Clark Gable is one of the most famous American actors of the early twentieth century. Films with his participation to this day are popular with viewers. Despite all the difficulties, Clark became a real role model - every man tried at least a little to be like a famous actor. What can we say about the female audience - the fair sex considered it ideal. But the path to Clark's success was difficult and thorny.
Clark Gable: biography and childhood
The future world-famous actor was born on February 1, 1901 in the town of Cadiz, in
Ohio. His father, William Henry, worked as a driller in an oil well. Mother Adeline suffered from epilepsy and died when Clark was only seven months old. The father sent the child to be raised with his grandparents.
After some time, the boyâs dad got married again, after which he took his son home. Together with her stepmother, Jenny Clark moves to Hopedale. By the way, the art interested the boy from early childhood. At school, he was in an orchestra and often participated in theatrical productions. Clark's father considered his hobbies a whim. Nevertheless, her stepmother Jenny supported the boy's aspirations to engage in performing arts. At the age of 16, Clark Gable escaped from his parent's farm.
How did an acting career begin?
Naturally, the guy dreamed of a successful future. But the road to fame was extremely difficult. The young man moonlighted as a laborer in the theater. In order to live, he worked at a sawmill, distributed newspapers, sold ties, etc.
Quite unexpectedly, luck smiled at a simple guy - in 1924 he met the famous theater actress Josephine Dillon. Between them immediately began a romantic relationship, and in the same year they were married. By the way, the woman was 14 years older than Clark. The young man entered the cast of her corpses and even got small roles in silent films. For example, in 1924 he played a cameo role in the film "Forbidden Paradise", and in 1995, as an statistician, he participated in several films at once - "The Merry Widow", "Ben-Guru", etc.
First work in Hollywood
Soon, Clark leaves his first wife and begins dating actress Rea Langhem. It was she who brought him to Broadway, taught good manners, instilled a sense of style, provided participation in several productions. Here the producers noticed him, and soon the popular American company Metro Goldwyn Mayer invited the actor to sign a long-term contract.
Since that time, Clark Gable regularly receives small roles in films. In 1931, he got small scenes in the films âThe First Stripâ, âThe Secret Sixâ, âBloody Sportsâ, âThe Night Carerâ, âSusan Lenoxâ, âObsessedâ, etc. In 1932 he appeared on the screens in the role of the owner of the rubber company Dennis Carson in the melodrama Red Dust.
In 1933, the actor received another prominent role in the film "Dancing Lady". Here he played producer Patch Gallagher, in love with one of his actresses.
By the way, in his first films, Clark, as a rule, appears in the images of villains and insidious smoothies. But soon the situation changed, as he decided to move away from his usual role, which led to unimaginable success in the future.
The film "It happened one night" and the long-awaited recognition
Despite the fact that the first auditions in cinema were quite successful, Clark Gable was still considered a mediocre actor. But 1934 was a real breakthrough in his career. It was at this time that the shooting of the funny romantic comedy âIt happened one nightâ took place.
The plot of the picture is pretty straightforward. The wayward daughter of the millionaire Elli without the consent of his father is engaged to a loved one. In order to prevent her daughter from doing stupid things, dad decides to put her under house arrest on his own yacht. Naturally, a quick-witted girl manages to escape. Now she only needs to get to her fiance. On the bus, Ellie meets Peter Warne, a loser journalist. And although from the first seconds a hostility broke out between them, Peter still agrees to help the girl get to New York.
The role of Peter Warne brought Clark recognition and favor of American viewers. It was after this film that the actor became a role model and a secret dream of every woman.
Clark Gable: filmography
After such an overwhelming success, the actor begins to offer the main roles in
different projects. Films with Clark Gable begin to be popular, and on the set, the man is called the "King of Hollywood."
In 1935, he played captain Alan Gaskell in the melodrama Chinese Seas. In the same year, he played the role of the rebel aristocrat Christian Fletcher in the film "Rebellion on the Bounty." In 1936, he also starred in several films. In particular, he got the main role of the publisher Van Stenhope in the romantic comedy "The wife against the secretary." The musical melodrama âSan Franciscoâ was also popular among the audience, where Clark Gable played the cynical owner of the black club Blackie Norton, in love with one of his singers.
Later there were other films, in particular âLove on the Runâ, âSaratogaâ, âTest Pilotâ, âIdiot's Delightâ, etc.
