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William Penn Adair Rogers was born on November 4, 1879, in Indian Territory, an area of land that later would become known as Oklahoma. His father, Clem Rogers, was a sucessful rancher, cattleman and banker. The Rogers ranch and Will's birthplace still stand and is now a tourist attraction near Oologah, Oklahoma.
Known as the "Indian Cowboy" from the Cherokee Nation, Will was to become the most popular and best loved American of his time...the entertainer of kings and commoners alike. As a young man, Will became an expert rider and "rope twirler"...later starring in wild west shows and vaudeville around the World.
He went to Hollywood in 1918 and starred in many features and shorts in silent cinema. After the advent of sound, Rogers rapidly became a top box office attraction. In 1934 he was voted the most popular male actor in Hollywood.
Will's popularity spread to other media, notably radio and the press, in which his political commentary carried much weight among citizens and politicians alike. He declined a nomination for the governorship of Oklahoma, served as mayor of Beverly Hills, and was instrumental in the election of FDR as President in 1932.
Will Rogers married Betty Blake in November 1908 after an 8 year courtship. He would say, "When I roped her, that was the star performance of my life". One son, actor-entertainer Will Jr., played his famous father in "The Story of Will Rogers" in 1952. Will Rogers died in a plane crash near Point Barrow, Alaska with his good friend, aviation legend Wiley Post in August 1935.
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
~ Will Rogers
A friend, and frequent critic, of several U.S. Presidents, Will Rogers once visited Warren G. Harding (1865-1923, President 1921-23) and said, "'Morning, Mr. President! Would you like to hear the latest political jokes?" Harding replied, "You don't have to, Will. I appointed them."
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Will Rogers
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William Penn Adair Rogers
(November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935)
Oologah, Oklahoma.
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Rogers had four children with wife, Betty. They were: Fred (died 1920), Mary (died 1989), Will Rogers Jr. (died 1993) and Jimmy Rogers (died 2000).
Died in the Arctic crash of a plane piloted by the world-renowned, one-eyed pioneer aviator, Wiley Post (in which Post died as well).
His birthplace in the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) is cited variously as Colagah, Colgah or Cologah. The correct name is "Oologah", which is situated in the northeast corner of the state, approximately 25 miles/40 kilometers north-northeast of Tulsa.
In 1922 his weekly articles for the "New York Times" became so popular that they appeared in more than 500 U.S. newspapers daily. The articles dished out down-to-earth, biting criticism of politics, politicians, big business and the imbalance of the wealthy and the poor. In all, Rogers wrote more than 2,800 daily articles up until his death. H.L. Mencken labeled him "the most dangerous man alive" because of the power his comments had on an adoring public.
Buried in Claremore, Oklahoma, at the Will Rogers Memorial. There's a lot of memorabilia, and it's a popular tourist attraction.
Was part Cherokee Indian.
Pictured on a 3¢ US postage stamp in the Famous Americans series, issued 4 November 1948.
Pictured on a 15¢ US commemorative postage stamp in the Performing Arts and Artists series, 4 November 1979.
Attended Kemper Military School & College in Boonville, Missouri.
As host of the 1933 Academy Awards ceremony, he made a minor blunder when announcing the Best Director Award. After reading the nominees he told the winner, "Come and get it, Frank!" Frank Capra (nominated for Lady for a Day (1933)) was halfway to the podium before he realized Rogers meant Frank Lloyd (winner for Cavalcade (1933)). Capra could well afford to lick his wounds: He won the following year for It Happened One Night (1934) and became Academy President the year after that.
Charter member of the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1955.
While growing up on the family ranch, he worked with cattle and learned to ride and lasso from a young age. He grew so talented with a rope, in fact, that he was placed in the Guinness Book of World Records for throwing three lassos at once. One went around the horse's neck, another circled around the rider, and the third flew under the horse, looping all four legs together.
Is portrayed by Buff Brady in W.C. Fields and Me (1976)
Cousin of Clu Gulager.
Is portrayed by Keith Carradine in Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)
Has a turnpike named in his honor, in southern Oklahoma near the Bailey Turnpike, crossing through Cimarron.
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6608 Hollywood Boulevard and for Motion Pictures at 6401 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
