At high noon, just three days after the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Carole Lombard along with 21 others, the entire movie industry came to a standstill. Every studio employee shared a moment of silence as the haunting notes of "Taps" echoed through the air. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., the Senate paused their proceedings to pay tribute to this remarkable actress who had raised an impressive $2 million in war bonds only a week earlier. President Franklin D. Roosevelt himself extended his condolences to her grieving husband, Clark Gable, describing Carole as not just a friend but a true patriot.
The sudden and untimely death of Carole Lombard in 1942 at the young age of 33 sent shockwaves around the world. It was as if one of Hollywood's brightest stars had been extinguished far too early. Carole was a vivacious personality who embraced life with open arms. "I love life," she once said, embodying a zest for living that was infectious. Her charm was most evident in her roles in the screwball comedies of the 1930s, including the beloved films My Man Godfrey and Nothing Sacred. "I get a kick out of everything. If I don’t love what I’m doing, I don’t do it," she famously remarked, capturing her spirit of authenticity.
From Tomboy to Hollywood Legend
Carole Lombard's journey from a spirited tomboy in Indiana to becoming one of Hollywood's most celebrated actresses is nothing short of remarkable. Moving west as a child, she found her way into the world of acting early on. But it wasn't until she embraced the genre of comedies that she truly hit her stride. "She was a natural ham and a very funny, spontaneous person," explains Robert Matzen, the author of Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3, in an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly. Carole quickly earned the nickname "the profane angel of Hollywood" for her outspoken and down-to-earth demeanor. "I’m always happy … I was born that way," she once said, revealing the secret to her enduring charm. She was known for her intolerance towards "snobs" and any directors who mistreated their crew. "I’ve walked off sets when things like that happen," she boldly declared.
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This unwavering loyalty and her willingness to stand up for the underdog made Carole immensely popular both on and off the set. "She had friends on all the crews who would take care of her and light her carefully," shares Matzen, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of her career. Despite bearing facial scars from a serious car accident in her twenties, Carole refused to let it hinder her. Instead, she rose above it all and became a star, proving that true talent shines through even the toughest challenges.
A Love Story For the Ages
After her marriage to actor William Powell ended in divorce, Carole found love again with Clark Gable, with whom she had starred in the 1932 film No Man of Her Own. Both were Hollywood royalty at their peaks—Carole earning over $400,000 annually—but they shared a deep connection over simple pleasures. "They took these long expeditions to hunt and fish," Matzen reveals, adding that Carole even learned to handle a shotgun. Gable, who had been married twice before, wed Carole in 1939 during a break from filming Gone With the Wind. The newlyweds settled into a peaceful life on a ranch in then unfashionable Encino, California. "They lived a peaceful life," Michelle Morgan, author of Carole Lombard: Twentieth Century Star, tells Closer. "Clark would putter around with his old cars and farm work, and Carole was quite happy to help out and look after her animals."
Their idyllic life together was not without its challenges, marked by Carole's inability to have children, her suspicion of Clark's infidelity, and the looming threat of war. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, "she wanted Clark to enlist," says Matzen, "but he was 40, so that’s how the bond-selling campaign began." Tragically, on a return flight from one of these patriotic fundraisers, Carole's plane failed to clear the mountains near Las Vegas, resulting in her untimely death. "She didn’t trust Clark to be alone, and she wanted to get home quickly," explains Morgan.
A Legacy of Love and Loss
Clark Gable never truly recovered from the loss of Carole. "He would ride his motorbike around the Hollywood Hills with no care for safety," recalls Morgan. Despite marrying twice more, his zest for life seemed to fade. After his death in 1960, Clark was laid to rest beside Carole at Forest Lawn cemetery, symbolizing their enduring love story. —Louise A. Barile, reporting by Katie Bruno
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