Known For
Acting
Born
Nov 03, 1879
Died
Aug 15, 1935
Place of Birth
Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
Credits
69 titles
Will Rogers
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.
Known For
Filmography
Will Rogers and American Politics
Self (archive footage)
The Parrott Chase
(archive footage) (uncredited)
Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling
Self (archive footage)
Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
himself
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
The Biggest Little Star of the 30's
Self(archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
The Legend of Rudolph Valentino
Self (archive footage)
The Golden Age of Comedy
archive footage
Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)
Self (archive footage)
If I Forget You
Will Rogers (uncredited/archive footage)
In Old Kentucky
Steve Tapley
Steamboat Round the Bend
Doctor John Pearly
Doubting Thomas
Thomas Brown
Life Begins at Forty
Keneshaw H. Clark
The County Chairman
Jim Hackler
Judge Priest
Judge William Pitman 'Billy' Priest
Handy Andy
Andrew Yates
Stand Up and Cheer!
Story
David Harum
David Harum
Mr. Skitch
Ira Skitch
Doctor Bull
Dr. George 'Doc' Bull
State Fair
Abel Frake
Too Busy to Work
Jubilo
Down To Earth
Pike Peters
Business and Pleasure
Earl Tinker
Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)
Himself
Ambassador Bill
Bill Harper
Young as You Feel
Lemuel Morehouse
A Connecticut Yankee
Hank Martin
Lightnin'
Lightnin' Bill Jones
So This Is London
Hiram Draper
They Had to See Paris
Pike Peters
Happy Days
Minstrel Show Performer
Exploring England with Will Rogers
A Texas Steer
Cattle Brander
Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers
Himself
Tiptoes
Uncle Hen Kaye
With Will Rogers in Dublin
Self
A Truthful Liar
Ambassador Alfalfa Doolittle
Jubilo, Jr.
Jubilo / Himself
Don't Park There
Jubilo
Going to Congress
Alfalfa Doolittle
Big Moments from Little Pictures
The Cake Eater
The Cowboy Sheik
'Two Straw' Bill
Two Wagons Both Covered
Bill Bunian / Joe Jackson
Uncensored Movies
Lem Skagwillow
Hustlin' Hank
Hank