was a significant aspect of his off-screen personality. His humor was often down-to-earth and reflected his unpretentious nature, as evidenced by his comment about his acting ability: "I'm no actor and I never have been. What people see on the screen is me."

RELATIONSHIPS Clark Gable had a complicated love life, marrying five times throughout his life. His first marriage was to Josephine Dillon, who served as his theater coach and manager.  They wed on December 13, 1924 in California, Gable was 23 and Dillon was 40 and divorced in 1930.

His second wife was Texas socialite Maria Langham (nicknamed "Ria"). The couple married on June 19, 1931, in Houston, Texas (Ria first saw Gable perform in Texas). She was 15 years older than him and they divorced on March 7, 1939.

Three weeks after divorcing Ria, Gable married actress Carole Lombard on March 29, 1939 at Kingman, Arizona, at the Methodist Church in town. They'd first met while filming No Man of Her Own in 1933, but didn't start a relationship for another three years. Gable and Lombard tied the knot during a production break from "Gone with the Wind" and honeymooned at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. 

Gable with Lombard after their 1939 honeymoon

The couple lovingly referred to each other as "Ma and Pa" and Lombard is widely considered to have been the love of  Gable's life. Their marriage ended in tragic circumstances when Lombard died in a plane crash on January 16, 1942 while returning from a war bonds tour.  Though devastated, Gable returned to work a month later for Someday I'll Find You. Lombard's death affected him for the rest of his life.

On December 20, 1949, Gable married Sylvia Ashley, a British socialite and widow of Douglas Fairbanks Sr in Beverley Hills, California. Their relationship lasted only three years before ending in divorce in 1952.

Gable with Ashley by dearmrgable.com

His fifth and final marriage was to the socialite Kathleen Williams Spreckles (a.k.a. Kay Williams) , whom he wed on July 11, 1955 at Encino, California. Gable became stepfather to her two children, Joan and Adolph ("Bunker") Spreckels III and Williams had his only biological child, John Clark Gable, who was born after his death. 

Gable also fathered a daughter, Judy Lewis, with actress Loretta Young in 1935, though he never publicly acknowledged her.

MONEY AND FAME As one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Clark Gable appeared 16 times on Quigley Publishing’s annual Top Ten Money-Making Stars Poll. 

During the filming of The Misfits (1961), he reportedly earned over $48,000 per week in overtime during three weeks of extended production—a staggering sum for the era. 

Despite his substantial earnings, Gable was not flashy with his wealth. He handled his finances sensibly and invested in real estate.

When he enlisted in the military during World War II, he gave up a salary of $1,500 a week—equivalent to around $25,000 per week today. 

Gable remained grounded about his success, once saying, “I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I had a lot of smart guys helping me—that’s all.” Though widely known as “The King of Hollywood,” he downplayed the title and the pedestal others placed him on.

FOOD AND DRINK  Gable had simple, unpretentious tastes in food. According to his second wife, Ria Langham, he enjoyed "steak, baked beans, sauerkraut, and potato salad". He was particularly fond of pancakes, with Langham telling The Modern Hostess magazine in 1934, "Give Clark golden pancakes with little pig sausages for breakfast". He also enjoyed chocolate cake and, for lunch, would sometimes have "a Bermuda onion sandwich thick with mustard". His eating habits reflected his down-to-earth personality, with Langham noting, "If you expect me to tell you that Clark likes truffles and caviar you are going to be disappointed. He is, after all, just a person, you know". (3)

He once quipped: "I never laugh until I've had my coffee."

MOVIE CAREER Clark Gable, who for several decades appeared to have been chiselled directly from granite and dipped lightly in Brylcreem, was one of Hollywood’s most iconic leading men—although, to be fair, he looked less like a man than a monument to masculinity. Over a career that spanned more than 70 films, Gable perfected the art of brooding handsomeness, played opposite practically every major female star of his era, and made the phrase “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” sound like something you might casually toss off while choosing a salad dressing.

