Hollywood Scandal: The Story of Clark Gable’s Secret Daughter
“I’ve been lucky. If you ask me, I’d say my greatest talent has been luck. I never want to let that go. I never want to stop being lucky. I’ve never been able to understand why I’ve been so lucky in my life. But I’ve tried to be grateful for it. It’s made me feel that there’s something more than luck. There’s fate. And it’s been kind to me.” – Clark Gable
Clark Gable, the charismatic king of Hollywood embodies the golden age of cinema with his all-too-rugged charm and unforgettable smile; however, beneath the impressive facade of such an illustrious career lay a long-concealed truth.
A precious secret that would emerge many decades later. A daughter he had never met named Judy Lewis – who unknown to the world, had been born from a very fleeting but illicit affair between Gable and the beautiful actress Loretta Young.
Their relationship began on the set of “Call of the Wild,” which remained a massive secret due to the strict moral codes and taboos of the 1930s. Gable never acknowledged that Lewis was his daughter, though it’s quite obvious he knew.
Judy Lewis’s existence and life were a little-known tale among the vibrant social circles of the famous. One that was cleverly obscured by Loretta Young’s decision to hide her pregnancy from the outside world and even her inner circle.
Where a set of fabricated stories of adoption were told to protect the child from the relentless scrutiny of an unforgiving industry. Despite all the efforts to maintain her anonymity, Judy’s story eventually came to light, illuminating the intricate web of fame, family, and fortune beneath Hollywood’s dazzling exterior where things aren’t always what they seem to be.
In today’s post, I plan on diving into this interesting bit of Hollywood history… or should I say gossip? Lewis’s revelation as Clark Gable’s daughter rocked the public’s perception of Hollywood’s golden age stars. It exposes a magnitude of secrets inside the glamorous world of stardom. One that far exceeds what can be seen on the glittery silver screen…
“I hate insincerity, especially when it is my own. And I don’t think I could act myself unless I felt the part and could be sincere. I’ve always tried to live clean and act cleanly. Of course, I’ve often failed. When you fail, you have to pick yourself up and go on. The only reason they come to see me is that I know that life is great, and they know I know it.” – Clark Gable
Clark Gable’s Iconic Hollywood Career
Clark Gable’s dramatic and stunning rise to stardom rapidly took off after his breakout role in the film A Free Soul, where he played a loveable and flawed gangster alongside his very well-known co-stars Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard.
The film earned Gable widespread acclaim across the country making him one of Hollywood’s most bankable actors. Gable’s very natural screen presence immediately caught the attention of MGM. One of the era’s most powerful studios.
All this led to the landing of a full-time contract allowing Gable to be featured in an impressively long string of successful award-winning movies throughout the 1930s, further cementing his undeniable reputation as the King of Hollywood.
In 1934, Gable pulled himself out of his comfort zone with a performance in It Happened One Night. A romantic comedy directed by Frank Capra. Gable played the leading man, Peter Warne, a young reporter with a habit of getting into trouble.
Gable, who was well-received, snagged an Academy Award for Best Actor. This role was a huge turning point for Gable, showcasing his ability to make people laugh just as easily as he could make them cry or hold their breath in suspense.
Acting wasn’t just about all the impressive awards. Gable truly had this talent for effortlessly flowing between genres — whether it was a comedy, drama, or adventure, he nailed every role. This always kept audiences coming back for more…
Gable’s on-screen roles proved to be just as exciting and eventful as his actual personal life. The actor was married several times round. A total of five! His relationships were often fodder for the daily headlines around the country.
Most notably publicized was his third marriage to actress Carole Lombard. They were honestly known for being Hollywood “royalty”. Fans were quite in love with this young golden couple, often celebrating their union; however, tragedy would leave Gable devastated when Lombard died in a horrific airplane accident on her return trip from a war bond rally in 1942.
The death of his wife inspired Gable to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Forces not long after the fatal crash, where he served as an aerial gunner throughout the whole of WWII. This dark chapter in his life showcases the resilience and patriotism that Carole Lombard had inspired, further endearing him to the public. The world felt for Gable. He was a fan favorite.
