Loretta Young (1913 – 2000) was an American actress whose career spanned over seven decades, making her one of Hollywood’s most enduring stars. She won an Academy Award, two Golden Globes, and three Primetime Emmy Awards, excelling in both film and television.
Starting as a child actress in silent films, she gained fame in the 1930s and 1940s with roles in Born to Be Bad (1934), Call of the Wild (1935), The Stranger (1946), and The Farmer’s Daughter (1947), which earned her an Academy Award. In the 1950s, she successfully transitioned to television, hosting The Loretta Young Show (1953 – 1961), a groundbreaking anthology series that made her one of TV’s first female stars. The show was a massive success, earning her multiple Emmy Awards.
Young’s personal life attracted attention, particularly her affair with Clark Gable during Call of the Wild, which resulted in the secret birth of her daughter, Judy Lewis. She kept the truth hidden for decades, publicly maintaining that Judy was adopted. Despite personal challenges, Young remained a respected figure, later returning briefly to acting in the 1980s.
She passed away in 2000, leaving behind a legacy of elegance, resilience, and remarkable performances that defined an era of Hollywood.