Clark Gable, born William Clark Gable on February 1, 1901, in Cadiz, Ohio, was an iconic American film actor often referred to as the "King of Hollywood." He grew up in Ohio, the only son of an itinerant oil-field worker.

His mother died when he was just ten months old, and he was raised by his father. He  dropped out of high school at 16 and held various jobs before embarking on an acting career in his early 20s. His big break came when he was cast in the lead role of the Broadway play "Machinal" in 1928.

His career took off in the early 1930s when he signed with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). His performance in the low-budget western "The Painted Desert" (1931) caught the attention of Hollywood producers. He quickly became known for his aggressive masculine performances in films like "A Free Soul" and "Night Nurse" (both 1931).

His charm and charisma made him one of Hollywood's top stars within a year. He starred in several successful films during this period, including "Red Dust" (1932), "Strange Interlude" (1932), "Dancing Lady" (1933), "Hold Your Man" (1933), "Manhattan Melodrama" (1934), and "Men in White" (1934).

His most famous role came in 1939 when he starred as Rhett Butler in the Civil War epic "Gone with the Wind," opposite Vivien Leigh. This role cemented his status as a Hollywood legend. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the romantic comedy "It Happened One Night" (1934) and received further Oscar nominations for his performances in "Mutiny on the Bounty" (1935) and "Gone with the Wind" (1939).

Clark Gable was also nominated for Golden Globe Awards for his roles in "Teacher's Pet" (1958) and "But Not for Me" (1959).

His personal life was as eventful as his career. He was married five times, first to Josephine Dillon in 1924, then to Maria Langham in 1931, and later to actress Carole Lombard in 1939. Lombard's tragic death in a plane crash in 1942 deeply affected Gable. He later married Sylvia Ashley in 1949 and Kay Williams in 1955. He had two children, including Judy Lewis, who was born out of an affair with actress Loretta Young.

His lifestyle was marked by his love for the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing. He was known for his rugged masculinity and charm, which made him a favorite among both men and women. Despite his tough on-screen persona, he was known to be kind and generous in his personal life.

Throughout his career, Clark Gable appeared in more than 60 films, spanning various genres. Some of his best movies include "Call of the Wild" (1935), "Key to the City" (1950), and "Mogambo" (1953). His final on-screen role was as an aging cowboy in "The Misfits" (1961), which was released posthumously.

His contributions to cinema were recognized with numerous awards and honors. He was named the seventh greatest male movie star of classic American cinema by the American Film Institute. Clark Gable also received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for his service in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Clark Gable passed away on November 16, 1960, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 59.