Gable had quite a spectacular and popular return to Hollywood after the war had ended. He continued to receive success in every movie. His career only sky-rocketed in growth with him starring in films such as “The Hucksters,” “Mogambo,” and “Run Silent, Run Deep.” Gable’s performance resonated with audiences earning him praise after praise.
His final performance The Misfits, featured a talented cast of actors that included Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, and was directed by John Huston. Unfortunately, Gable died before he saw the film’s completion in 1961.
The Secret Affair with Loretta Young
In what became a whirlwind romance shrouded in endless secrecy, Clark Gable and Loretta Youngs’ paths crossed while on set, during the filming of Call of the Wild in 1935. Sparks undeniably went flying between the couple at first sight. Gable, an already established star with a magnetic presence was very drawn to his co-star’s remarkable beauty and charm.
Loretta, being a devout Catholic, found herself attracted to Gable’s unforgettable persona despite his very wild reputation as a ladies’ man. A passionate off-screen affair quickly materialized from the obvious on-screen chemistry they shared.
This was an affair that had to be kept strictly hidden due to the very unforgiving moral codes of the times. During a long train ride back to Hollywood after a location shoot, one of the most infamous episodes of their relationship occurred.
It was on this overnight journey, according to rumors, that Judy Lewis was conceived. Away from the prying eyes of Hollywood, the train ride provided the perfect intimate setting that allowed Gable and Young to indulge freely in their romance; however, the profound consequences of their secret liaison showed herself – A short nine months later…
Loretta faced a dilemma, she discovered that she was pregnant. Having children out of wedlock as a single woman in 1930 would have destroyed her career on the spot. This was going to change her life forever. No matter what followed…
The hardship and potential ruin, if he had dared to acknowledge that she was having his child, would have also created a mountain of trouble for Clark Gable’s career in the scandal-adverse industry that kept him high on a pedal stool. The pair surely would have faced some unpleasant and strong public backlash costing them new film roles and their contracts.
As it was, even when the cameras weren’t rolling, according to speculation among Hollywood insiders, the chemistry between Gable and Young was beyond palpable causing the affair to be the subject of major speculation in social circles.
Others noted that while on set filming, the two stars constantly snuck away during breaks to be alone, which only added to the rumor mill. Despite all their efforts to maintain discretion, whispers of their relationship ran rampant, circulating within the close-knit community of the film industry. All in hushed whispers and bites of gossip between confidants.
Aided by the studio’s influence and their careful maneuvering, both stars managed to somehow keep their short-lived affair out of the public eye for the most part. Rumors were only just that, nobody outright said what was going on…
“Love isn’t something you find. Love is something that finds you. Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell. Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished. The love story between Clark and me is a Hollywood fairy tale of love.” – Loretta Young
The Birth and Adoption of Judy Lewis
Loretta Young lived in a time where reputation, especially for a lady, was everything and often based on very strict morals. A surprise pregnancy created an unexpected challenge. One that she was unsure of. Could she raise a child on her own?
Young, known for her devout Catholicism and wholesome image, had no idea what to do or how to handle the situation. She was only twenty-two. The stigma of being an unwed mother was a hardship she didn’t know how to grapple with.
To shield herself from any and all scandal, Young formed a plan to hide in a private residence, retreating from the world temporarily, so her pregnancy was properly concealed from the public eye. This gave her the chance to relax and rest in a peaceful setting without any undo stress on the mother-to-be. Loretta needed to figure out what her next steps were.
With her due date quickly approaching, the heartbreaking decision to place her newborn daughter in an orphanage immediately after birth was considered and put into action – This move was strategic and a way to deflect all suspicion to protect Lorreta’s career from the harsh judgment of Hollywood. It was something Loretta thought she could live with.
This proved, however, to be too difficult for Loretta Young, whose maternal instincts were strong and the love for her child eventually led to the devising of a new daring plan: she would “adopt” Judy herself. The baby belonged to her.
Creating a narrative that Loretta had adopted a baby girl from an orphanage to raise as her own. Young couldn’t live without her daughter. It was that simple. She would take the risk of exposure if it meant that Judy would be raised by her.
Judy’s “adoption” unfortunately fueled intense speculation despite every effort Young had made to squash any remarks. The striking resemblance she had to both her biological parents sparked rumors to swirl like crazy among their inner circle.
