Clark Gable

Clark Gable
Gable looking forward at a camera
Gable in a publicity portrait in 1940
Born
William Clark Gable

(1901-02-01)February 1, 1901
DiedNovember 16, 1960(1960-11-16) (aged 59)
Burial placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale)
Other namesThe King of Hollywood
OccupationActor
Years active1924–1960
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
(m. 1924; div. 1930)
Maria Langham
(m. 1931; div. 1939)
(m. 1939; died 1942)
(m. 1949; div. 1952)
(m. 1955)
Children2, including Judy Lewis
RelativesClark James Gable (grandson)
AwardsHollywood Walk of Fame
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army Air Forces
United States Air Force
Years of service1942–1947[1]
Rank Major
Unit351st Bomb Group
18th AAF Base Unit
Battles / warsWorld War II
Awards Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal
American Campaign Medal
European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Signature

William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 – November 16, 1960) was an American film actor. Often referred to as the "King of Hollywood",[2] he had roles in more than 60 films in a variety of genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades of which was as a leading man. He was named the seventh greatest male movie star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute.[3]

Gable won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the romantic comedy, It Happened One Night (1934). He was further Oscar-nominated for his roles as Fletcher Christian in the drama Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), and Rhett Butler in the historical romance drama Gone with the Wind (1939). He received Golden Globe Award nominations for his comedic roles in Teacher's Pet (1958), and But Not for Me (1959). He also starred in Call of the Wild (1935), Key to the City (1950), and Mogambo (1953). His final on-screen role was as an aging cowboy in The Misfits (1961).

Gable was one of the most consistent box-office performers in the history of Hollywood, appearing on Quigley Publishing's annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll sixteen times. He appeared opposite many of the most popular actresses of their time. He frequently acted alongside Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, Jean Harlow, Lana Turner, Norma Shearer and Ava Gardner. Gable died of a heart attack in 1960 at the age of 59.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference afmuseum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Clark Gable: King of Hollywood". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference DSI was invoked but never defined (see the help page).