Biografía

Gave his Oscar for Sucedió una noche (1934) to a child who admired it, telling him it was the winning of the statue that had mattered, not owning it. The child returned the Oscar to the Gable family after Clark's death.

On June 11, 1933, he was hospitalized for pyorrhea, an infection of the gums the day before he was to begin shooting Dancing Lady (1933). He was hospitalized for several days, after which most of his teeth were extracted. The infection would have killed him had he not been rushed to a private hospital for treatment. Afterwards, he went on a vacation to Alaska and Canada with his wife, as it would take a couple of weeks for his gums to heal enough so he could be fitted for dentures. MGM shot around him until he returned and was fitted with a dental plate, but on July 30, after one day's shooting, the infection felled him again. In the days before antibiotics, the infection was so serious that his gall bladder was removed. Out for another month, the film had to be shut down and went $150,000 over budget. MGM boss Louis B. Mayer docked him two weeks pay, which caused bad feelings between the studio and its top star, although his illness was genuine and he was not malingering. To teach him a lesson, Mayer lent him to Columbia Pictures, then a "Poverty Row" studio, to make a comedy. The movie, Frank Capra's masterpiece Sucedió una noche (1934), swept the Academy Awards the next year and brought Gable his only Oscar.

Reportedly attempted suicide on a high-powered motorbike following the tragic and untimely death of his wife Carole Lombard.

He was already good friends with Hattie McDaniel prior to their making Lo que el viento se llevó (1939) together, and wanted her to play the part of "Mammy", but it was her coming fully dressed and nailing the part that got her the coveted role. When it came time for the premiere on December 15, 1939, producer David O. Selznick attempted to bring along McDaniel. MGM advised him not to because of Georgia's strict segregation laws, which would have prevented McDaniel from being at the same function, on an equal basis, with whites. Gable was so outraged he told MGM he would not attend the premiere unless she was allowed to attend, also. She eventually convinced him to attend without her.

Well known for his pipe smoking, sustaining at least two bowlfuls a day. To this day he still has pipes named after him.

The only reason they come to see me is that I know that life is great - and they know I know it.

[on his acting ability] I worked like a son of a bitch to learn a few tricks and I fight like a steer to avoid getting stuck with parts I can't play.

This "King" stuff is pure bullshit. I eat and sleep and go to the bathroom just like everybody else. There's no special light that shines inside me and makes me a star. I'm just a lucky slob from Ohio. I happened to be in the right place at the right time, and I had a lot of smart guys helping me--that's all.

Working with Marilyn Monroe on Los inadaptados (1961) nearly gave me a heart attack. I have never been happier when a film ended.

[about Los inadaptados (1961)] This is the best picture I have made, and it's the only time I've been able to act.

Los inadaptados (1961) - $750,000 + $58,000 for each week of overtime

Cita en Hong Kong (1955) - $100,000

Caballero nocturno (1949) - $241,250

Extraño cargamento (1940) - $7,500 /week

Lo que el viento se llevó (1941) - $120,000