Everyone believed that precious baby taken in by Loretta had to be the pair’s love child. Many who were close to the situation and the film world wondered about the girl’s parentage because the obviouswas just too difficult be ignore.
These intricate webs of deception and the great lengths Loretta Young went through in an attempt to protect her daughter’s true origins deeply underscore the complexities of life living under the spotlight in Hollywood’s golden age.
This poignant chapter in Hollywood history reveals the sacrifices made by Loretta Young. A woman, who honestly was just a scared unwed mother, trying to navigate the precarious balance between personal happiness and public scrutiny.
This can perhaps garner some sympathy and a little understanding surrounding Judy’s true parentage on Loretta’s behalf – The mystery surrounding her daughter captivated and intrigued the public for decades to come.
Childhood & Early Life Of Judy Lewis
The situation surrounding Judy’s birth was made even more complicated by the fact that Clark Gable at the time was a married man. He had a wife named Maria Langham, nicknamed “Ria”. This marriage added more layers to the potential scandal Loretta Young faced with her newborn daughter and a deciding factor in placing Judy into an orphanage.
Judy spent the first nineteen or so months of her life being moved around to various hideaways and a couple different orphanages temporarily before finally being reunited with her mother to be raised. The past now behind them.
Loretta Young began creating a whole new narrative, in which she had taken in an orphaned child out of charity of heart and publicly adopted Judy. This would hopefully allow Young to raise her daughter in quiet and relative peace.
A clear explanation without scandal attached could be given about Judy’s origins. The years passed, and when Judy was around four years old, Young married a prominent radio producer named Tom Lewis, who took in Judy as his own.
The family would also expand with the additions of the couple’s two sons, Christopher and Peter Lewis. The family appeared to be happy and living a normal family life by all suggestions; however, there were always small whispers.
The main challenge that kept coming up was Judy’s striking resemblance to Clark Gable. The two most notable features were the young girl’s widely broad smile that matched Gable’s precisely down to the very dimples and her rather large ears that stuck out prominently in the same way as her father’s. Gable was known for these unmistakeable ears.
To further hide Judy’s true parentage, Young had her daughter undergo a very painful operation at the age of seven to pin her ears back, a move that only highlights too well the impossible lengths Young would go to maintain the facade.
Similar to most children with Judy’s wealthy background, she attended several private schools throughout her childhood that were typical of Hollywood’s elite. Her education emphasized decorum, social graces, and language skills.
Judy was known for having keen intelligence, a quick biting wit, and a lively personality brimming with lots of humor. Traits she likely inherited from such talented parents; however, despite the privileged home life she was given, the confusion about her origins and the pressure of the unknown weighed heavily on her. Judy often wondered about her adoption.
As an adult, Judy struggled with her adoption, her fiancé recounted how she often spoke of feeling very isolated and alienated within her own family at times, unable to reconcile her public persona with the hidden truths of her birth.
Loretta Young never shared any real or true information with Judy, leaving her daughter lots of questions and often wondering about the birth family she thought she had never met and where she came from. While growing up, Judy didn’t even know Loretta was truly her birth mother. It would be years before she learned the truth surrounding that.
In 1950, when Judy was fifteen, she had a brief but memorable encounter with Gable. Her mother was working with him again on the film “Key to the City,” and one day Judy came home from school to find Gable standing in her front hallway.
Over the next hour, Clark Gable sat beside her on the sofa in her living room and engaged her in conversation about her life, asking about her schooling, hobbies, and interests. Before he left, he thanked her for a lovely visit and, cupping her face in his hands, kissed her lightly on the forehead. At the time, she had no idea that he was her biological father.
It was the only moment Judy ever spoke with Gable. The encounter, mixed with the resemblance she saw in Gable, only added to Judy’s lifelong feeling of isolation and confusion. There were questions that she just wasn’t ready to ask.
Years later, as she prepared for her wedding ceromony, Judy experienced a moment of sheer panic and told her fiancé, Joe Tinney, that she could not marry him after all because she didn’t know who she was. It wasn’t fair to him.
