The Secret Star’s Screen Life: 7 Essential Judy Lewis Movies And TV Shows (Clark Gable’s Daughter)

Few Hollywood stories are as dramatic as the life of Judy Lewis. Born in 1935, Lewis was not just an actress, but the secret biological daughter of two of Hollywood's biggest Golden Age stars, Clark Gable and Loretta Young. This lifelong secret profoundly shaped her career, which spanned from the early days of television to major roles in the world of daytime soap operas, a path where she carved out her own identity separate from her legendary parentage.

As of the current date, December 12, 2025, Judy Lewis's legacy is primarily viewed through the lens of her candid 1994 memoir, Uncommon Knowledge, which finally revealed the truth about her father. However, her professional life was rich with significant acting roles. This article explores her essential filmography, highlighting the key movies and TV shows that defined her career, from her early work in Westerns to her long-running stints as a soap opera star.

Judy Lewis: A Life Defined by Hollywood's Greatest Secret

Judy Lewis’s story is inseparable from the dramatic circumstances of her birth, which was a closely guarded secret in Hollywood for decades. Her biography provides the essential context for understanding her career choices and her eventual pivot to writing and therapy.

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• Full Name: Judith Young (Later legally adopted as Judy Lewis)
• Date of Birth: November 6, 1935
• Date of Death: November 25, 2011 (Age 76, from cancer)
• Biological Parents: Clark Gable and Loretta Young
• Adoptive/Step-Father: Tom Lewis (Loretta Young’s husband)
• Key Roles: Actress, Writer, Producer, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
• Noted Work: Starred in the soap opera The Secret Storm for seven years.
• Memoir: Uncommon Knowledge (1994), where she revealed her parentage.

Loretta Young went to extreme lengths to conceal the paternity, even claiming Lewis was adopted after a fake trip abroad. Judy Lewis was 31 before she learned the truth about her father, Clark Gable, a secret that became the defining narrative of her public life. Despite this shadow, she built a respectable career on her own merit, primarily in the burgeoning medium of television.

The Essential Judy Lewis Filmography: From Daytime Drama to War Films

Judy Lewis started her acting career in the 1950s, a period when television was rapidly expanding and offering new opportunities for young talent. She found her niche in the demanding world of daytime drama, where she became a familiar face to millions of viewers.

1. The Secret Storm (1964–1971): The Defining Role

For seven consecutive years, Judy Lewis was a cornerstone of the CBS daytime drama The Secret Storm. This role is arguably the most significant of her acting career, demonstrating her long-term commitment and popularity with the audience.

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• Role: Susan Carver, Susan Ames, Susan Ames Carver, and Susan Ames Dunbar Carver.
• Significance: Playing the complex role of Susan, Lewis navigated years of dramatic storylines, solidifying her status as a serious working actress in the industry. Her tenure on the show was a testament to her professional endurance, far removed from the glamour of her parents' era.

2. General Hospital (1975–1976 & 1978): A Second Soap Stint

After her long run on The Secret Storm, Lewis transitioned to the ABC daytime powerhouse, General Hospital. Her role as Barbara Vining added another major credit to her soap opera resume, further establishing her as a reliable and recognizable face in the genre.

• Role: Barbara Vining (also known as Barbara Jackson).
• Details: Lewis appeared in this role across two separate periods in the mid-1970s, showcasing her ability to step into an established, high-profile series and make a lasting impression on the audience.

3. Operation Bikini (1963): Her Notable Film Appearance

While Lewis's career was primarily on television, she did have a handful of film roles. The most frequently cited is the 1963 World War II action-comedy, Operation Bikini. This film provided a glimpse of her on the big screen, though her focus remained on TV.

• Details: The film starred Tab Hunter and focused on a dangerous mission to disable a Japanese radar station. Her supporting role in this action picture stands out as one of her few forays into feature films.

4. Kitty Foyle (1957–1958): One of Her Earliest Soap Roles

Lewis's journey in soap operas began early with Kitty Foyle, a short-lived NBC series based on the 1940 film and novel. Taking on the role of Molly Scharf, Lewis was demonstrating her talent for serialized drama even before her major breakthrough.

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5. Guiding Light (1950s): Early Television Work

The iconic and long-running CBS series Guiding Light was another early stop for Judy Lewis. Her work on this show, which was a pioneer in the soap opera format, shows her early commitment to the acting craft and the television medium.

6. The Outlaws (1960–1962): A Western Anthology

Stepping outside of the dramatic studio confines, Lewis also appeared in the Western anthology series The Outlaws. This role placed her in the popular genre of the early 1960s, a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil of daytime soap operas, and highlighting her versatility as an actress.

7. Thunder in Dixie (1964): Another Feature Film Credit

In 1964, Lewis added another film credit with Thunder in Dixie. This further confirmed her occasional interest in feature films, though her heart and career momentum were clearly centered on the world of television, where she had found her greatest success and stability.

Beyond the Screen: Judy Lewis as a Writer and Therapist

In the later stages of her life, Judy Lewis transitioned away from acting, choosing to dedicate herself to writing and therapeutic work. This career pivot allowed her to process her unique life story and help others.

The Impact of Uncommon Knowledge

Lewis's 1994 memoir, Uncommon Knowledge, was a cultural bombshell. It was the first time she publicly and definitively stated that Clark Gable was her biological father, a fact that Loretta Young had vehemently denied or obscured for decades.

• The Revelation: The book detailed the circumstances of her conception—from a secret affair during the filming of The Call of the Wild (1935)—and the elaborate cover-up orchestrated by Young to protect her career and Gable’s marriage.
• Topical Authority: The memoir transformed Lewis from a respected working actress into a significant figure in Hollywood history, providing a rare, first-hand account of the industry's powerful culture of secrecy and image control during its Golden Age.

A Career in Therapy and Production

After her acting career, Lewis earned a master’s degree and became a licensed marriage and family therapist. She worked extensively with families and children, a choice that many saw as a direct response to the complexity and secrecy of her own childhood. She also worked behind the scenes as a producer, notably on the 1977 television film A Circle of Children, which further demonstrated her diverse talents and commitment to storytelling and human welfare.

Judy Lewis’s life was a unique blend of Hollywood drama, professional perseverance in television, and a profound personal journey for truth. Her filmography, though dominated by the small screen, stands as a testament to an actress who succeeded on her own terms, ultimately using her life story to help others and to finally set the record straight on one of classic Hollywood's most enduring secrets.