Clark Gable Family Tree: The Story Behind the King of Hollywood

William Clark Gable (1901–1960), born 1 February 1901 in Cadiz, Ohio, USA, and died 16 November 1960 in Los Angeles, was Hollywood's "King" — 60+ films including It Happened One Night (1934 — Academy Award), Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), San Francisco (1936), Boom Town (1940), Gone with the Wind (1939) as Rhett Butler.

The Family's Roots: An Ohio Oil Family

Father was an oilman; mother died shortly after Clark's birth.

His Parents

Father: William Henry Gable (1870–1948) — Ohio oilman.

Mother: Adeline "Addie" Hershelman Gable (1869–1901) — died 7 months after Clark's birth of a brain tumor.

His Stepmother

Jennie Dunlap Gable (1874–1920) — raised Clark from 2.

His Wives (5)

Josephine Dillon (m. 13 December 1924, div. 1 April 1930) — his 17-year-older drama coach.

Maria "Ria" Franklin Prentiss Lucas Langham (m. 19 June 1931, div. 1939) — Texas socialite.

Carole Lombard (m. 29 March 1939, until her death 16 January 1942) — actress; killed in TWA Flight 3 plane crash age 33.

Sylvia Ashley (m. 20 December 1949, div. 21 April 1952) — British socialite.

Kay Williams Spreckels (m. 11 July 1955, until his death 1960) — American model.

His Children

Judy Lewis (1935–2011) — daughter with actress Loretta Young (extramarital; publicly acknowledged only after Loretta's death).

John Clark Gable, born 20 March 1961 — son with Kay Williams; born 4 months after Clark's death.

Kay Gable — Kay Williams's stepdaughter, adopted.

The Gable Family Tree at a Glance

Father: William Henry Gable (1870–1948) — oilman.

Mother: Adeline Hershelman Gable (1869–1901) — died 7 months after Clark's birth.

Stepmother: Jennie Dunlap Gable (1874–1920).

Wives: Josephine Dillon (1924-30); Ria Langham (1931-39); Carole Lombard (1939-42, died); Sylvia Ashley (1949-52); Kay Williams (1955-death).

Children: Judy Lewis (1935–2011, extramarital with Loretta Young); John Clark Gable (b. 20 March 1961, born posthumously).

Clark Gable:

  • Born 1 February 1901, Cadiz
  • Ran off to Ohio and left home at 16
  • Broadway roles 1927-30; Hollywood 1930
  • It Happened One Night (1934) — Academy Award
  • Gone with the Wind (1939) — Rhett Butler
  • WWII: Army Air Forces captain, gunner (1942-44)
  • Died: 16 November 1960, LA — heart attack at 59 (during editing of The Misfits)
  • Son born 4 months after his death

What the Gable Family Story Teaches Us

An oilman father. A mother lost 7 months after his birth. A stepmother who raised him. Five marriages — the third (Lombard) killed in a plane crash; the fifth (Williams) bore his son 4 months after Clark's death. Two acknowledged children.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the King story carries the same lesson. Some careers cross Ohio oil fields to Rhett Butler.

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