The Five Wives Of Clark Gable: Untold Stories Of Hollywood’s King And His Turbulent Marriages

Clark Gable, the undisputed "King of Hollywood," was a towering figure in cinema whose personal life was as dramatic and complex as any of his on-screen roles. While his legendary status is forever cemented by films like *Gone with the Wind*, the man behind the myth was defined by his five marriages, each a chapter in his tumultuous quest for love and stability.

As of December 15, 2025, the legacy of Gable's love life continues to fascinate fans and historians alike, revealing a pattern of strategic career moves, genuine passion, and profound heartbreak. From his first wife, who was also his mentor, to his final wife, who was pregnant with his only son when he died, these five women shaped the life of one of the greatest stars the world has ever known.

Clark Gable: A Complete Biography and Marriage Profile

William Clark Gable, known universally as Clark Gable, was an American actor who became one of the most consistent box-office draws in Hollywood history. His career spanned three decades, and his powerful screen presence earned him the nickname "The King."

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• Full Name: William Clark Gable
• Born: February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio, U.S.
• Died: November 16, 1960 (aged 59), in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Cause of Death: Coronary Thrombosis (Heart Attack)
• Occupation: Actor, Producer
• Years Active: 1924–1960
• Key Films: *It Happened One Night* (Oscar win), *Mutiny on the Bounty*, *Gone with the Wind*, *The Misfits* (final film)
• Children: Judy Lewis (daughter with Loretta Young, unacknowledged during his life) and John Clark Gable (son with Kay Williams, born after his death)
• Wives: Five (Josephine Dillon, Maria "Ria" Langham, Carole Lombard, Lady Sylvia Ashley, Kay Williams)

The Two Marriages of Convenience: Mentors and Social Climbing

Gable's early marriages were less about romantic love and more about strategic career advancement, a common practice in the early days of Hollywood. These unions provided the young actor with a financial and social foundation he desperately needed to rise from obscurity to stardom.

1. Josephine Dillon (Married: 1924–1930)

Josephine Dillon was not only Clark Gable's first wife but also his essential mentor and acting coach. Born in 1884, she was 17 years his senior, a significant age gap that spoke to the nature of their relationship.

Dillon was an established drama coach and actress who saw raw talent in the young, ambitious Gable. She meticulously worked on his mannerisms, posture, and voice, famously helping him lower his vocal pitch to the deep, resonant tone that would become his trademark. Their marriage, which took place on December 13, 1924, in Los Angeles, was largely a pact to move to Hollywood and launch his career. After their divorce in 1930, Dillon faded from the spotlight, but her foundational work was instrumental in creating the "King" of Hollywood.

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2. Maria "Ria" Langham (Married: 1931–1939)

Gable’s second marriage was another calculated step up the social ladder. Maria "Ria" Langham, born Maria Jane Prentiss Lucas, was a wealthy Houston socialite who was also older than Gable, by around 17 years.

Ria, who had a significant fortune from her previous marriage, took on the task of polishing the rough edges left by Gable’s humble upbringing. She taught him the social graces, etiquette, and sophistication required to navigate the upper echelons of Hollywood society and the wealthy elite. This marriage lasted eight years, giving Gable the time and security he needed to become a major star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The divorce was finalized in 1939, paving the way for his most famous relationship.

The True Love and The Utter Mismatch

After achieving true stardom with films like *It Happened One Night* and *Mutiny on the Bounty*, Gable finally married for genuine love, a relationship that was tragically cut short, leading to a period of deep depression and a brief, ill-suited marriage.

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3. Carole Lombard (Married: 1939–1942)

The marriage between Clark Gable and Carole Lombard is often cited as Hollywood's greatest love story. They were a golden couple, both at the peak of their careers, known for their down-to-earth personalities and playful humor. They married on March 29, 1939, in Kingman, Arizona, shortly after Gable's divorce from Ria Langham was finalized.

Their life together at their ranch was famously blissful, marked by a rare authenticity outside the studio system. Tragically, their marriage ended abruptly in 1942 when Lombard, whose birth name was Jane Alice Peters, died in a plane crash while returning from a war bond tour. Gable was devastated. He immediately enlisted in the Army Air Forces, flying combat missions in Europe, a decision widely seen as a desperate attempt to cope with his profound grief. He would not truly recover from her death, leaving a void that none of his subsequent relationships could fill.

4. Lady Sylvia Ashley (Married: 1949–1952)

Following a long period of mourning and several failed attempts at finding love, Gable married his fourth wife, Lady Sylvia Ashley, on December 20, 1949, in Solvang, California. Born Edith Louisa Sylvia Hawkes, Lady Ashley was a British model and socialite known for her own string of high-profile marriages, including one to Douglas Fairbanks.

This union was widely described by biographers as an "utter mismatch." Ashley was a glamorous, high-society woman who preferred the jet-set lifestyle, while Gable had returned to the simple, ranching life he had shared with Carole Lombard. The clash of their lifestyles and personalities quickly became apparent. They divorced in 1952, making it Gable’s second-shortest marriage. Interestingly, Lady Ashley went on to marry a sixth time to Prince Dmitri Djordjadze, a Georgian race car driver, solidifying her status as a serial society wife.

The Final Chapter: Kay Williams and The King’s Legacy

Clark Gable’s final marriage brought him a sense of peace and the family he had always longed for, though it was tragically brief.

5. Kay Williams (Married: 1955–1960)

Kathleen Gretchen "Kay" Williams, his fifth and final wife, was a former actress and model who had previously been married to Adolph Spreckels, the heir to the Spreckels sugar fortune. They married in 1955, and Kay provided the stability and domestic tranquility that Gable craved in his later years.

This marriage is the most significant in terms of Gable's lineage. When Gable died suddenly from a heart attack on November 16, 1960, at the age of 59, Kay was pregnant. Their son, John Clark Gable, was born four months later, in March 1961, becoming Gable's only acknowledged son.

The story of Gable's family is further complicated by his secret daughter, Judy Lewis, whom he fathered with actress Loretta Young during the filming of *The Call of the Wild* in 1935. Young maintained the pretense that Lewis was adopted for decades, a classic Hollywood deception to protect both their careers. While Gable never publicly acknowledged Judy Lewis, Kay Williams was aware of the situation and, in a gesture of reconciliation, included Judy in her husband's will, ensuring she received a small inheritance. Kay Williams’ role as the final wife was to provide the King of Hollywood with his last true home and his enduring paternal legacy.

Clark Gable’s Enduring Topical Authority and Legacy

The five marriages of Clark Gable serve as a powerful lens through which to view the pressures and realities of the Golden Age of Hollywood. His life was a constant negotiation between the demands of his public image—the rugged, irresistible "King"—and his private desire for a normal, lasting family life. The entities surrounding his life, from the career-making influence of Josephine Dillon and Maria Langham to the tragic romance with Carole Lombard and the complex family dynamics involving Judy Lewis and John Clark Gable, all contribute to his enduring topical authority. His sudden death in 1960, shortly after completing his final film, *The Misfits*, alongside Marilyn Monroe, brought a dramatic end to a life that Hollywood will never forget.