Clark Gable: True Love, Feuds, and the King of Hollywood

Clark Gable charmed audiences as Rhett Butler and won an Oscar, but his real-life relationships were just as dramatic. He was called the King of Hollywood, yet those who knew him best have left conflicting stories about the man behind the crown. Here’s a look at the true love, the feuds, and the impressions that defined his private life.

Born: February 1, 1901 ·
Died: November 16, 1960 ·
Number of films: Over 60 ·
Oscar wins: 1 (Best Actor) ·
Spouses: 5 ·
Often called: King of Hollywood

Seven snapshot facts trace the arc from Ohio farm boy to Hollywood royalty, each anchored by documentary evidence.

Who was Clark Gable’s true love?

Carole Lombard’s relationship with Gable

• Gable and Lombard co-starred in No Man of Her Own (1932) before romance bloomed years later (The Saturday Evening Post).
• They kept their relationship secret until Gable’s divorce was finalized in 1938 (Country Living).
• They eloped in Kingman, Arizona on March 29, 1939 (Country Living).
• Popular biographies frequently label Lombard as the love of Gable’s life (People).

Gable once said Lombard was “one of the smartest women I knew,” according to a letter he wrote (Facebook group). The couple bought a 20-acre ranch in Encino, California and enjoyed hunting trips together.

The tragic death of Lombard

• Carole Lombard died in a plane crash in January 1942, ending her marriage to Gable (IMDb).
• Gable was on a break from filming when he heard the news (Remind Magazine).

The implication: Lombard’s sudden death may have frozen Gable’s grief into legend, making it difficult to separate memory from fact.

Why didn’t John Wayne like Clark Gable?

John Wayne’s grievances

• John Wayne reportedly resented that Gable did not make war movies during WWII, despite Gable serving as a gunner in the Army Air Forces (Facebook group).
• Wayne allegedly said Gable “never did a damn thing for the war effort” (Facebook group).

Differences in war service and film choices

• Wayne made patriotic war films like The Sands of Iwo Jima while Gable focused on dramas and comedies after the war.
• The feud appears rooted in personal and professional differences, but no co-starred films exist between the two (Facebook group).

The pattern: what little evidence exists comes from gossip and second-hand accounts, making the feud itself more myth than documented history.

What did Marilyn Monroe say about Clark Gable?

Marilyn’s nervousness working with Gable

• Marilyn Monroe was “dreadfully nervous” to work with Gable on The Misfits (1961), according to multiple biographies (Remind Magazine).
• She called him “the king” and spoke highly of his professionalism (Remind Magazine).

Her praise for Gable

• Monroe’s comments highlighted Gable’s patience and kindness on set (Remind Magazine).

“He was the king – he made me feel safe.” – Marilyn Monroe (paraphrase by biographers)

– Remind Magazine

Why this matters: Monroe’s own emotional fragility makes her endorsement particularly striking; Gable appears to have been a supportive presence during a difficult production.

What did Doris Day say about Clark Gable?

Doris Day’s meeting with Gable

• Doris Day co-starred with Gable in Teacher’s Pet (1958) (A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog).
• She found him charming and gentlemanly, recalling he made her feel at ease (A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog).

Her impression of his charm

• Day said Gable was “as masculine as any man I’ve ever known” (A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog).

“He was every inch a man, but he had a gentleness about him that was disarming.” – Doris Day (autobiography)

– A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog

The trade-off: Day’s positive memory contrasts with accounts of Gable’s arrogance, suggesting his behavior varied by context.

Was Clark Gable a nice guy in real life?

Accounts of generosity and arrogance

• Some co-stars found Gable arrogant and demanding; others described him as generous and kind (A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog).
• Anecdotes include him helping unknown actors and throwing lavish parties (People).

Contradictory anecdotes from co-stars and friends

• His behavior varied: charming in public, reportedly difficult in private (A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog).

What this means: the “King of Hollywood” title masked a man who could be both adored and feared, often in the same afternoon.

Timeline of Clark Gable’s life and career

The arc from Ohio farm boy to Hollywood royalty follows a clear chronology.

Clarity check: what we know vs. what’s uncertain

Quotes from those who knew him

“She was one of the smartest women I knew.” – Clark Gable on Carole Lombard

– Facebook group

“I was dreadfully nervous to work with him – but he was so kind.” – Marilyn Monroe on The Misfits

– Remind Magazine

“He was as masculine as any man I’ve ever known.” – Doris Day

– A Strenuous Writer’s Life blog

“He never did a damn thing for the war effort.” – John Wayne (reportedly)

– Facebook group

Summary: the man behind the crown

Clark Gable remains a contradiction – the King of Hollywood who could be generous and cold, romantic and unfaithful. For film historians and fans, the real Clark Gable is elusive, but his contradictions are exactly what make him endlessly fascinating. The trade-off: we’ll never know the full man, only the fragments left by those he worked with, loved, and clashed with.

For a deeper look into the King of Hollywood’s personal life, explore Clark Gables true love and rivalries and the feuds that defined his career.

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