Which actor played Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind?

Clark Gable played Rhett Butler in Gone with the Wind. The 1939 historical romance, directed by Victor Fleming, paired Gable with Vivien Leigh, who played Scarlett O'Hara. Rhett is a charming, cynical blockade runner whose turbulent relationship with Scarlett drives much of the story.

Gable was an MGM star when producer David O. Selznick sought him for the role. Gary Cooper was initially considered, but he turned it down; Selznick ultimately arranged for Gable to be loaned from MGM. Gable was reportedly reluctant at first because the hugely popular novel had created intense expectations for Rhett.

The performance became one of Gable's defining roles and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. A common mix-up is confusing Rhett Butler with Ashley Wilkes, Scarlett's idealized but unavailable love interest, played by Leslie Howard. Another nearby fact: Hattie McDaniel won the supporting-actress Oscar for playing Mammy, becoming the first Black performer to win an Academy Award.