William Clark Gable was born on February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio, and would go on to become one of the most iconic figures in the history of American cinema, widely celebrated as the "King of Hollywood." Over the course of a remarkable 37-year career, he appeared in more than 60 motion pictures spanning a wide variety of genres, spending three decades as a leading man. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him as the seventh-greatest male screen legend of classical Hollywood cinema, a testament to his enduring legacy in the film industry.

Gable's early life was marked by hardship; his mother died shortly after his birth, and he was raised by his father and stepmother in Ohio. Drawn to the stage from a young age, he worked a series of odd jobs before finding his way into acting, eventually making his way to Hollywood. His breakthrough came with his performance in It Happened One Night (1934), directed by Frank Capra, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. The film, a romantic comedy co-starring Claudette Colbert, became a landmark of the genre and cemented Gable's status as a major star.

He earned further Academy Award nominations for his portrayal of Fletcher Christian in Mutiny on the Bounty (1935), directed by Frank Lloyd, and for his legendary turn as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind (1939), directed by Victor Fleming. The latter film, in which he starred opposite Vivien Leigh, became one of the most beloved and commercially successful movies in Hollywood history. His other notable credits include Call of the Wild (1935), directed by William A. Wellman, Key to the City (1950), directed by George Sidney, and Mogambo (1953), directed by John Ford.

Gable was one of the most consistently bankable stars in Hollywood history, appearing 16 times on Quigley Publishing's annual Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll. He worked opposite many of the most popular actresses of his era and remained a box-office draw across multiple decades. Later in his career, he received Golden Globe nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for his performances in Teacher's Pet (1958), directed by George Seaton, and But Not for Me (1959), directed by Walter Lang, demonstrating his versatility in comedic roles.

His final onscreen role was as an aging cowboy in The Misfits (1961), directed by John Huston and co-starring Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift. Tragically, Gable died of a heart attack on November 16, 1960, at the age of 59, before the film's release. His death marked the end of an era in Hollywood, and his legacy as the "King of Hollywood" endures, with his performances continuing to be celebrated by audiences and critics alike.