How Clark Gable and Carole Lombard’s Hollywood Love Story Ended in Tragedy

Clark Gable, the iconic leading man of Hollywood's ‘Golden Age', is still remembered today for his unforgettable roles in classic films like The Misfits and Gone with the Wind.

While women across America and beyond swooned over him on screen, behind the scenes, Gable fell in love with a star who was almost as big as he was.

Carole Lombard, a Golden Age icon in her own right, was known for her energetic performances, charisma, and stunning looks.

Unlike many other Hollywood romances at the time, Gable and Lombard's love story took a different path.

There were no affairs or on-screen passion that spilled into their off-screen lives.

Their relationship should have been a simple one, but instead, it ended tragically.

The two Hollywood icons first met in 1932 while filming No Man of Her Own.

At the time, Gable was a 31-year-old heartthrob, and Lombard was an up-and-coming star.

Both were married, but unlike other stars who often engaged in affairs on film sets, there were no sparks between Gable and Lombard.

Despite their attractiveness, talent, and popularity, they saw each other only as colleagues.

In the four years following No Man of Her Own, both Gable and Lombard's marriages fell apart.

When they reunited in 1936, something changed.

Lombard was asked to host the Mayfair Ball, and Gable attended the event.

Although Lombard had divorced and brought another man as her date, rumors started swirling about their connection that night.

It was said that they flirted all night and even shared a ride home after a close dance.

Lombard didn't fall for Gable simply because he was a leading man.

She had her own star power and humor.

In fact, when he asked her up to his hotel room, she jokingly asked him, “Who do you think you are, Clark Gable?”

Gable fell hard for Lombard's charm and sense of humor, trusting her with his life.

Both Gable and Lombard were immensely famous individually, and they had to be cautious about keeping their relationship out of the press as they grew closer.

While finalizing his divorce from his second wife, Gable's closeness with Lombard started making headlines in fan magazines and tabloids.

Finally, on March 7, 1939, Gable officially divorced his second wife, and a few weeks later, he eloped with Lombard.

They got married during a production break while filming Gone with the Wind.

The ceremony took place in Kingman, Arizona, and they honeymooned at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel.

They bought a ranch in California, where they planned to lead a simple life, raising chickens and horses.

They affectionately referred to each other as “Ma” and “Pa.”

Even after getting married, Gable and Lombard continued working as film stars.

Whenever they were apart due to filming, they would send each other gag gifts.

This tradition began when Lombard gifted Gable a ham with his picture on it during the wrap party of No Man of Her Own.

However, their plans for a simple life were shattered when Pearl Harbor was bombed in December 1941.

Hollywood stars, including Lombard, joined the American war effort.

In January 1942, Lombard embarked on a War Bond Tour to raise money for the war effort.

She raised over $2 million, an impressive amount at the time.

After completing the tour, Lombard was eager to return home to Gable.

Instead of taking a three-day train journey, she insisted on flying back to California, accompanied by her mother and one of Gable's close friends.

Tragically, the plane carrying Lombard crashed into Mount Potosi in Nevada, killing all 22 passengers on board.

A devastated Gable rushed to Las Vegas, hoping for a miracle.

He wanted to find his wife and embarked on a treacherous journey to the crash site, despite being advised against it.

Gable's search was halted when officials found Lombard's body along with many others.

Gable claimed her body, as well as the bodies of his mother-in-law and close friend.

Lombard became the first war-related American female casualty of World War II.

Gable returned to their ranch home and had Lombard buried nearby, as she had wished.

Gable's life took a dark turn after Lombard's death.

He indulged in reckless behavior, rode his motorcycle dangerously, and coped with heavy drinking and smoking.

He signed up for the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942, stating that he didn't care if he lived or died.

After the war, Gable returned to Hollywood and continued making films.

He married twice more but never stopped loving Lombard, according to friends.

In 1960, after completing his final film, The Misfits, Gable suffered a heart attack and passed away.

He was buried next to Lombard, almost 20 years after her tragic death.

To this day, those who knew Gable and Lombard, or even just knew of them, say that his love for her endured until his last breath.