Will Rogers

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	Acting
Most Rating	1.841
Birthday	1879-11-03
Place of Birth	Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma)
Also Known As

Judge Priest

Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12

State Fair

Doctor Bull

Steamboat Round the Bend

A Texas Steer

The Legend of Rudolph Valentino

Hollywood

Ambassador Bill

A Connecticut Yankee

The Ropin' Fool

Happy Days

Down To Earth

Two Wagons Both Covered

Big Moments from Little Pictures

Don't Park There

Doubting Thomas

Life Begins at Forty

They Had to See Paris

Mr. Skitch

Business and Pleasure

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

David Harum

Will Rogers and American Politics

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Jus' Passin' Through

Tiptoes

Almost a Husband

Jubilo

Jubilo, Jr.

Water, Water, Everywhere

Cupid the Cowpuncher

Jes' Call Me Jim

Honest Hutch

Guile of Women

Boys Will Be Boys

The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

Doubling for Romeo

Laughing Bill Hyde

Too Busy to Work

Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers

Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling

In Old Kentucky

The Cowboy Sheik

Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

Lightnin'

Going to Congress

A Truthful Liar

Uncensored Movies

So This Is London

The County Chairman

Handy Andy

Exploring England with Will Rogers

Young as You Feel

If I Forget You

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Hustlin' Hank

The Cake Eater

The Golden Age of Comedy

A Poor Relation

The Headless Horseman

An Unwilling Hero

With Will Rogers in Dublin

One Glorious Day

The Strange Boarder