William Clark Gable (February 1, 1901 - November 16, 1960) was an American film actor, often referred to as "The King of Hollywood". He had roles in more than 60 motion pictures in multiple genres during a career that lasted 37 years, three decades of which was as a leading man.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
It Happened One Night (1935)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1936)
San Francisco (1937)
Test Pilot (1939)
Gone with the Wind (1940)
10 FUN FACTS!
In 1995, Clark was chosen by "Empire" magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#36). He was also voted the 8th Greatest Movie Star of All Time by "Entertainment Weekly".
It was at his 36th birthday that Judy Garland sang "Dear Mr. Gable: You Made Me Love You".
Clark was dyslexic, a fact that didn't emerge until several years after his death. But, despite his disability, he became an avid reader. He would never allow himself to be photographed reading on film sets, though, fearing it would undermine his macho screen image.
He was Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's inspiration for half of Superman's alter ego name Clark Kent.
Clark gave his Oscar for It Happened One Night (1935) to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue that had mattered, not owning it. The child returned the Oscar to the Gable family after Clark's death.
He was a chain smoker by the time he was 16. He was known to smoke three or four packs of cigarettes a day as an adult.
Clark played the part of a newspaper reporter in nine films, more than any other kind of role.
He spent two years as an aerial cameraman and bomber gunner in Europe during World War II.
As a leading man, Clark appeared opposite some of the most popular actresses the time. Joan Crawford was a favorite actress of his to work with, and he partnered with her in eight films. Myrna Loy worked with him seven times, and he was paired with Jean Harlow in six productions. He also starred with Lana Turner in four features and in three each with Norma Shearer and Ava Gardner.
Clark was great friends with Gone with the Wind actress Hattie McDaniel. According to Lennie Bluett, an extra in the film, he almost walked off the set when he discovered the studio facilities were segregated and signage posted "White" and "Colored". Clark phoned the film's director and told him, "If you don't get those signs down, you won't get your Rhett Butler." The signs were then taken down. He also tried to boycott the Gone with the Wind premiere in segregated Atlanta, because African American McDaniel and Butterfly McQueen were not permitted to attend.