Tinney reassured her with a soothing reassurance, revealing that he knew everything about her true parentage, saying, “Judy, don’t worry about it. I know everything about you. You’re Clark Gable’s daughter.” This revelation astounded her and marked a significant realization leading her journey to self-discovery. Maybe it was time for real answers…
Judy Lewis’s Journey to Discovering Her Parentage
Shortly after Gable died in 1960 of complications resulting from two severe heart attacks within weeks of each other, Judy, now an adult, finally managed to muster enough courage to outright ask Loretta if she was her birth mother with some very direct and pointed questions during an emotional and intense visit at Loretta’s Hollywood home.
The questions had been in Judy’s mind, haunting her for years. The answers, however simple they may be, had the power to change everything. The truth had been denied to Judy for far too long. The moment of reckoning had arrived.
Loretta, usually so graceful and poised under stress and scrutiny, tearfully confirmed that she was Judy’s true birth mother and that Clark Gable had been her biological father. The truth was finally spoken. The lies crashing down in just seconds.
The conversation had been stripped of all composure as Judy listened to Loretta recount all the painful decisions surrounding the pregnancy, her birth, and the adoption. She was told the entire truth about her parent’s affair.
Young explained how, in the conservative climate of 1930s Hollywood, an affair with a married man — especially a star of Gable’s stature — would have been a career-ending scandal. To protect herself and her unborn child, she had gone into hiding during her pregnancy. The possibility of date rape did come up, however, this seems unlikely given the facts.
After Judy’s birth, Young placed her in an orphanage, fabricating an adoption story to maintain their reputations. As she spoke, Young’s voice wavered, filled with regret and sorrow for the pain her decisions had caused the daughter she loved.
Judy listened in absolute stunned silence, her emotions oscillating between waves of relief and unfiltered anguish. The truth clarified so many different aspects of her life — her resemblance to Gable, the very painful surgery to pin back her ears, and the fleeting but poignant meeting with Gable when she was only fifteen years old. Things she never understood.
Yet, the revelation also brought a renewed sense of betrayal and confusion. The mother she had always looked up to had kept such a monumental secret from her for years, altering the very foundation of her identity in more ways than one.
The confrontation ended with both women embracing each other as they navigated the complex emotions that surfaced through their heart-to-heart. Judy really had nothing but sympathy and forgiveness for the mother that gave her life.
This moment of raw honesty allowed Judy to begin the process of healing and understanding. It marked the start of a new chapter in her life, where she could reconcile her past with her present and build a future grounded in the truth.
Judy Lewis: Career and Personal Pursuits
Judy Lewis was marked by a determination to carve out her unique path, identity, and career. She spent her adult years striving to make a name based on her own merits. This meant everything to her. Lewis worked hard to achieve her goals.
She channelled all of her past experiences into navigating the complexities of her personal life with an expansive career that centered on acting, writing, and psychotherapy. Lewis was an interesting character who valued many skill sets.
Despite all the chaos of her parent’s past affair and how she learned about her true origins and their numerous ramifications, she always tried live a very happy, fulfilling, and well-balanced life with lots of love for everyone around her.
Following in the same footsteps of her very illustrious parents, Judy pursued a career in the entertainment industry working very hard to establish herself as a serious actress making her debut in the 1958 TV series Kitty Foyle.
She would then go on to land lucrative new roles in other various shows throughout the 1960s and 1970s. This included appearances in the popular daytime soap General Hospital, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and The Doctors. Her dedication and natural talent for entertaining earned her roles that helped her step outside the shadows to shine bright.
In addition to her acting career, Judy was also a writer. She penned her autobiography, “Uncommon Knowledge,” in 1994, where she candidly discussed her life, her discovery of her true parentage, and her complex relationship with her mother.
The book provided lots of profound insights into the emotional journey she had undertaken that really resonated with many readers from all spectrums of life, who had faced similar struggles with their own identity and dark family secrets. Through her writing, Judy found a therapeutic outlet to process her experiences and share her story with the world.
Parallel to her artistic endeavors, Judy pursued a more personal career in psychotherapy that was close to her heart, obtaining a hard earned master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles. She specialized in marriage counseling and family therapy specifically, driven by a desire to help others navigate their personal challenges.
Judy’s work as a therapist was deeply influenced by her own personal life experiences, and she brought a unique empathy and special understanding to her clients. Her transition into this field truly demonstrated her strong resilience and dedicated commitment to making a positive impact on others’ lives. This came from a deep passion to make a difference.
