Judy Lewis
Encyclopedia
Judy Lewis was an American actress, writer, producer, and therapist, and the secret biological daughter of actor Clark Gable
and actress Loretta Young
.
and actor Clark Gable
, who had a brief affair while working on the film Call of the Wild
. Judy was the only biological child that Gable had while he was still alive, (his only son was born four months after he died of a heart attack at age 59 to his fifth wife, Kay Williams), but he had no relationship with her. Gable was married at the time to "Ria" Langham. Young concealed her pregnancy to protect their film careers and to avoid scandal. Young went to Europe for several months and then returned to a small house in Venice, California with her mother. A Hollywood gossip columnist interviewed her because she was claiming to be ill and resting. She gave the interview from her bed, covered in blankets to conceal her large belly.
Young gave birth, and weeks later, the baby was put in an orphanage for about 18 months. Young's mother then went to pick the toddler up. Later she told Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons
that she had "adopted" two children and several weeks later, told Parsons that she had to give one of the children back to its biological mother. She did this as a smokescreen to cover up the birth and to make her adoption story more believeable.
When Judy was four years old, her mother married businessman Tom Lewis and she went by the last name of Lewis. However Tom never adopted Judy, because he never knew that she was his wife's biological daughter, a fact he would have found out if he adopted her.. Her mother went on to have two more sons with Lewis.
Judy looked almost exactly like her mother except that her ears stuck out like Gable's. Young often put bonnets on the toddler. Young had Judy undergo a painful operation on her ears as a child to pin them back, in another attempt to hide her real parentage. As Judy grew up, several people in Hollywood, as well as the public, began to believe that Clark Gable was her biological father. When Judy was fifteen, Gable came to her mother's house to visit her briefly. Gable asked about her life and then upon leaving, kissed her on her forehead. It was the only time that Judy ever spoke to Gable, and she had no idea he was her father. When Judy met her future husband at age twenty-three, it was he that told her that Gable was her biological father and that "everyone" knew. Judy was stunned. She finally confronted her mother, when she was thirty-one (and Gable had been dead for five years). Loretta Young promptly threw up, and confirmed she was her biological mother (not her adopted mother) and Clark Gable was her father. Judy wrote a book about her life titled Uncommon Knowledge
, because it seemed that she was the only one who did not know about her true parentage. Loretta Young died on August 12, 2000 at the age of 87, and confirmed in her autobiography, published after her death of ovarian cancer, that Gable was Judy's father.
Judy was the niece of actresses Polly Ann Young
, Sally Blane
, and Georgiana Young. Her aunt, Georgiana (Loretta Young's half-sister), was married to actor Ricardo Montalbán
until her death. She was also the half-sister of John Clark Gable (Clark Gable's son with his fifth wife Kay Williams), Christopher Lewis
and Peter Lewis
. Musician David Lindley
is her cousin.
Lewis' credits include appearances on TV serials such as General Hospital
, Kitty Foyle
, The Brighter Day
, The Doctors
. Ms. Lewis had her longest running serial role on The Secret Storm
as Susan Ames from 1964 - 1971. She also produced the short-lived Another World
spin-off, Texas
and was a script writer for NBC Daytime
's Search for Tomorrow
.
In 1958, Lewis guest starred in the episode entitled "Attack" of the syndicated
western
series Mackenzie's Raiders
, starring Richard Carlson. In 1960, she guest starred as a girlfriend of a U.S. Navy officer in the episode "Tiger Blood" of the syndicated
series The Blue Angels
. In the 1961-1962 television season, she appeared as Connie Masters, an employee of the Wells Fargo
office in Stillwater
, Oklahoma
, in the NBC
western
television series The Outlaws
. In 1975, she guest starred in the short-lived CBS
family drama, Three for the Road
.
Lewis was divorced with one daughter, Maria, and two grandsons. She obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles, became a licensed family and child counselor in 1992, and was a practicing psychotherapist in Los Angeles
, California
, specializing in foster care and marriage therapy.
Judy Lewis died of cancer on November 25, 2011.
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
and actress Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
.
History
Judy Lewis was the biological daughter of actress Loretta YoungLoretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
and actor Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
, who had a brief affair while working on the film Call of the Wild
Call Of The Wild
-Track listing:All songs written by Ted Nugent, except where indicated:#"Call of the Wild" – 4:51#"Sweet Revenge" – 4:06#"Pony Express" – 5:21#"Ain't It the Truth" – 4:57#"Renegade" – 3:33...
