Carole Lombard (1908 - 1942)

American actress known for her performances in screwball comedies. Nominated for an Academy Award for My Man Godfrey. Was married to Clark Gable. Died in a plane crash in 1942.

* October 6, 1908 Fort Wayne, Indiana
 as Jane Alice Peters
 January 16, 1942 Table Rock Mountain, Nevada



Carole Lombard was an American actress who was one of the biggest stars of the 1930s and 1940s. She began her career in silent films before transitioning to sound films, and quickly established herself as a leading lady in Hollywood. She was known for her comedic timing, but also had success in dramatic roles.

Lombard was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1908 and began her acting career in the early 1920s. She appeared in several silent films under the name Carol Lombard, including "A Perfect Crime" (1921) and "Gold and the Girls" (1925). With the advent of sound films, she changed her name to Carole Lombard and quickly established herself as a leading lady in Hollywood. She appeared in a number of popular films in the early 1930s, including "No More Orchids" (1932) and "Bolero" (1934).

Lombard's career reached new heights in the late 1930s and early 1940s. She starred in several critically acclaimed films, including "My Man Godfrey" (1936), "Nothing Sacred" (1937) and "To Be or Not to Be" (1942). She was also a fashion icon, known for her elegant sense of style and her trademark blonde hair.

Lombard was also known for her personal life and her relationships with some of Hollywood's most famous actors. She was married to William Powell and later to Clark Gable.

Unfortunately, her career and life was cut short when she died in a plane crash in 1942 while returning from a war bond tour.

Vintage magazines

Photoplay, March 1929
Photoplay, January 1930
Photoplay, April 1930

Photoplay, January 1931
Photoplay, February 1931
Photoplay, March 1931

Photoplay, March 1931
Photoplay, April 1931
Photoplay, May 1931


Books on Carole Lombard

Wes D. Gehring
Carole Lombard, the Hoosier tornado
Indianapolis, 2003

Robert D. Matzen Carole Lombard Robert D. Matzen
Carole Lombard, A Bio-Bibliography
New York - Westport, Connecticut - London, 1988

Leonard Maltin
Carole Lombard
New York, 1976

Joe Morella & Edward Z. Epstein Gable & Lombard & Powell & Harlow Joe Morella & Edward Z. Epstein
Gable & Lombard & Powell & Harlow
London, 1976

Larry Swindell
Screwball, The life of Carole Lombard
New York, 1975

Frederick W. Ott The Films of Carole Lombard Frederick W. Ott
The Films of Carole Lombard
Secaucus, NJ, 1974

Warren G. Harris Gable and Lombard Warren G. Harris
Gable and Lombard
New York, 1974

Books with substantial mentioning of Carole Lombard

Michelle Vogel & Liz Nocera Hollywood Blondes Michelle Vogel & Liz Nocera
Hollywood Blondes, Golden Girls of the Silver Screen
2007

 Leading Ladies
Leading Ladies, The 50 Most Unforgettable Actresses of the Studio Area
2006

Foreword by John-Michael Howson Cut! Foreword by John-Michael Howson
Cut!, Hollywood murders, accidents, and other tragedies
Willoughby, Australia, 2005

John Dileo 100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember - but probably don't John Dileo
100 Great Film Performances You Should Remember - but probably don't
New York, 2002

Tom Pendergast, Sara Pendergast (eds.)
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers, 3. Actors and Actresses
Detroit/New York/San Francisco/London/Boston/Woodbridge, CT, 2000

Andrew Sarris You ain't heard nothin' yet Andrew Sarris
"You ain't heard nothin' yet", the American talking film ; history & memory ; 1927 - 1949
New York, Oxford, 1998

Danny Peary Alternate Oscars Danny Peary
Alternate Oscars, One Critic's Defiant Choices for Best Picture, Actor, and Actress - From 1927 to the Present
New York, 1993

Ronald L. Smith
Who's Who in Comedy, Comedians, Comics and Clowns From Vaudeville to Today's Stand-ups
New York, Oxford, 1992

Robert A. Nowlan and Gwendolyn Wright Nowlan
Movie Characters of Leading Performers of the Sound Era
Chicago and London, 1990

Michael Jay (editor) Hollywood Goddesses Michael Jay (editor)
Hollywood Goddesses
London, 1982

James Robert Parish Paramount Pretties James Robert Parish
Paramount Pretties
New Rochelle, N.Y., 1972

Ray Stuart (ed.) Immortals of the Screen Ray Stuart (ed.)
Immortals of the Screen
New York, 1965

Cedric Osmond Bermingham (editor) Stars of the Screen 1931 Cedric Osmond Bermingham (editor)
Stars of the Screen 1931, A volume of biographies of contemporary actors and actresses engaged in photoplay throughout the world
London, [1931]

Books with an entry on Carole Lombard

Denise Lowe An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films, 1895 - 1930 Denise Lowe
An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Women in Early American Films, 1895 - 1930
New York, London, Oxford, 2005

David Thomson The New Biographical Dictionary of Film David Thomson
The New Biographical Dictionary of Film
New York, 2003

Glenn Mitchell A-Z of Silent Film Comedy Glenn Mitchell
A-Z of Silent Film Comedy, An Illustrated Companion
London, 1998

Paul Michael, editor in chief. James Robert Parish, associate editor The American movies reference book Paul Michael, editor in chief. James Robert Parish, associate editor
The American movies reference book, The sound era
Englewood Cliffs, N.J.,, 1969

Martin J. Quigley (ed.) The Motion Picture Almanac Martin J. Quigley (ed.)
The Motion Picture Almanac, Big Stars in Big Pictures
Chicago, Ill., 1929

Books with photograph(s) of Carole Lombard

John Richard Finch and Paul Elby Close-Ups John Richard Finch and Paul Elby
Close-Ups, From the Golden Age of the Silent Cinema
South Brunswick and New York - London, 1978

Mary Dawn Earley
Stars of the Twenties, Observed by James Abbe
New York, 1975

Articles on Carole Lombard

Michael Hammond, 'Good Fellowship': Carole Lombard and Clark Gable, in: Shelley Cobb and Neil Ewen (eds.), First comes love, New York, 2015