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 …

Movies & TV Shows

1. Judge Priest (1934) — Judge William Pitman 'Billy' Priest
2. State Fair (1933) — Abel Frake
3. Steamboat Round the Bend (1935) — Doctor John Pearly
4. The Golden Age of Comedy (1957) — archive footage
5. Doctor Bull (1933) — Dr. George 'Doc' Bull
6. Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (1975) — Self (archive footage)
7. The Headless Horseman (1922) — Ichabod crane
8. A Connecticut Yankee (1931) — Hank Martin
9. They Had to See Paris (1929) — Pike Peters
10. Jubilo (1919) — Jubilo
11. Jes' Call Me Jim (1920) — Jim Fenton
12. Ambassador Bill (1931) — Bill Harper
13. Jubilo, Jr. (1924) — Jubilo / Himself
14. Lightnin' (1930) — Lightnin' Bill Jones
15. If I Forget You (1940) — Will Rogers (uncredited/archive footage)
16. Hollywood (1923) — Will Rogers
17. The Ropin' Fool (1922) — 'Ropes' Reilly
18. Happy Days (1929) — Minstrel Show Performer
19. Big Moments from Little Pictures (1924)
20. Mr. Skitch (1933) — Ira Skitch
21. Business and Pleasure (1932) — Earl Tinker
22. Uncensored Movies (1923) — Lem Skagwillow
23. Down To Earth (1932) — Pike Peters
24. Don't Park There (1924) — Jubilo
25. Doubting Thomas (1935) — Thomas Brown
26. David Harum (1934) — David Harum
27. Going Hollywood: The '30s (1984) — (archive footage)
28. Jus' Passin' Through (1923) — Jubilo
29. Too Busy to Work (1932) — Jubilo
30. The Cowboy Sheik (1924) — 'Two Straw' Bill
31. Going to Congress (1924) — Alfalfa Doolittle
32. So This Is London (1930) — Hiram Draper
33. Handy Andy (1934) — Andrew Yates
34. The County Chairman (1935) — Jim Hackler
35. The Cake Eater (1924)
36. A Texas Steer (1927) — Cattle Brander
37. The Legend of Rudolph Valentino (1961) — Self (archive footage)
38. Two Wagons Both Covered (1924) — Bill Bunian / Joe Jackson
39. Life Begins at Forty (1935) — Keneshaw H. Clark
40. Tiptoes (1927) — Uncle Hen Kaye

Directed

1. Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers (1927) — Director