Lewis’ personal life was brimming with happiness by her marriage to Joe Tinney, the two shared a daughter named Maria. Although the marriage ended in divorce, Judy remained a devoted mother and found solace in her family and friends.
Her relationship with her mother, Loretta Young, was truly a complex but also an ever evolved one. Despite the initial pain and betrayal that lingered, they worked towards reconciliation, understanding, and ultimately forgiveness pretty quickly.
Judy Lewis’s legacy is one of strength, resilience, and compassion. She successfully navigated the challenges of her unique heritage, building a life that honored her true identity while always having a kind heart opened to healing past wounds.
Her contributions and dedication to the fields of entertainment, literature, and psychotherapy remain a testament to her multifaceted talents and her ever enduring spirit. Judy’s story continues to inspire those struggling with similiar family secrets and those in search for much needed self-acceptance. Judy had a lot to offer, living life to her best ability.
Clark Gable’s Influence on Judy Lewis: A Silent Legacy
While Clark Gable never publicly acknowledged Judy Lewis as his daughter during his lifetime, their hidden connection shaped Judy’s life in unexpected and meaningful ways. Despite the secrecy surrounding their relationship, there were subtle gestures and unspoken impacts that show the remarkable influence Gable had on the daughter he never knew.
Financially, there is no documented evidence that Gable provided any direct support to Judy Lewis’ upbringing. Given the clandestine nature of their connection, any financial assistance would have likely been arranged discreetly, if at all.
However, Clark Gable’s indirect contributions to Judy’s life through his esteemed career, fame, and reputation in Hollywood circles very well could have opened several doors and opportunities for his daughter, albeit quietly.
Regarding discussions between Gable and Loretta Young about Judy’s life, details are scarce. It’s plausible that, given the sensitive nature of their affair and the subsequent concealment of Judy’s paternity, any communication about Judy between Gable and Young would have been minimal and carefully guarded. It doesn’t seem likely that much occured.
They focused on maintaining privacy and importantly, shielding Judy from public scrutiny. In her later years, Judy Lewis navigated a path of personal reflection and professional achievement that surpassed even her own expectations.
Lewis passed away in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and authenticity. Her journey, from discovering her true parentage to embracing her identity, continues to resonate with those who navigate the complexities of familial bonds.
Through it all, the influence of Clark Gable—a legendary figure in Hollywood history—remains a poignant thread in Judy’s story, underscoring the enduring impact of familial connections even in the face of secrecy and adversity.
BOOK PICK OF THE DAY
BOOK SYNOPSIS: Clark Gable arrived in Hollywood after a rough-and-tumble youth, and his breezy, big-boned, everyman persona quickly made him the town’s king. He was a gambler among gamblers, a heavy drinker in the days when everyone drank seemingly all the time. A lover to legions of the most attractive women in the most glamorous business in the world, including the great love of his life, Carole Lombard.
In this well-researched and revealing biography, Warren G. Harris gives an exceptionally acute portrait of one of the most memorable actors in the history of motion pictures. Whose intimates included such legends as Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, Loretta Young, David O. Selznick, Jean Harlow, Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Spencer Tracy, and Grace Kelly—as well as a vivid sense of the glamour and excess of mid-century Hollywood.
© Samantha Sebesta, Samantha James, and The Chronicles of History: Reading Into Our Past, 2024. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Samantha Sebesta with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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Thanks for telling this story. I had no idea they had a daughter together. Cultural mores of the time really prevented this little family from being there and supporting one another. That seems a big loss.
Agreed. I think though, that I could never do what he did. I couldn’t live my life with a child out in the world that I just didn’t acknoledge, but he was a married man, who put his career first, and she did the same, by pretending her daughter was her adopted daughter.
Oh gosh, I don’t think I could do that either. One conversation when she was 15? I know the times were different, but I wish he had made more time for her.
I am just going to hope it was for the right intentions. Loretta remarried by the time Judy was 4, and Judy had a very loving step-father. Maybe they thought Clark keeping his distance was the best for her, who already had an established stable family. But I know Judy wrote a book, and she had a lot of issues with what her parents did. I know she loved them though, and forgave Loretta for lying to her.
