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Will Rogers

Will Rogers

Acting

Born November 3, 1879 — Died August 15, 1935 Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)

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.

Movies(68)

Will Rogers and American Politics

Will Rogers and American Politics

Self (archive footage)

2010

The Parrott Chase

The Parrott Chase

Himself - archival footage

2009

Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling

Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling

Self (archive footage)

1993

Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

himself

1990

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Going Hollywood: The '30s

(archive footage)

1984

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Bob Hope's World of Comedy

Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)

1976

The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

Self(archive footage)

1976

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Self (archive footage)

1975

The Legend of Rudolph Valentino

The Legend of Rudolph Valentino

Self (archive footage)

1961

The Golden Age of Comedy

The Golden Age of Comedy

archive footage

1957

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Self (archive footage)

1942

If I Forget You

If I Forget You

Will Rogers (uncredited/archive footage)

1940

In Old Kentucky

In Old Kentucky

Steve Tapley

1935

Steamboat Round the Bend

Steamboat Round the Bend

Doctor John Pearly

1935

Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas

Thomas Brown

1935

Life Begins at Forty

Life Begins at Forty

Keneshaw H. Clark

1935

The County Chairman

The County Chairman

Jim Hackler

1935

Judge Priest

Judge Priest

Judge William Pitman 'Billy' Priest

1934

Handy Andy

Handy Andy

Andrew Yates

1934

David Harum

David Harum

David Harum

1934

Mr. Skitch

Mr. Skitch

Ira Skitch

1933

Doctor Bull

Doctor Bull

Dr. George 'Doc' Bull

1933

State Fair

State Fair

Abel Frake

1933

Too Busy to Work

Too Busy to Work

Jubilo

1932

Down To Earth

Down To Earth

Pike Peters

1932

Business and Pleasure

Business and Pleasure

Earl Tinker

1932

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Himself

1931

Ambassador Bill

Ambassador Bill

Bill Harper

1931

Young as You Feel

Young as You Feel

Lemuel Morehouse

1931

A Connecticut Yankee

A Connecticut Yankee

Hank Martin

1931

Lightnin'

Lightnin'

Lightnin' Bill Jones

1930

So This Is London

So This Is London

Hiram Draper

1930

They Had to See Paris

They Had to See Paris

Pike Peters

1929

Happy Days

Happy Days

Minstrel Show Performer

1929

Exploring England with Will Rogers

Exploring England with Will Rogers

1927

A Texas Steer

A Texas Steer

Cattle Brander

1927

Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers

Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers

Himself

1927

Tiptoes

Tiptoes

Uncle Hen Kaye

1927

With Will Rogers in Dublin

With Will Rogers in Dublin

Self

1927

A Truthful Liar

A Truthful Liar

Ambassador Alfalfa Doolittle

1924

Jubilo, Jr.

Jubilo, Jr.

Jubilo / Himself

1924

Don't Park There

Don't Park There

Jubilo

1924

Going to Congress

Going to Congress

Alfalfa Doolittle

1924

Big Moments from Little Pictures

Big Moments from Little Pictures

1924

The Cake Eater

The Cake Eater

1924

The Cowboy Sheik

The Cowboy Sheik

'Two Straw' Bill

1924

Two Wagons Both Covered

Two Wagons Both Covered

Bill Bunian / Joe Jackson

1924

Uncensored Movies

Uncensored Movies

Lem Skagwillow

1923

Hustlin' Hank

Hustlin' Hank

Hank

1923

Jus' Passin' Through

Jus' Passin' Through

Jubilo

1923

Hollywood

Hollywood

Will Rogers

1923

Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12

Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12

Self

1922

The Headless Horseman

The Headless Horseman

Ichabod crane

1922

The Ropin' Fool

The Ropin' Fool

'Ropes' Reilly

1922

One Glorious Day

One Glorious Day

Professor Ezra Botts

1922

A Poor Relation

A Poor Relation

Noah Vale

1921

Doubling for Romeo

Doubling for Romeo

Sam Cody / Romeo

1921

Boys Will Be Boys

Boys Will Be Boys

Peep O'Day

1921

An Unwilling Hero

An Unwilling Hero

Dick

1921

Guile of Women

Guile of Women

Hjalmar Maartens

1921

Honest Hutch

Honest Hutch

Hutch

1920

Cupid the Cowpuncher

Cupid the Cowpuncher

Alec Lloyd

1920

Jes' Call Me Jim

Jes' Call Me Jim

Jim Fenton

1920

The Strange Boarder

The Strange Boarder

Sam Gardner

1920

Water, Water, Everywhere

Water, Water, Everywhere

Billy Fortune

1920

Jubilo

Jubilo

Jubilo

1919

Almost a Husband

Almost a Husband

Sam Lyman

1919

Laughing Bill Hyde

Laughing Bill Hyde

Bill Hyde

1918

Will Rogers — ReelRifter