Loretta Young, renowned for her beauty and talent as an actress, carried a dark secret that haunted her until her death.

During the filming of “Call of the Wild” in 1935, Loretta worked closely with Clark Gable, who at the time was married to Maria ‘Ria’ Franklin Prentiss Lucas Langham, his second wife.

Their bond deepened during the filming, and shortly after the movie wrapped, Loretta discovered she was expecting a child.

The revelation led to a series of events where Loretta strived to conceal the truth surrounding her pregnancy.

It wasn’t until later, when the paternity of her daughter Judy was disclosed, that the full story emerged.

Linda Lewis, Loretta Young’s daughter-in-law, shed light on the harrowing truth behind Judy’s conception.

According to Ms. Lewis, Loretta, a devout Catholic guided by strong moral values, endured a traumatic experience at the hands of Clark Gable, resulting in the pregnancy.

The disclosure came about during a moment while watching an episode of Larry King Live, where the topic of date rape was discussed.

At 85 years old, Loretta Young sought clarification from Ms. Lewis on the meaning of date rape, only to acknowledge that it resonated with her own encounter with Clark Gable.

Despite the shock and horror of the revelation, Loretta’s primary concern remained shielding Judy from any hurt or harm.

Following Judy’s passing in 2011 at the age of 78, Ms. Lewis and her husband, Chris, Loretta Young’s son from her second marriage, opted to bring the truth to light.

Their decision stemmed from a desire to honor Loretta’s wish to protect Judy from any pain associated with her conception.

Loretta Young’s illustrious career as one of Hollywood’s brightest stars prior to meeting Clark Gable was marked by professionalism and a strict adherence to her Catholic faith.

Although Loretta was known to develop close bonds with her co-stars, it is believed that she had never succumbed to any advances until her encounter with Gable.

The circumstances leading to Judy’s conception unfolded during a train journey from Seattle to Los Angeles, where an unexpected encounter with Gable resulted in Loretta’s pregnancy.

Despite efforts to conceal the truth, Loretta eventually confided in Judy when she turned 23, revealing the identity of her father.

Judy never learned the full extent of the circumstances surrounding her conception, a detail that Ms. Lewis chose to disclose in light of recent high-profile cases of historic rape.

Reflecting on the prevalence of such incidents, Ms. Lewis emphasized the importance of accountability and justice for victims, underscoring the urgency to address such injustices in society.