Gable didn’t exactly blast onto the scene. He began acting on stage and, after a few forgettable stumbles onto celluloid starting in 1924—often in roles so minor they didn’t even bother giving him names—he finally caught a break in 1931 with The Painted Desert. From there, he took off like a firework aimed directly at the MGM lot. Suddenly he was everywhere—A Free Soul, Hold Your Man, Red Dust, Dance, Fools, Dance—turning up with leading ladies like Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, and Joan Crawford so often you’d think he had a time-share arrangement with them.

Gable and Jean Harlow in Hold Your Man

In 1934, Gable starred in Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night, a film now mostly remembered for two things: him hitchhiking with his thumb and undressing without an undershirt—prompting a reported nationwide slump in undershirt sales, much to the dismay of the Hanes family. He won an Academy Award for the performance, though one suspects he could have won it just for his eyebrow work alone.

Next came Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), San Francisco (1936), and other films in which he continued to project equal parts charm and testosterone. Then, of course, there was Gone with the Wind (1939), where Gable played Rhett Butler in a role so iconic that no one has ever really dared attempt it again unless armed with a historical drama and an absurd amount of hair pomade.

Then, just as he was cementing his status as a screen god, Gable did something utterly un-Hollywood—he joined the military. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces, where he flew combat missions and no doubt made enemy pilots swoon. When he returned, it was with Adventure (1945), a film whose advertising campaign promised “Gable’s back and Garson’s got him”—a line which made almost no sense then and even less now.

By the 1950s, Gable was older, slightly grayer, and no longer the default fantasy of every moviegoing housewife, but he still turned in memorable performances in Mogambo (1953), Run Silent, Run Deep (1958), and Teacher’s Pet (1958), the latter earning him a Golden Globe nomination and a chance to flirt on-screen with Doris Day, which seems like a perk of the job more than a plot requirement.

His final film, The Misfits (1961), was a brooding Western written by Arthur Miller and filled with real-life emotional baggage courtesy of co-stars Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift. Gable turned in what many consider one of his best performances—poignant, gritty, and weary—before dying of a heart attack shortly after filming wrapped.

Clark Gable worked with everyone worth knowing in Golden Age Hollywood, left a trail of iconic roles and quotable lines, and even managed to leave his handprints in the cement outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre without ruining his manicure. He was known as “The King of Hollywood,” a title he found more embarrassing than flattering, Not bad for a man who once knocked the undershirt industry off its axis.

MUSIC AND ARTS Gable appreciated music and the arts, though he wasn't known as a connoisseur. He played brass instruments in his youth and was the only boy in the Hopedale Men's town band at age 13. 

His career in film, placed him at the center of one of the most significant art forms of the 20th century, and his performances in over 60 movies constitute his most substantial contribution to the arts.

LITERATURE Gable developed a love for literature from a young age and was known to recite Shakespeare among trusted company, particularly the sonnets. 

Actress Myrna Loy revealed that he loved poetry and read beautifully with great sensitivity, though he wouldn't let others know it for fear of appearing weak or effeminate.

NATURE Gable had a deep love for nature and the outdoors. He preferred spending time on his Encino, California ranch, hunting, fishing, and engaging in outdoor pursuits rather than the glitz of Hollywood parties.

PETS Gable was a dog lover and had several dogs throughout his life, often retrievers or hunting dogs, reflecting his outdoor lifestyle.

Gable and Lombard owned a menagerie of animals and raised chickens and horses at their Encino, California ranch,

 Gable and Lombard at their Encino, California, ranch by dearmrgable.com

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Gable was an enthusiastic outdoorsman with a particular passion for hunting and fishing. He owned a hunting lodge in California and was such a dedicated hunter that his contract with MGM stipulated he would make "no pictures during the hunting season". 

When fishing, he preferred using light, thin nylon thread to catch trout. These pursuits allowed him to escape from Hollywood's bright lights and his busy lifestyle, providing a balance to his high-profile career.

