The Many Affairs Of Clark Gable

 

The Many Affairs Of Clark Gable

Gone with the Wind ended when Rhett no longer "gave a damn" about Scarlett, but the story of Clark Gable's real-life romances followed a different path. Gable, who won the hearts of many moviegoers and Hollywood alike with his style of rugged yet sensitive charm, allegedly took as many lovers as he could, including a large number of his female co-stars. Gable was dubbed "King of Hollywood" as a result.

Born in 1901, William Clark Gable worked his way up from working-class Ohio, theater troupes in Oregon, and the New York stage to become Hollywood royalty. Gable reportedly slept with many stars; co-workers often hooked up in Hollywood's Golden Age. He married five times, though the love of his life was reportedly his third wife, Carole Lombard.

Although rumors and gossip spread about secret pregnancies or otherwise, Gable managed to remain scandal-free throughout his life. Perhaps the lack of internet accountability or the skill of "fixers" in 1930s Hollywood kept stories quiet, but the list of Gable's relationships off-screen proves he likely gave a damn about sex.

Gable And Joan Crawford Had An On-And-Off Affair For Many Years

As Gable became more popular in Hollywood, he paired with many leading actresses, including Joan Crawford. Though married and already having an affair with another woman, Gable began a relationship with Crawford. At one point, MGM discovered their secret relationship and threatened to end both of their contracts. Gable and Crawford kept a lower profile for a while, but they never allegedly never stopped sleeping with each other.

Their on-and-off affair lasted through nine films in which they appeared together, and spanned almost 30 years. In 1931, Crawford became pregnant and thought the child belonged to Gable, as she was estranged from Fairbanks at the time. She allegedly underwent a secret abortion and claimed she lost the child after slipping on a boat deck while filming a movie.

His Third Wife Carole Lombard Was The Love Of His Life

When Gable and Carole Lombard made 1932's No Man of Her Own together, they showed no signs of romantic interest in each other. When they met again in 1936 at a party, though, the pair clicked. In 1939, three weeks after the completion of Gable's divorce to Maria Langham, he used a break during the filming of Gone with the Wind to marry Lombard.

Most people consider Lombard the love of Gable's life because she reportedly brought out his playful side. They referred to each other as Pa and Ma, and they went on fishing and hunting trips together. Many believe Gable continued to sleep with other women throughout their marriage, and though Lombard reportedly grew angry with him, she likely tolerated his behavior.

Lombard died in a plane crash in 1942, which likely was the driving force for Gable to join the Air Force and cope with the grieving process. Friends and co-workers felt Gable never got over Lombard's death. He received his final wish of being buried next to her.

Gable Allegedly Slept With Many Of His Female Co-Stars

According to rumors, Gable slept with many of the actresses with whom he worked. Jean Harlow and Ava Gardner allegedly spent intimate time with him. While filming Mogambo, Gable and Grace Kelly became an item. According to gossip, though, they broke up due to Gable's unwillingness to get married.

While married to Carole Lombard, Gable allegedly carried on an affair with Lana Turner, along with several other women. Mamie Van Doren, Virginia Grey, Paulette Goddard, and Evelyn Keyes (whom Gable starred with in Gone with the Wind) all supposedly slept with the star at one point. 

His First Wife, Josephine Dillon, Helped Him Become Clark Gable

While Gable struggled to make a living as an actor in Oregon, he met Josephine Dillon. More than 10 years his senior, Dillon became Gable's teacher and coach after seeing his potential as an actor. She encouraged Gable to change his hair and get cosmetic work done on his teeth, which she paid for herself. Dillon also convinced him to go by the name Clark, rather than William.

After she helped Gable adjust his voice and mannerisms, the pair moved to Hollywood and married in 1924, when Gable began to win roles in silent films. He continued to sleep with other women, and after they divorced in 1930, Dillon claimed she and Gable never consummated their marriage.

MGM Demanded Gable Marry Ria Langham To End Their Affair

Gable moved to New York when he felt Hollywood stopped giving him the attention he craved. While working on Broadway in 1928, he met Texas socialite Maria "Ria" Langham. Still married to Josephine Dillon, Gable allegedly began an affair with Langham because she possessed more money and better connections than his wife. Langham was also older than Gable by several years, and her experience from previous marriages and wooing the public helped Gable's love life and career.

Gable's movie career finally began. But when the head of MGM discovered Gable and Langham's affair, he demanded Gable divorce Dillon and marry Langham, which he did in 1930 and 1931, respectively. The pair separated in 1935 amid Gable's many other affairs, and they divorced in 1939.

According To Rumors, Gable Had A Fling With Actor William Haines

Gable allegedly had a fling with silent film actor William Haines in 1925. According to rumors, the two attended a party and spent time together. 