For me, putting my child in an orphanage for the first 19 months would have been excruciating. That period of time is so important for child development and for connectedness.
It really does make me wonder if she had intended to just give Judy up for adoption, and couldn’t live it so she changed her mind, or she just wanted time to pass before she showcased her “adopted daughter”
Yes, either is possible since the options for single mothers were so few. I’m glad she was able to raise her daughter and found a good stepfather for her.
I whole heartedly agree!
I absolutely love your blog. Had no idea Clark had a daughter. Awesome post!
Awe Thank you so very much! I am glad you enjoyed my article!
Great post. I didn’t know he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and served in WWII. He was such a great actor.
Yep. His being in the air force during the war is one of my favorite things about him!
Wow what a story- full of equal heartbreak and joy. Great read on this iconic actor and this little known chapter of his life.
Thanks for reading, I’ve always been a huge Clark Gable fan. I love his era of movies especially Gone With The Wind! I think Judy is his spitting image. I find that so crazy, so thought this would be a fun article to write about. The more I researched it, the more sucked in I got. There is actually so much more I could write about this hahah!
I read The Chronicles of History and overall agree; however, in the research I have done, I did not find that Tom Lewis was a good-stepfather. He would make comments to Judy in front of her two younger half-brothers, Michaeland Peter, referencing Judy that “she’s not one of us”; in later years, he would listen in on her conversatimes; he would go through her closet and pull out the clothes and throw them on the floor accusing Loretta of “buying” those clothes. This would cause a disagreement betwen Loretta and Tom with her telling Tom that she had not bought Judy’s clothes that he had plundered in her closet, pulling out her clothes and throwing them on the floor, and Loretta would tell Tom that she made Judy’s clothes. There were also times when Tom would make Judy get on her knees and with a small brush of some sort scrub the floor in the sun-room of their home and instructing their maid NOT TO HELP JUDY DO THIS. Judy would, at times like these, wish her DADDY would come get her, as Loretta had told her from the beginning that she was adopted. Tom Lewis was EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE TO JUDY !!!!
Reba Brooks–It is my wish that any and everytime that LORETTA YOUNG saw or may have seen GWTW and especially THE LOVING SCENES BETWEEN LITTLE CAMMIE KING (BONNIE BLUE BUTLER) and CLARK GABLE (RHETT BUTLER–Bonnie’s DADDY), that what soul she had left was deeply pierced at the thought and knowledge of her ROBBING both CLARK AND JUDY, of their rightful relationship with each other as Daddy/Daughter.
Hold on a minute, and I’ll tell you the rest of the story of the thief, hypocrite and liar.
As far as Judy was concerned, Loretta Young only allowed Clark to see Judy ONCE when the baby was # 3 months old where he went to the rental home of Loretta’s mother by previous arrangements and was able to ever hold this precious baby that night.
Loretta told Judy later (after Clark had been dead for app 6 years) after Judy forced the truth from her lying and hypocritical mother that Clark fell in love with Judy; that he could not keep his hands off the baby; that the worst mistake she ever made was not getting Clark to marry her.
She told Judy that Clark could always make her laugh. When he left that night he gave Loretta $400 and told Loretta to at least buy the baby a decent bed, as she had Judy sleeping in a dresser drawer.
Clark continued to call Loretta, but Loretta would not return Clark’s messages and finally told him not to call her anymore. From that point forward, he was never able to have a part in his baby’s life–never invited to any BD’s, Christmas’, etc. Clark had tried to get Loretta to start being seen in public together; however, nothing Clark could suggest, neither Loretta nor her Mother would agree to try or to do.
I have read both Judy’s book, Uncommon Knowledge” where Judy also reveals that when she was app 15 years old, one afternoon when she got home from school, Clark was at her home standing in the foyer talking with Loretta. This was during the time that Clark and Loretta were filming their 2nd and last film, Key to the City” together.
