Will Rogers

William Penn Adair Rogers
1879 - 1935 (plane crash)
American born Colagah

Height 5' 11" (1.80 m) . World-famous, widely popular American humorist of the vaudeville stage and of silent and sound films, Will Rogers graduated from military school, but his first real job was in the livestock business in Argentina, of all places. He transported pack animals across the South Atlantic from Buenos Aires to South Africa for use in the Boer War (1899-1902). He stayed in Johannesburg for a short while, appearing there in Wild West shows where he drew upon his expertise with horse and lasso. Returning to America, he brought his talents to vaudeville and by 1917 was a Ziegfeld Follies star. Over the years he gradually blended into his act his unique style of topical, iconoclastic humor, in which he speared the efforts of the powerful to trample the rights of the common man, while twirling his lariat and perhaps chewing on a blade of straw. Although appearing in many silents, he reached his motion-picture zenith with the arrival of sound. Now mass audiences could hear his rural twang as he delivered his homespun philosophy on behalf of Everyman. The appeal and weight of his words carried such weight with the average citizen that he was even nominated for governor of Oklahoma (which he declined). Spouse Betty Blake (25 November 1908 - 15 August 1935) (his death) 4 children.

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) , 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) , A Texas Steer (1927) , Tiptoes (1927) , Gee Whiz, Genevieve (1924) , A Truthful Liar (1924) , Our Congressman (1924) , Jubilo, Jr. (1924) , Don't Park There (1924) , Going to Congress (1924), High Brow Stuff (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) , Fruits of Faith (1922) , The Headless Horseman (1922) , The Ropin' Fool (1922) , One Glorious Day (1922) , A Poor Relation (1921) , Doubling for Romeo (1921) , An Unwilling Hero (1921) , Boys Will Be Boys (1921) , Guile of Women (1920) , 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)