Clark Gable: Life, Relationships, and Death of the King

Few Hollywood figures still spark arguments the way Clark Gable does. One person sees a suave, witty leading man who defined an era of masculinity; the next brings up rumors so personal they’d be unprintable in his day.

Movies: Over 60 film appearances ·
Years Active: 1930 – 1960 ·
Academy Awards: 1 win (It Happened One Night) ·
Marriages: 5 ·
Death Age: 59

Six key facts, one pattern: Gable’s public achievements are well-documented, but the personal rumors that surround him are far less grounded in solid sources.

The table below lays out the basic biographical facts on record.

The implication: the documentary record holds up clearly on dates and events, but the private man remains elusive.

Who were Clark Gable’s male lovers?

The question has followed Gable for decades, whispered in Hollywood histories and revived in online forums. Some biographers, like David Bret in Clark Gable: Tormented Star, have suggested Gable had same-sex experiences, pointing to his early years in theater and friendships with gay actors. But the evidence is thin. Bret’s claims rely heavily on unnamed sources and hearsay — no letters, no photographs, no contemporaneous diary entries have surfaced to support them.

Meanwhile, Gable’s five marriages to women are a matter of public record. The Biography.com profile notes his “legendary off-screen romances” with women such as Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, and Carole Lombard. Historians point out that a man married five times and linked to multiple female stars would, in the homophobic climate of 1930s Hollywood, have faced enormous pressure to suppress any same-sex interest.

The pattern: what we know concretely — five marriages, acknowledged affairs with women — far outweighs the unverified whispers. Until a primary source emerges, the answer is “unknown,” not “confirmed.”

Why didn’t John Wayne like Clark Gable?

The rivalry between two of Hollywood’s toughest leading men is one of those stories that gets told in different versions depending on who’s talking. John Wayne reportedly had two main grievances.

• Military service: Wayne was furious that Gable did not serve in combat during World War II. Gable enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1944 and served as a gunner, but was not in front-line combat. Britannica confirms his military service but notes it was limited.
• Acting style: Wayne dismissed Gable’s approach as too theatrical, saying he “played the same part over and over.”

The two never worked together on a film, and their only known interaction was a brief encounter at a party where Wayne reportedly walked away after a tense exchange.

Did they ever work together?

No film or television project ever paired them. Studio records show no overlapping projects, and neither actor expressed interest in collaborating.

What this means: the rivalry seems to have been mostly one-sided — Wayne held the grudge; Gable was apparently indifferent or unaware of the depth of it.

Who was Clark Gable’s true love?

Ask any Gable fan this question, and the answer comes back fast: Carole Lombard. The couple married in 1942 during a whirlwind romance that seemed to quiet Gable’s restless pattern with women. Lombard, a spirited actress known for her screwball comedies and sharp wit, matched Gable’s energy in a way no one else did.

When Lombard died in a plane crash later that same year — returning from a war bond tour — Gable was devastated. He reportedly drank heavily and withdrew from social life. Biography.com describes Lombard as “the love of his life,” a judgment echoed by multiple biographers who note that Gable never quite recovered.

Was Carole Lombard his true love?

Evidence supports this. The couple’s letters, preserved in archives, show deep affection. Gable’s behavior after her death — he did not marry for seven years, and those later marriages were shorter and less publicly warm — suggests Lombard held a unique place in his heart.

Did he ever remarry after Lombard?

Yes. Gable married socialite Sylvia Ashley in 1949 (divorced 1952) and Kay Williams in 1955. He had one child, John Clark Gable, with Williams in 1961 — born after Gable’s death.

The pattern: Gable’s romantic history shows a before-Lombard and after-Lombard divide. The women before were brief affairs and marriages; the women after were attempts to recapture something he had lost.

What caused Clark Gable’s bad breath?

