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.

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Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

as Minstrel Show Performer

Exploring England with Will Rogers

1927

A Texas Steer

1927

as Cattle Brander

Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers

1927

as Himself

Tiptoes

1927

as Uncle Hen Kaye

With Will Rogers in Dublin

1927

as Self

A Truthful Liar

1924

as Ambassador Alfalfa Doolittle

Jubilo, Jr.

1924

as Jubilo / Himself

Don't Park There

1924

Going to Congress

1924

as Alfalfa Doolittle

Big Moments from Little Pictures

1924

The Cake Eater

1924

The Cowboy Sheik

1924

as 'Two Straw' Bill

Two Wagons Both Covered

1924

as Bill Bunian / Joe Jackson

Uncensored Movies

1923

as Lem Skagwillow

Hustlin' Hank

1923

as Hank

Jus' Passin' Through

1923

as Jubilo

Hollywood

as Jubilo

Almost a Husband

1919

as Sam Lyman

Laughing Bill Hyde

1918

as Bill Hyde

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Will Rogers

Acted in

Will Rogers and American Politics

Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling

Babe Ruth: The Man, the Myth, the Legend

Going Hollywood: The '30s

The Biggest Little Star of the 30's

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

The Legend of Rudolph Valentino

The Golden Age of Comedy

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

If I Forget You

In Old Kentucky

Steamboat Round the Bend

Doubting Thomas

Life Begins at Forty

The County Chairman

Judge Priest

Handy Andy

David Harum

Mr. Skitch

Doctor Bull

State Fair

Too Busy to Work

Down To Earth

Business and Pleasure

Voice of Hollywood (Series 2, No. 3)

Ambassador Bill

Young as You Feel

A Connecticut Yankee

Lightnin'

So This Is London

They Had to See Paris

Happy Days

Exploring England with Will Rogers

A Texas Steer

Winging Around Europe with Will Rogers

Tiptoes

With Will Rogers in Dublin

A Truthful Liar

Jubilo, Jr.

Don't Park There

Going to Congress

Big Moments from Little Pictures

The Cake Eater

The Cowboy Sheik

Two Wagons Both Covered

Uncensored Movies

Hustlin' Hank

Jus' Passin' Through

Hollywood

Screen Snapshots, Series 3, No. 12

The Headless Horseman

The Ropin' Fool

One Glorious Day

A Poor Relation

Doubling for Romeo

Boys Will Be Boys

An Unwilling Hero

Guile of Women

Honest Hutch

Cupid the Cowpuncher

Jes' Call Me Jim

The Strange Boarder

Water, Water, Everywhere

Jubilo

Almost a Husband

Laughing Bill Hyde