Haines became an interior designer after his acting career and had a friendship with Carole Lombard before she and Gable began their relationship. Haines even decorated her Hollywood Boulevard apartment. Although several biographers believe an affair between Gable and Haines was real, no proof exists that it took place.

Franz Dorfler Helped Gable Become An Actor, But He Soon Left Her

While trying to break into the theater as a young man in Oregon, Gable met actress Franz Dorfler. A romance developed, and although they became engaged in 1922, they set aside their wedding plans until Gable could earn a more steady income. To help Gable find work, Dorfler encouraged him to try out for the Red Lantern Players, a newly formed theater group in Portland. There, he met Josephine Dillon, who became his acting coach and new love interest, causing Gable to break off his engagement with Dorfler.

Gable's relationship with Dorfler remained

 unknown until 1937, when she came forward to defend Gable in court. A Canadian woman claimed she gave birth to Gable's child in 1922 after they had an affair in England. Dorfler proved the woman's claims false when she told the court Gable was with her in Oregon in 1922. The woman went to jail for extortion, and Dorfler remained another of Gable's lovers.

MGM Allegedly Offered Gable A Raise To Stop His Affair With Marion Davies

Gable and Marion Davies worked on two films together: 1932's Polly of the Circus and 1936's Cain and Mabel. Davies, who was rumored to be the mistress of William Randolph Hearst, began a brief affair with Gable, as well. According to one story, MGM and Hearst wanted to break up the relationship and allegedly offered Gable money to end things. Gable reportedly received a pay raise — $2,000 per week, rather than his previous $650 — to cut off his affair with Davies.

An Affair With Pauline Frederick Helped Gable Get Stage Roles

While working in theater, Gable became attracted to Pauline Frederick, a glamorous, successful actress 20 years his senior. They began an affair in 1926 after she cast Gable in several roles.

In addition to giving him work in the plays Madame X and Lucky Sam McCarver, Frederick paid for more dental work and bought him new suits and a car. The couple's affair lasted several years, until Gable met his future wife Ria Langham and realized she could help him advance his career more than Frederick.

Gable's Marriage To Sylvia Ashley Was His Shortest

Gable's fourth marriage ended up being his shortest. He met Lady Sylvia Ashley at a party in 1949 and spent most of the evening with her, rather than his date. As the former wife of Douglas Fairbanks Sr., Ashley enjoyed an extravagant lifestyle not long after they eloped, which was a way of life Gable reportedly did not like. Ashley's love of being social, throwing parties, and going on shopping sprees likely didn't interest Gable, and the couple grew apart. They divorced in 1952, less than three years after they married.

Hollywood Knew About Gable's Affair With Elizabeth Allan

Gable met English actress Elizabeth Allan in 1933 on the set of Men in White. They quickly became friends and spent time together between takes. Gable brought her cake and coffee every morning and tried persuading MGM to make her contract long-term. Eventually, their friendship turned romantic; Allan and Gable began an affair, even though both were married.

Though Allan's husband lived in England and Gable's wife Maria Langham never caught on, most of Hollywood became aware of their relationship. Their affair lasted for about two years, with Gable continuing to sleep with other women on the side. Eventually, he supposedly lost interest in Allan after becoming involved with Carole Lombard. Allan returned to England, but likely hooked up with Gable one last time when he came overseas with the US Army.

Kay Williams Was Gable's Final Wife, And The Mother Of His Only Acknowledged Child

Gable first met actress Kay Williams shortly after the death of Carole Lombard. They dated briefly, until Gable suddenly broke off the relationship. The two reconnected after Gable's marriage to Lady Sylvia Ashley ended and the two maintained a secret relationship until they eloped in 1955. Williams had two children from a previous marriage, and Gable was said to have enjoyed being a stepfather, seemingly content for the first time since Lombard died.

Williams became pregnant, and Gable looked forward to having the first child of his own (at least that he acknowledged). He never got to meet his son, as Gable died at age 59 from a heart attack in 1960, two weeks after he finished filming The Misfits. Williams gave birth four months later.

Gable Liked Older Women And Call Girls

Through several of his early relationships, it seemed Gable had a thing for older women. He once claimed, "The older woman has seen more, and knows more than the demure young girl," and his early habit of connecting with experienced women who could help his career backs up this claim. Because Gable's mother passed away when he was young, and his stepmother died when he was a teen, it's possible Gable sought older women as maternal figures.

As his career progressed, Gable was said to have easily found women who were interested in him, once claiming he received 5,000 marriage proposals from women through the mail. When he wasn't sleeping with one of his co-workers, Gable allegedly hired call girls, admitting he enjoyed having a relationship free of romance, with the ability to dictate when it would end. He apparently wasn't picky about who he slept with, once telling an Army buddy that he chose one woman because, "Well, she's there."