Clark Gable: True Love, Feud with John Wayne & Final Film

When you hear the name Clark Gable, you probably picture a man who always knew his lines. But the man behind the legend carried a weight that never made it to the screen. He died of a heart attack at 59, just days after wrapping his final film, yet the most persistent questions about his life aren’t about his acting—they’re about who he loved, who he feuded with, and a curious detail about his breath.

Born: February 1, 1901, Cadiz, Ohio ·
Died: November 16, 1960 (age 59), Los Angeles, California ·
Spouses: 5 (including Carole Lombard, Kay Williams) ·
Academy Awards: 1 win (It Happened One Night), 3 nominations ·
Notable film: Gone with the Wind (1939) ·
Nickname: The King of Hollywood

Eight details that frame the man, from his full name to his only child.

Who was Clark Gable’s true love?

Carole Lombard: the acknowledged true love

• Gable and Lombard married in 1939 after a passionate courtship (Vanity Fair (feature))
• Lombard died in a plane crash in 1942, leaving Gable devastated (Vanity Fair (feature))
• Biographers consistently describe Lombard as the love of his life (Vanity Fair (feature))

He remarried twice after her death but never spoke of her without visible emotion. The ranch they shared near Los Angeles remained a retreat until his own death.

Gable’s other significant relationships

• First wife Josephine Dillon, 14 years his senior, managed his early career
• Second wife Maria Langham, a wealthy socialite
• Fourth wife Sylvia Ashley, widow of Douglas Fairbanks
• Fifth wife Kay Williams, with whom he had his only child, John Clark Gable, born after his death

The implication: Gable’s true love narrative is not a mystery. Lombard was the one he never got over, and every other relationship measured against that standard.

Why didn’t John Wayne like Clark Gable?

Professional jealousy and differing work ethics

• Wayne reportedly called Gable “an idiot” (TV Insider (entertainment news))
• Gable served in the U.S. Army Air Forces, earning an Air Medal (Wikipedia (biography))
• Wayne’s own draft status was controversial—he did not enlist during WWII

The 1950s film industry rivalry

• Some accounts tie the feud to director John Ford, who worked with both actors (TV Insider (entertainment news))
• Wayne’s public image as a blunt speaker made the reported comments plausible, but no primary source confirms a face-to-face confrontation

What this means: The Wayne-Gable feud is more myth than documented rivalry, but it reveals how Hollywood legends police each other’s patriotism.

What movie was Clark Gable making when he died?

The Misfits (1961): Gable’s final film

• Completed filming on November 14, 1960; died two days later (Wikipedia (biography))
• Co-starred Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and Eli Wallach
• The film was released posthumously in 1961 and was critically acclaimed

Details of his last day on set

The pattern: Gable’s death, coming so quickly after his final scene, sealed his myth as a man who gave everything to the role until the very end.

What caused Clark Gable’s bad breath?

Dental problems and bad breath in Hollywood

• Gable had severe dental abscesses and gum disease (Wikipedia (biography))
• He wore full dentures from his early 30s
• Co-stars and crew frequently complained about his breath, though contemporary sources often described it euphemistically

Gable’s well-known dentures

• Dentures were a known fact among Hollywood insiders, often hidden by careful camera angles and dialogue
• The condition has been attributed to poor diet, smoking, and lack of early dental care

The trade-off: While his smile helped define masculinity on screen, it hid a chronic health issue that followed him off camera.

What did Marilyn Monroe say about Clark Gable?

Marilyn Monroe’s admiration for Gable as an actor

• Monroe called Gable “the greatest actor in the world” in a 1960 interview (source not verified in primary records)
• She later described him as “a king” and “a gentleman” to friends

The pattern: Monroe’s reverence for Gable was consistent, but the exact words vary across retellings.

What did Doris Day say about Clark Gable?

Doris Day’s memories of working with Gable

• Day co-starred with Gable in Teacher’s Pet (1958) (Wikipedia (biography))
• She described him as “charming” and “funny” in later interviews
• Day said he was “the most masculine man” she ever met

Her comments about his charm and professionalism

Day noted Gable’s confidence and kindness on set, though she also recalled that he could be moody. According to a 2008 biography of Day, she said, “He was a real man’s man, but he had a soft side.” No primary source of that exact quote has been located.

The implication: Day’s appreciation of Gable offers a rare glimpse of his professional qualities from a leading lady who had little reason to exaggerate.

What was Clark Gable’s cause of death?

Heart attack as the official cause

• Gable died of a heart attack (myocardial infarction) on November 16, 1960 (Los Angeles Times (obituary))
• A 2018 medical case review confirms the clinical course and acute coronary thrombosis (PubMed (medical case review))
• Contributing factors: heavy smoking, stress, and obesity (Wikipedia (biography))
• No autopsy was performed per family request

Contributing factors: smoking, stress, and weight

Why this matters: Gable’s death was not mysterious—it was the culmination of a lifestyle that Hollywood glamour could not outrun.

“He’s an idiot.” — John Wayne, as reported by TV Insider (entertainment news)

“He was the most masculine man I ever met.” — Doris Day, as quoted in a 2008 biography (source not independently verified)

For Hollywood historians, the lesson from Gable’s story is not about the man at his peak, but about the contradictions that make a legend. For fans, the takeaway is clear: the King was human, flawed, and his legacy is richer for it. For biographers, the most persistent myths—the feud, the bad breath, the true love—deserve a closer look.