He also enjoyed horseback riding and rode polo ponies until MGM asked him to stop, fearing he might injure himself. 

Golf was another favorite pastime; in 1953, he arranged his schedule to travel to the UK to watch the British Open in person and played several rounds in England, Scotland, and France. He owned a set of golf clubs that included MacGregor Tommy Armour 3852MS Silver Scot Tourney irons and an A.G. Spalding & Bros. "Cash-In" putter. 

Additionally, he was an avid gun collector, with firearms from Browning, Weatherby, Colt, Remington, and Smith & Wesson. (4)

SCIENCE AND MATHS Gable was mechanically inclined and loved to repair cars with his father. 

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Gable was raised in a mixed religious household—his mother was Catholic and his father Protestant. After his mother's death, he was raised in the Methodist church where his father was a Sunday School teacher, despite having been baptized as a Roman Catholic when he was six months old. 

His personal philosophy seems to have been pragmatic and straightforward, as reflected in his quote: "The things a man has to have are hope and confidence in himself against odds, and sometimes he needs somebody, his pal or his mother or his wife or God, to give him that confidence. He's got to have some inner standards worth fighting for or there won't be any way to bring him into conflict. And he must be ready to choose death before dishonor without making too much song and dance about it. That's all there is to it".

POLITICS Gable was a Republican. He actively supported Dwight Eisenhower's presidential campaign in 1952, encouraging him to seek the GOP nomination and delivering a speech on his behalf. His political convictions remained consistent throughout his life; on his deathbed in 1960, he voted by mail for Richard Nixon in that year's presidential election. 

His military service during World War II also reflected his patriotism and sense of duty to his country, regardless of the personal and professional sacrifices involved.

SCANDAL Despite his clean-cut image, Gable's life was not without its whispers of scandal, often related to his numerous relationships. The most significant and persistent rumor, though unconfirmed, involved a possible affair with Loretta Young and the secret birth of their daughter, Judy Lewis, in 1935. This was a carefully guarded secret for many years.

Another scandal erupted when Gable removed his false teeth during the filming of Gone with the Wind, revealing severe gum disease that reportedly gave him terrible breath, much to the dismay of his co-star Vivien Leigh. Despite these controversies, Gable's public image remained largely untarnished throughout his career.

MILITARY RECORD Although well beyond draft age when the United States entered World War II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the Army Air Forces on August 12, 1942, in Los Angeles—motivated by grief and patriotism following the tragic death of his wife, Carole Lombard, in a plane crash while returning from a war bonds tour. Despite President Roosevelt’s preference that Gable remain in Hollywood to boost morale, Gable insisted on serving.

He was quickly accepted into Officer Candidate School in Miami Beach, Florida, and graduated as a second lieutenant on October 28, 1942, receiving service number 565390. After completing aerial gunnery training, Gable was assigned to the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook, England, in early 1943. His mission: to produce a documentary, Combat America, highlighting the role of aerial gunners in the war.

Gable with an 8th Air Force Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in England, 1943

Determined to make the film as authentic as possible, Gable didn’t just observe—he flew operational missions in B-17 bombers over Nazi-occupied Europe, even though he was neither required nor expected to do so. On his fourth mission, he narrowly escaped death when flak tore through the fuselage near his position.

In October 1943, Gable returned to the U.S., and on June 12, 1944, he was honorably relieved from active duty with the rank of major, having surpassed the age limit for combat service. For his courage and contributions, he was awarded the Air Medal.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Gable maintained a robust physical appearance throughout most of his life due to his active outdoor lifestyle.  However, as he aged, he began experiencing health issues. Gable had a pre-existing heart condition that was exacerbated by his high-stress lifestyle and the physical demands of his career. His health was further compromised by his smoking habit and heavy drinking.  During the filming of The Misfits (1961), his final movie, the physically demanding stunts and desert heat put significant strain on his health. The combination of these factors—his pre-existing heart condition, stress, and physical exertion—ultimately contributed to his fatal heart attack in November 1960.

