Why was Clark Gable called the “King of Hollywood”?

Clark Gable was dubbed the "King of Hollywood" because he was an enormously popular film star who epitomized the American ideal of masculinity and virility for three decades.1

His rise to this status was driven by a forceful screen persona that was equal parts "man’s man" and "ladies’ man," yet remained nonthreatening due to his magnetic smile and charming, rogue-like demeanor. Within a year of his breakthrough, he became one of the industry's top stars, delivering acclaimed performances in a variety of genres, including romantic comedy and epic drama.1

His stature was cemented by iconic roles, most notably as Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind, and his Academy Award-winning performance in It Happened One Night. Following his death in 1960, his enduring legacy as a symbol of Hollywood’s Golden Age was reflected in newspaper headlines across the country that simply declared, "The King is Dead".1