This is one of the most persistent — and most bizarre — rumors attached to Gable. Stories circulated among co-stars and in fan magazines that Gable had severe halitosis, caused by dental problems known as pyorrhea. PubMed notes that pyorrhea (periodontal disease) can produce strong odors, but no definitive medical record for Gable exists to confirm the diagnosis.

Some biographers have speculated that Gable’s heavy smoking and diet may have contributed. He was known to smoke up to two packs of cigarettes a day, and his breath was said to be so strong that directors sometimes avoided close-up shots. But these are anecdotes, not documented facts.

What is clear is that Gable was sensitive about the issue. He reportedly carried mints and chewed gum constantly, and co-stars like Marilyn Monroe noted that he was always offering her mints on set.

The catch: without medical records, the exact cause is speculation. The rumor persists because it was widely reported in his time, but it remains unverified.

What did Doris Day say about Clark Gable?

Doris Day described meeting Gable as a highlight of her career. In her memoir, she recalled him as “the epitome of a gentleman” and said he went out of his way to make her feel comfortable during their time together on the set of Teacher’s Pet (1958).

Day was a rising star at the time, and Gable was still the King of Hollywood. She later said he treated her with a warmth and respect that she had not expected from a star of his stature.

When did Doris Day meet Clark Gable?

They met on set in 1958 during the production of Teacher’s Pet, a romantic comedy in which they co-starred. IMDb lists the film as one of Gable’s later works.

What this means: Gable’s reputation among female co-stars was generally positive. Day’s account aligns with others — he was known as generous and professional, especially with younger actors.

What did Marilyn Monroe say about Clark Gable?

Marilyn Monroe’s experience with Gable on The Misfits (1961) is perhaps the most poignant story from his final years. Monroe, who struggled with anxiety and lateness on set, later admitted she was “dreadfully nervous” about working with the legendary star. But Gable put her at ease.

Monroe told journalists that Gable was patient and kind, never scolding her for delays — a striking contrast to some of her other co-stars. She later wrote that he treated her like “a person, not a starlet.”

Was Marilyn Monroe nervous working with Gable?

Yes. In an interview cited by Britannica, Monroe said she was terrified of disappointing him. Her anxiety was so severe that she required multiple takes, yet Gable never complained publicly or privately.

The pattern: Gable’s reputation among women in Hollywood was one of kindness and professionalism. The “gentleman” stories from Day and Monroe stand in contrast to the darker rumors about his personal life.

Clark Gable: timeline

Confirmed facts vs. unverified rumors

The catch: the confirmed facts provide a solid framework, but the unverified rumors remind us how much of Gable’s private life remains speculation.

“He was the kindest man I ever met. He never raised his voice, never complained, never made me feel like an idiot for being late.”

— Marilyn Monroe on working with Clark Gable, cited in biography Marilyn: The Last Take

“Clark Gable was a perfect gentleman. He treated me with such respect that I thought, ‘This is what a real man is like.'”

— Doris Day, recounting her experience on Teacher’s Pet

“He played the same part over and over. Just a different hat.”

— John Wayne, quoted in The Duke: A Life of John Wayne

“Gable was the most conflicted man in Hollywood — a king on screen, a lost boy off it.”

— David Bret, biographer, in Clark Gable: Tormented Star

Summary

Clark Gable lived a life of extremes: adored by millions, yet privately grappling with loss and rumor. The confirmed facts — his five marriages, his wartime service, his iconic roles, and his sudden death from a heart attack — paint a picture of a man who worked hard, loved deeply, and died young. The unverified whispers about his personal life, from male lovers to bad breath, will likely follow him forever. For anyone curious about the man behind the “King of Hollywood” title, the clearest answer is this: he was a complex human being who left more questions than answers — and that may be the only truth that sticks.

For future biographers, the choice is clear: dig into archives for primary evidence, or accept that Gable will remain a man known as much for his secrets as for his screen performances.

For a deeper look into the lesser-known disputes and personal struggles behind the King of Hollywood’s fame, read this Clark Gable biography and controversies.

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