. Judy was the only biological child that Gable had while he was still alive, (his only son was born four months after he died of a heart attack at age 59 to his fifth wife, Kay Williams), but he had no relationship with her. Gable was married at the time to "Ria" Langham. Young concealed her pregnancy to protect their film careers and to avoid scandal. Young went to Europe for several months and then returned to a small house in Venice, California with her mother. A Hollywood gossip columnist interviewed her because she was claiming to be ill and resting. She gave the interview from her bed, covered in blankets to conceal her large belly.
Young gave birth, and weeks later, the baby was put in an orphanage for about 18 months. Young's mother then went to pick the toddler up. Later she told Hollywood gossip columnist Louella Parsons
Louella Parsons
Louella Parsons was the first American news-writer movie columnist in the United States. She was a gossip columnist who, for many years, was an influential arbiter of Hollywood mores, often feared and hated by the individuals, mostly actors, whose careers she could negatively impact via her...
that she had "adopted" two children and several weeks later, told Parsons that she had to give one of the children back to its biological mother. She did this as a smokescreen to cover up the birth and to make her adoption story more believeable.
When Judy was four years old, her mother married businessman Tom Lewis and she went by the last name of Lewis. However Tom never adopted Judy, because he never knew that she was his wife's biological daughter, a fact he would have found out if he adopted her.. Her mother went on to have two more sons with Lewis.
Judy looked almost exactly like her mother except that her ears stuck out like Gable's. Young often put bonnets on the toddler. Young had Judy undergo a painful operation on her ears as a child to pin them back, in another attempt to hide her real parentage. As Judy grew up, several people in Hollywood, as well as the public, began to believe that Clark Gable was her biological father. When Judy was fifteen, Gable came to her mother's house to visit her briefly. Gable asked about her life and then upon leaving, kissed her on her forehead. It was the only time that Judy ever spoke to Gable, and she had no idea he was her father. When Judy met her future husband at age twenty-three, it was he that told her that Gable was her biological father and that "everyone" knew. Judy was stunned. She finally confronted her mother, when she was thirty-one (and Gable had been dead for five years). Loretta Young promptly threw up, and confirmed she was her biological mother (not her adopted mother) and Clark Gable was her father. Judy wrote a book about her life titled Uncommon Knowledge
Uncommon Knowledge
Uncommon Knowledge was a weekly 30-minute current affairs show hosted by Peter Robinson and co-produced and presented by San Jose, California, PBS member station KTEH from 1997 to 2005...
, because it seemed that she was the only one who did not know about her true parentage. Loretta Young died on August 12, 2000 at the age of 87, and confirmed in her autobiography, published after her death of ovarian cancer, that Gable was Judy's father.
Judy was the niece of actresses Polly Ann Young
Polly Ann Young
Polly Ann Young was an American film actress.Actresses Loretta Young and Sally Blane were her sisters, and, of the three, Polly Ann was the least successful. Between 1917 and 1941 she featured in 34 movies, some of them minor uncredited roles. Among her most notable movie roles, was as John...
, Sally Blane
Sally Blane
Sally Blane was an American actress. Blane was the sister of actresses Polly Ann and Loretta Young, and half-sister to actress Georgiana Young, the wife of actor Ricardo Montalban...
, and Georgiana Young. Her aunt, Georgiana (Loretta Young's half-sister), was married to actor Ricardo Montalbán
Ricardo Montalbán
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro Montalbán y Merino, KSG was a Mexican radio, television, theatre and film actor. He had a career spanning six decades and many notable roles...
until her death. She was also the half-sister of John Clark Gable (Clark Gable's son with his fifth wife Kay Williams), Christopher Lewis
Christopher Lewis
Christopher Lewis is a writer and film producer, primarily for television.-Family:Christopher Lewis is one of two sons of Hollywood actress Loretta Young...
and Peter Lewis
Peter Lewis (musician)
Peter Lewis is one of the founding members of the band Moby Grape. Three of his better known songs with Moby Grape are "Fall On You" and "Sitting By The Window" from the self-titled first Moby Grape album and "If You Can't Learn From My Mistakes", from Moby Grape '69.- Background :He is the...