Gone With The Wind And The Peak Of A Career
In 1939, the actor was offered a role in the film âGone with the Windâ, the script of which was created on the basis of the novel by Margaret Mitchell. At first, Clark refused to participate in the film, as he considered the role too complex. In addition, at that time
Gable was already a famous actor, the owner of the Oscar and did not want to play with Vivien Leigh, who was then a little-known British actress. Nevertheless, during the work, the actors managed to make friends. There were even rumors that romantic feelings arose between them, but Vivien, as well as Clark, always claimed that they had nothing but friendship.
The role of the cynical, impudent and tough rich Rhett Butler brought the actor worldwide recognition - now they have started talking about him in all corners of the world. The story of love-hate of a spoiled girl and an adult selfish man against the backdrop of the Civil War quickly turned into a real romantic tale. The film received as many as eight Oscars and became the most profitable in the history of American cinema. Of course, this picture tops the list of "Best Movies with Clark Gable."
Other films featuring the famous actor
After the success of Gone With the Wind, films followed by Clark Gable followed one after another. In 1941, he appeared before the audience in the guise of a fraudster Gerald Meldrick in the crime melodrama "They met in Bombay."
The film âSomewhere I Find Youâ became popular, where the actor played Jonath Davis, one of the brothers competing for the girlâs love. In 1953, a remake of the film "Red Dust" appeared under the name "Mogambo", where Clark also performed the main character. In 1958, he got the role of Captain Rich Richardson in the military drama "Go quietly, go deep." And in 1960, the actor worked on the romantic comedy "It Started in Naples."
The film "The Misfits", released in 1961, was the last work of the famous actor.
Clark Gable's personal life
As already mentioned, the famous actor was married several times. In 1924, he married Josephine Dillon, and after divorcing her in 1931, he entered into a new marriage with Ria Lengham, who, by the way, was also 17 years older than the actor. Their couple broke up in 1939. At that time, the actor was seriously carried away by Carol Lombard.
In 1939, star partners got married. The marriage of Carol and Clark could be called really happy. The actor-lovelace remained faithful and loyal to his wife. Unfortunately, Carol's life was tragically cut short - she died in a car accident. The death of his wife greatly influenced the famous actor, who, contrary to the prohibitions of employers, enlisted in the army, became a pilot and was desperately looking for death in battle. Nevertheless, in 1945 he returned home as an aviation major and again began acting in films.
After returning, Clark rushed headlong into work, and his new passions succeeded each other at the speed of lightning. In 1949, he married Sylvia Ashley, who was reputed to be a spoiled, greedy and vulgar girl. Their marriage broke up three years later, and in 1955, the actor again married the young fashion model Kay Williams.
By the way, at the time of the death of the actor, his wife was pregnant. Clark Gableâs son, John, was born March 20, 1961. He never once saw his father. By the way, if you are interested in all the children of Clark Gable, that is, information that he also had a daughter, Mary Juliet, who appeared after a short relationship with actress Loretta Young.
Nominations and awards of the actor
As mentioned earlier, international recognition came to the actor in 1935. It was then that he was awarded the coveted Oscar statuette for many for the best male role in the film "It Happened One Night." By the way, Clark became a kind of record holder - he gave the shortest speech in the history of the award ceremony. After the announcement, the actor went on stage, took the figurine, said "Thank you" and returned to the hall to his place.
During his career, Clark also received several nominations. In 1936 he was nominated for an award for Best Actor in the film "Rebellion on the Bounty." And in 1940 he again became a nominee, but now for the image of Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind.
Clark Gable was also twice nominated for the Golden Globe Award in 1959 (best actor for participating in the movie Teacherâs Favorite) and in 1960 (for playing in the movie âBut Not For Meâ).
Tragic demise
The famous actor Clark Gable unexpectedly died on November 16, 1960 on the set. At that time, he was just working on the film The Misfits. By the way, his partner in the picture was Marilyn Monroe.
By the way, the widow of the famous actor has repeatedly accused his partner of his death. After all, Marilyn was known not only for her acting skills, but also for her complex character. She regularly skipped shooting days, constantly made ugly scandals right on the set, and once she even drank pills, after which she was urgently taken to the hospital. By the way, Miss Monroe herself later, at sessions of psychoanalysis, called her behavior "bad" and unacceptable. At one time, the actress was sure that Clark was her real father, and this fix idea caused a lot of misunderstandings and constant quarrels.