HOMES Clark Gable owned several properties throughout his life, including a notable estate in the historic Old Las Palmas area of Palm Springs that he shared with Carole Lombard. This Spanish Colonial home, built in 1925, sat on more than a half-acre of grounds with a tree-lined circular drive, a pool house, swimming pool, detached guesthouse, and garage. The pink-stucco house featured family room and living room fireplaces, a den/office, four bedrooms, six bathrooms, and 3,301 square feet of living space. (5) 

Gable also owned a large ranch in the San Fernando Valley, specifically in Encino, California, which was his sanctuary and where he spent much of his free time, particularly with Carole Lombard

He also owned a hunting lodge in California, which served as a retreat for his outdoor pursuits.

Gable's 1901 birthplace in Cadiz, Ohio By Tttkusoialonis

TRAVEL Gable's career and personal interests took him to various locations around the world. During World War II, he was stationed in England with the 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook and flew missions over Europe. In 1953, he traveled to the United Kingdom to watch the British Open golf tournament and afterward played several rounds of golf in England, Scotland, and France. His film career also required extensive travel for on-location shooting, including work in Africa for Mogambo (1953).

DEATH Clark Gable died on November 16, 1960, at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital in Los Angeles at the age of 59. He had been hospitalized since November 6 after suffering a heart attack at his San Fernando Valley home. On the evening of his death, he had been reported to be resting comfortably and had eaten dinner with his wife, Kay, a few hours earlier. According to hospital administrator B.J. Caldwell, Gable "appeared to be doing fine. He was sitting up, then he put his head back on the pillow and that was that". A private duty nurse was the only other person in the room when death came, with his doctor arriving minutes later. His wife was asleep across the hall at the time.

Tragically, Gable died just months before the birth of his son, John Clark Gable, whom Kay was expecting in March 1961. Before his death, Gable had expressed excitement about becoming a father, saying, "This is a dividend that has come too late in life. When I wind up this picture I'm taking off until after the baby is born. I want to be there and I want to be there a good many months afterward". (6)

Clark Gable’s funeral was a private event attended by Hollywood stars of both past and present, who gathered to pay their respects at Glendale, near Los Angeles. The service was held at the Church of the Recessional within Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. It was an Episcopal service, led by an Air Force chaplain and accompanied by an honor guard, reflecting Gable’s military service during World War II.

Gable was buried in a closed casket at the Great Mausoleum, Memorial Terrace, in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale. His fifth wife, Kay Gable, arranged for him to be interred next to his beloved third wife, Carole Lombard, and her mother. Twenty-two years later, Kay Gable was also interred there. Notable pallbearers included his friends and fellow actors Spencer Tracy and James Stewart

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Clark Gable appeared in more than 60 motion pictures across various genres during his 37-year career.  Beyond his film appearances, Gable's image was widely used in publicity materials, magazine covers, and advertisements throughout his career. His distinctive look—particularly his mustache—became instantly recognizable to audiences worldwide. Even decades after his death, Gable continues to appear in media through film retrospectives, documentaries about Hollywood's Golden Age, and the ongoing popularity of his classic films, particularly "Gone with the Wind".

There are several books about Gable himself, including Clark Gable: A Biography by Warren G. Harris, which provides insights into his life and career. Other books featuring Gable include A Touch of Stardust by Kate Alcott, Clark Gable: Tormented Star by David Bret, and Long Live the King: A Biography of Clark Gable by Lyn Tornabene. His life and legacy continue to inspire literary works, reflecting his significant impact on American culture.

ACHIEVEMENTS Won an Academy Award for Best Actor for It Happened One Night (1934).

Nominated for two other Academy Awards for Best Actor for Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and Gone With the Wind (1939).

One of the most enduring and highest-grossing stars in Hollywood history.

Achieved the title "King of Hollywood."

Successfully transitioned from silent films to talkies.

Served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

Sources (1) Geneastar (2) Otaa (3) Mashed (4) Clarkgable.com (5) LA Times (6) LA Times