Elvis Presley and Clark Gable became icons in two different eras, yet both helped define what a major American star could look like. Elvis transformed popular music with his voice, stage presence and unmistakable style, while Gable became the quintessential Hollywood leading man through films such as Gone with the Wind and It Happened One Night. Their careers, family lives and fortunes followed very different paths, making this a fascinating side-by-side look at two enduring entertainment legends.
Elvis Presley and Clark Gable Quick Bio
| Profile | Elvis Presley | Clark Gable |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Elvis Aaron Presley | William Clark Gable |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1935 | February 1, 1901 |
| Age | 42 at death (1977) | 59 at death (1960) |
| Net Worth — Estimated | About $5 million at death, equivalent to roughly $20 million today after inflation; historical estate and modern legacy values are different measures. | About $10 million at death, equivalent to roughly $100 million today after inflation. |
| Birthplace | Tupelo, Mississippi, USA | Cadiz, Ohio, USA |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Nickname | The King / The King of Rock and Roll | The King of Hollywood |
| Profession | Singer, musician, actor and soldier | Actor and producer |
| Famous For | Pioneering rock and roll, iconic live performances, hit records and films | Classic Hollywood films and his role as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind |
| Career | 1950s–1977; recording career began with Sun Records in 1954. | 1920s–1960; film career began in the silent era before his MGM breakthrough. |
| Major Breakthrough | “That’s All Right” (1954) and subsequent RCA success | MGM breakthrough in the early 1930s |
| Major Career Achievement | Over one billion records sold worldwide; 31 feature films and two concert documentaries; three Grammy Awards. | Academy Award-winning performance in It Happened One Night and major roles in Gone with the Wind, Mutiny on the Bounty and San Francisco |
| Notable Films | Love Me Tender, Jailhouse Rock, Blue Hawaii, Viva Las Vegas | It Happened One Night, Mutiny on the Bounty, Gone with the Wind, San Francisco, The Misfits |
| Height | Approximately 6 ft (1.83 m) | Approximately 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight | Varied considerably throughout his life; no single reliable official figure | No consistently documented official figure |
| Hair Color | Naturally brown/dark brown; famously dyed black | Brown/dark brown |
| Eye Color | Blue | Blue |
| Parents | Vernon Presley and Gladys Presley | William Henry “Will” Gable and Adeline Hershelman Gable |
| Siblings | Twin brother Jessie Garon Presley was stillborn; Elvis grew up as an only child. | One older sister, Minnie Bertha Gable Hornberger |
| Education | Humes High School, Memphis; graduated in 1953. | Left high school at about 16; no college education |
| Hobbies & Interests | Guitar, cars, motorcycles, horseback riding, football, karate, gospel music and collecting | Cars, mechanical work, hunting, outdoor activities, music, sports and literature |
| Military Service | U.S. Army; active duty 1958–1960, followed by reserve service. | U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II; served as a major and flew combat missions |
| Marital Status | Married once | Married five times |
| Spouse | Priscilla Presley | Josephine Dillon, Ria Langham, Carole Lombard, Sylvia Ashley and Kay Williams |
| Marriage Date | May 1, 1967 | First marriage: 1924 |
| Divorce | 1973 | Multiple divorces; marriage to Carole Lombard ended with her death in 1942 |
| Children | One child: Lisa Marie Presley. | Two children, including Judy Lewis and John Clark Gable |
| Family | Vernon and Gladys Presley; Lisa Marie was his only child | Born to Will and Adeline Gable; later married five times and had two children |
| Graceland / Major Home | Purchased Graceland in 1957 for $102,500. | No equivalent celebrity estate associated with his legacy |
| No personal account; Elvis died decades before Instagram existed | No personal account; Gable died decades before Instagram existed | |
| Date of Death | August 16, 1977 | November 16, 1960 |
| Place of Death | Graceland, Memphis, Tennessee | Los Angeles, California |
| Cause of Death | Heart failure, according to Graceland’s official FAQ. | Coronary thrombosis |
| Legacy | The King of Rock and Roll and one of the most influential figures in 20th-century popular culture | The King of Hollywood and one of the defining leading men of Hollywood’s Golden Age |
Elvis Presley and Clark Gable Images
