Biography
William "Will" Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, social commentator, vaudeville performer and actor and one of the best-known celebrities in the 1920s and 1930s.
Known as Oklahoma's favorite son, Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma). He traveled around the world three times, made 71 movies (50 silent films and 21 "talkies"), wrote more than 4,000 nationally-syndicated newspaper columns, and became a world-famous figure. By the mid-1930s, Rogers was adored by the American people. He was the leading political wit of the Progressive Era, and was the top-paid Hollywood movie star at the time. Rogers died in 1935 with aviator Wiley Post, when their small airplane crashed near Barrow, Alaska.
His vaudeville rope act led to success in the Ziegfeld Follies, which in turn led to the first of his many movie contracts. His 1920s syndicated newspaper column and his radio appearances increased his visibility and popularity. Rogers crusaded for aviation expansion, and provided Americans with first-hand accounts of his world travels. His earthy anecdotes and folksy style allowed him to poke fun at gangsters, prohibition, politicians, government programs, and a host of other controversial topics in a way that was readily appreciated by a national audience, with no one offended. His short aphorisms, couched in humorous terms, were widely quoted: "I am not a member of an organized political party. I am a Democrat."
Rogers even provided an epigram on his most famous epigram:
When I die, my epitaph, or whatever you call those signs on gravestones, is going to read: "I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I dident like." I am so proud of that, I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Rogers, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Filmography
all 68
Movies 67
self 14
TV Shows 1
Writer 1
Will Rogers and American Politics (2010)
Jeff Foxworthy's Comedy Classics (1999)
Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling (1993)
Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth, the Legend (1990)
Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984)
The Biggest Little Star of the 30's (1976)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino (1961)
The Golden Age of Comedy (1957)
The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10) (1942)
If I Forget You (1940)
In Old Kentucky (1935)
Steamboat Round the Bend (1935)
Doubting Thomas (1935)
Life Begins at Forty (1935)
The County Chairman (1935)
Judge Priest (1934)
Handy Andy (1934)
Stand Up and Cheer! (1934)
David Harum (1934)
Mr. Skitch (1933)
Doctor Bull (1933)
State Fair (1933)
Too Busy to Work (1932)
Down To Earth (1932)
Business and Pleasure (1932)
Ambassador Bill (1931)
Young as You Feel (1931)
A Connecticut Yankee (1931)
Lightnin' (1930)
So This Is London (1930)
They Had to See Paris (1929)
Happy Days (1929)
Exploring England with Will Rogers (1927)
A Texas Steer (1927)
Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers (1927)
Tiptoes (1927)
With Will Rogers in Dublin (1927)
A Truthful Liar (1924)
Jubilo, Jr. (1924)
Don't Park There (1924)
Going to Congress (1924)
Big Moments from Little Pictures (1924)
The Cake Eater (1924)
The Cowboy Sheik (1924)
Two Wagons Both Covered (1924)
Uncensored Movies (1923)
Hustlin' Hank (1923)
Jus' Passin' Through (1923)
Hollywood (1923)
Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12 (1922)
The Headless Horseman (1922)
The Ropin' Fool (1922)
One Glorious Day (1922)
A Poor Relation (1921)
Doubling for Romeo (1921)
Boys Will Be Boys (1921)
An Unwilling Hero (1921)
Guile of Women (1921)
Honest Hutch (1920)
Cupid the Cowpuncher (1920)
Jes' Call Me Jim (1920)
The Strange Boarder (1920)
Water, Water, Everywhere (1920)
Jubilo (1919)
Almost a Husband (1919)
Laughing Bill Hyde (1918)
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Information
Known ForActing
GenderMale
Birthday1879-11-04
Deathday1935-08-15 (55 years old)
Birth PlaceOologah, United States of America
ChildrenMary Rogers, Jimmy Rogers, Will Rogers, Jr.
FatherClement V. Rogers
CitizenshipsUnited States of America
Awardsstar on Hollywood Walk of Fame, Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, National Aviation Hall of Fame
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