20 Most Influential Actors Of All Time

Clark Gable is the embodiment of the tough, masculine, romantic lead. With an off-screen life that imitated his on-screen persona, Gable was at one point the biggest movie star in the world. But aside from his popularity, there was something else utterly magnetic about the actor. He had a palpable charisma on screen, and a deep voice that made him impossible to look away from.

Outside of his looks and his presentation, however, was a fine actor who helped pioneer the image of the romantic leading man.

Like many on this list, his films often rank amongst cinema's greatest creations, from Gone With the Wind, Mutiny on the Bounty, Misfits and It Happened One Night, which won him an Oscar. Similarly, his creative partnership with actress Joan Crawford is one of the most successful ever seen, and his strong presence made him a brilliant performer to watch.

Although his last role was in 1961, Gable remains one of the faces audiences picture when thinking about the ideal movie star. During his career, he was a box-office topper an amazing 16 times, and because of his constant and much-loved appearance on the screen he even became known as "The King of Hollywood." Few have ever come close to his level of fame and star power, and no one can ever replace him.

His influence on cinema is staggering, and it's safe to say he isn't leaving public memory any time soon. And that's just the way it should be.