The King's Legacy: A Deep Dive Into Clark Gable's Children, Grandchildren, And The Secret Hollywood Dynasty
Few Hollywood legends cast a shadow as long as Clark Gable, the "King of Hollywood" whose rugged charm defined an era. Yet, the story of his children is a complex, often tragic, and deeply private saga that unfolded largely out of the public eye. As of the current date, December 19, 2025, the Gable family legacy continues through his surviving son and a new generation of great-grandchildren, all while grappling with the loss of his namesake grandson in a modern tragedy. This is the definitive, updated look at the two children Clark Gable left behind and the dynasty they created.
The lives of Clark Gable’s two biological children—one a secret born from a forbidden affair, the other a posthumous son—were shaped by the immense pressure of his fame and the enduring secrets of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Their unique stories reveal a hidden side of the iconic actor and the surprising twists of fate that continue to impact his descendants today, including recent deaths and new additions to the family tree.
The Complete Clark Gable Family Tree: Children, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren
Clark Gable had two biological children, one of whom he never publicly acknowledged, and one who was born after his death. He also had a stepson, Bunker Spreckels, from his marriage to Kay Williams, but no biological children with his most famous wife, Carole Lombard.
- Judy Lewis (Biological Daughter)
- Born: November 6, 1935, in Los Angeles, California.
- Died: November 25, 2011, in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania (Age 76, from cancer).
- Mother: Actress Loretta Young.
- Spouse: Joseph Lewis Tinney Jr. (m. 1958).
- Daughter (Granddaughter to Clark Gable): Maria Tinney Dagit (actress, writer).
- Grandchildren (Great-Grandchildren to Clark Gable): Richard Hansen, Abigail Benjamin, Michael Hansen, Emma Lewis, and Aaron Lewis.
- John Clark Gable (Biological Son)
- Born: March 20, 1961, in Los Angeles, California (four months after Clark Gable's death).
- Mother: Fifth wife, Kay Williams.
- Status: Surviving child (as of 2025).
- Career: Former actor, race car driver, and businessman.
- Children (Grandchildren to Clark Gable):
- Clark James Gable III (Deceased, Host of *Cheaters*).
- Kayley Gable (Surviving, Model/Actress).
- Great-Grandchildren to Clark Gable: Shore LaRae Gable and Ocean Clark Gable.
The Secret Daughter: Judy Lewis and the Loretta Young Scandal
The story of Judy Lewis, Clark Gable’s first child, is a quintessential Hollywood tragedy, marked by secrecy and deception. Judy Lewis was the biological daughter of Gable and his co-star, the deeply religious actress Loretta Young, following their affair during the filming of *The Call of the Wild* in 1935.
Loretta Young's Elaborate Cover-Up
To protect her career and reputation in a strict Catholic era, Loretta Young orchestrated an elaborate scheme to conceal her pregnancy. She traveled abroad, returned home in secret to give birth, and then announced she had "adopted" the baby girl, whom she named Judy. Young even went so far as to make Judy wear bonnets that obscured her face, as the child bore a striking resemblance to Clark Gable, especially his prominent ears.
Judy Lewis grew up believing she was adopted. It wasn't until she was 31 that she finally learned the truth of her parentage, a revelation that deeply impacted her life. Clark Gable never publicly acknowledged Judy, although they met several times. The closest he came was a moment when he visited her as a child, gave her a gift, and kissed her forehead, telling her, "I wish you were my daughter."
The truth was only fully confirmed when Loretta Young, late in her life, authorized a biography where she finally admitted that Judy was her biological daughter with Clark Gable. Judy Lewis went on to become an accomplished actress, writer, producer, and psychotherapist, often using her own life story to help others.
John Clark Gable: The Posthumous Son and the Surviving Line
Clark Gable died suddenly in November 1960 from a heart attack, just days after wrapping up his final film, *The Misfits*. At the time of his death, his fifth wife, Kay Williams, was pregnant. Their son, John Clark Gable, was born four months later, in March 1961, making him the only child Clark Gable had with a wife and the only one to carry his name.
The Life of John Clark Gable
John Clark Gable grew up under the shadow of a legendary father he never met. He pursued a career in acting and modeling, though he never reached the heights of his father's fame. He was also a passionate off-road racer, an interest that offered him a life outside the Hollywood spotlight. Unlike his half-sister Judy, John Clark Gable is the surviving biological child of the "King." As of 2025, he remains a private figure, occasionally participating in events honoring his father's legacy.
John Clark Gable has had a tumultuous personal life, including multiple marriages, but his two children, Kayley and Clark III, brought the Gable name into the next generation. It is through John Clark Gable that the lineage continues today.
Tragedy and Legacy: The Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren
The Gable dynasty is now carried by the great-grandchildren, but not without significant loss in the generation before them. The most recent and widely reported tragedy was the death of Clark Gable’s namesake grandson, Clark James Gable III.
The Loss of Clark Gable III
Clark James Gable III, son of John Clark Gable, was a model and, notably, the host of the reality TV show *Cheaters*. He bore a striking resemblance to his iconic grandfather, often being cited as the heir to the Gable look. Tragically, Clark Gable III passed away on February 22, 2019, at the age of 30. The Dallas County Medical Examiner's office confirmed that his death was an accidental overdose, resulting from the combined effects of fentanyl and oxycodone.
At the time of his death, Clark Gable III had a young daughter, Shore LaRae Gable, who was born in September 2017. Shore LaRae Gable is Clark Gable’s great-granddaughter and a direct descendant carrying the Gable name.
The Surviving Granddaughters and Great-Grandson
Clark Gable's surviving grandchildren are his son's daughter, Kayley Gable, and his daughter's children, led by Maria Tinney Dagit. Kayley Gable is a former model and reality TV personality who has worked to keep the family name relevant in the entertainment industry. She also has a son, Ocean Clark Gable, making him another great-grandchild and a carrier of the famous middle name.
Judy Lewis's daughter, Maria Tinney Dagit, is a published author and writer, following in her mother's footsteps by telling stories. Her children, Clark Gable's great-grandchildren, have largely maintained a private life away from the Hollywood machine, a choice that perhaps offers them the peace denied to their famous ancestors. The enduring legacy of the "King" is no longer found on the silver screen, but in the complex, resilient lives of his descendants, who continue to navigate the world with a name that means both glory and a lifetime of secrets.
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