. Musician David Lindley
David Lindley (musician)
David Perry Lindley is an American musician who is notable for his work with Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, and other rock musicians. He has worked extensively in other genres as well, performing with artists as varied as Curtis Mayfield and Dolly Parton...
is her cousin.
Lewis' credits include appearances on TV serials such as General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
, Kitty Foyle
Kitty Foyle
Kitty Foyle may refer to:* Kitty Foyle , by Christopher Morley* Kitty Foyle * Kitty Foyle * Kitty Foyle , an American soap opera...
, The Brighter Day
The Brighter Day
The Brighter Day is an American daytime soap opera which aired on CBS from January 4, 1954 to September 28, 1962. Originally created for NBC radio by Irna Phillips in 1948, the radio and television versions ran simultaneously from 1954-1956...
, The Doctors
The Doctors
The Doctors is a soap opera which aired on NBC Daytime from April 1, 1963, to December 31, 1982. There were 5280 episodes produced, with the 5000th episode airing in November 1981...
. Ms. Lewis had her longest running serial role on The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm
The Secret Storm is a soap opera which ran on CBS from February 1, 1954 to February 8, 1974. The series was created by Roy Winsor, who also created the long-running soap operas Search for Tomorrow and Love of Life...
as Susan Ames from 1964 - 1971. She also produced the short-lived Another World
Another World (TV series)
Another World is an American television soap opera that ran on NBC from May 4, 1964 to June 25, 1999. It ran for a total of 35 years. It was created by Irna Phillips along with William J...
spin-off, Texas
Texas (TV series)
Texas is an American daytime soap opera which aired on NBC from August 4, 1980 until December 31, 1982. Created by John William Corrington, Joyce Hooper Corrington, and Paul Rauch, the show was a spinoff of Another World...
and was a script writer for NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime
NBC Daytime is the schedule for the NBC television network's daytime television programming which consists of morning news program Today and soap opera Days of our Lives...
's Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow
Search for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
.
In 1958, Lewis guest starred in the episode entitled "Attack" of the syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
series Mackenzie's Raiders
Mackenzie's Raiders
Mackenzie's Raiders is an American Western television series starring Richard Carlson that aired in syndication from 1958 until 1959. The series was narrated by Art Gilmore.-Synopsis:...
, starring Richard Carlson. In 1960, she guest starred as a girlfriend of a U.S. Navy officer in the episode "Tiger Blood" of the syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
series The Blue Angels
The Blue Angels (TV series)
The Blue Angels is a 1960-1961 syndicated television series about the Blue Angels of the United States Navy. The program starred Dennis Cross as Commander Arthur Richards, the head of a four-man squadron which tours the country to give flight exhibitions...
. In the 1961-1962 television season, she appeared as Connie Masters, an employee of the Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...
office in Stillwater
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
television series The Outlaws
The Outlaws (1960 TV series)
Outlaws is an NBC Western television series, starring Barton MacLane as U.S. marshal Frank Caine, who operated in a lawless section of Oklahoma Territory about Stillwater. The program aired 50 one-hour episodes from September 29, 1960, to May 10, 1962. The first season was shot in black-and-white,...
. In 1975, she guest starred in the short-lived CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
family drama, Three for the Road
Three for the Road (TV series)
Three for the Road was a 12-episode CBS drama television series about a recently widowed father and his two sons who in an attempt to assuage their grief, sell their house, procure a recreational vehicle, called the "Zebec", and travel around the United States...
.
Lewis was divorced with one daughter, Maria, and two grandsons. She obtained a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles, became a licensed family and child counselor in 1992, and was a practicing psychotherapist in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, specializing in foster care and marriage therapy.
Judy Lewis died of cancer on November 25, 2011.
Awards
- In 1985, she shared a Writers Guild of AmericaWriters Guild of AmericaThe Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
award for several episodes of TV's Search For TomorrowSearch for TomorrowSearch for Tomorrow is an American soap opera which premiered on September 3, 1951 on CBS. The show was moved from CBS to NBC on March 29, 1982. It continued on NBC until the final episode aired on December 26, 1986, a run of thirty-five years. At the time of its final broadcast it was the...
.
Further reading
- Uncommon Knowledge by Judy Lewis (Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster, 1994), ISBN 0-671-70019-7 (Includes an interview with Judy Lewis)