Judy also revealed that during this visit, she had the feelings that Clark really cared about her; They went into the living room and after a few minutes, Judy realized Loretta had left the room. Judy was sitting on a couch whle Clark was sitting on another chair or couch in this room. She said Clark asked her if she would come sit beside him, and she did. Judy further stated that he asked her questions as any father would ask his daughter such as her favorite subjects in school, boyfriends, etc. They visited for what seemed like a couple of hours, and when he started to leave, he told her how much he had enjoyed this visit. She walked with him to the front door. He cupped her face with his hands, bent over and kissed her forehead and left. Judy stated that she never saw him again.
I guess Loretta was offering Clark a consolation prize when she sent him an invitation to Judy’s wedding even though the invitation was declined. (Never would allow them to have a relationship from Judy’s birth to Clark’s death but yet sent him an invitation to her wedding.
No one but our Heavenly Father and Clark know how many times he thought of his baby throughout the baby’s growing up years. It seems ironic that Clark’s death date seems to be saying, Judy and Maria (Judy’s baby and Clark’s grandbaby) mattered more to him than anyone will ever know.
Loretta would always tell Judy she had been adopted, never telling her any differently until about 6 years after her Daddy’s death when Judy forced the truth from her mother. App two weeks before Judy was married, she told her fiance that she couldn’t marry him because she did not know who she was; what she was bringing to their wedding. He told Judy that everyone knew that Clark Gable was her father.
She still was afraid at this point to mention this subject to Loretta but later received counselling re; this (after Clark’s death) and the counsellor suggested to Judy that she confront her mother re: this, and she did. When Judy flew home from NY about 6 years after Clark’s death, she notes in her book that Loretta picked her up from the airpot and seemed to know why she was home at this particular time.
After getting to Loretta’s home, Judy noticed that Loretta literally got sick on her stomach, went to the bathroom and threw up. Finally, Judy told her that she had to know if Clark was her father. Loretta first asked Judy if it would make her happy if he were. Judy responded to this answer that yes it would make her happy because from all that she had been told Clark was a wonderful person.
As far as Judy having already been told what a wonderful person Clark was, in the last interview with little Cammie King, who played “Rhett’s” and Scarlett’s little 4 year old daughter in GWTW, done 3 weeks before her death, the first question asked of her was “What was Clark Gable like?” Cammie’s response was, “Only that he was like a WONDERFUL DADDY, that he was very solicitous and considerate of me, and this was affirmed by my Mother.”
Loretta replied to this, ‘Well, yes he is your father and mentioned some of the other things referenced above. Loretta wrote a book, “Forever Young” with instructions for it not to be published until after her death.
Before Loretta’s death in August, 2000, she was watching a segment of Larry King Live where “Date Rape” was being discussed. An idea was formed in the witch’s head. She told her daughter-in-law, Linda Lewis, Michael’s wife, that this is what happened to her; that Clark Gable had date raped her after she told him no, even though she never revealed this in her book to be published after her death. Loretta was a well known “flirt” having carried on a relationship for 2 years with Spencer Tracy, his being married the entire time; however, according to Loretta they never had any sexual relationship during that time.
Loretta “claimed” she was a devout Catholic; however, after listening to Larry King Live, she knew if she said Clark had raped her, she would be absolved of any wrong doing of Judy’s birth in November, 1935, and the entire blame would be placed on Clark. She had Linda not to mention this until after Judy’s death—that way Judy would not be here to rebuttal anything and certainly not Clark as he had died in November, 1960.
Tara Ratney
Top contributor
All I know is that she said in her book that he was gentle with her so that left me confused on the rape part also people believed that clark wanted nothing to do with loretta afterwards with her even saying he wouldn’t leave her alone being that people were already talking she discouraged this. there are a lot of layers to this story with us really never knowing the truth. The last link to this drama died earlier this month Daniel Selznick with him stating in a doc that clark was bitter that loretta wouldn’t allow him to have anything to do with judy when she was growing up. And again another book about loretta stated during the forties after carol’s death he did try to talk to her but it was too uncomfortable for her with him respecting her wishes
Reba Brooks: The one important thing Loretta failed to realize or admit was that while she was more concerned about appearng squeaky clean before the Catholic Church, she apparently failed to realize or admit she needed to be more concerned about her decisions such as this one before our Heavenly Father.
When my husband and I would discuss this subject before his death, he would always say that while Loretta had Judy on this Earth, Clark would have his daughter for the Eternity.
Loretta Young was obviously beautiful, inside and out. <3