Matinee Classics - Roy Rogers Biography & Filmography

Roy Rogers ACTOR

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ROY ROGERS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye on November 5, 1911,was an American singer and western actor. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, but moved to California in 1930. During the Great Depression Rogers had a hard time finding work. Consequently, he decided to move to Los Angeles with his cousin to pursue a music career. He decided to also change his name to Dick Weston. His venture with his cousin proved to be unsuccessful, but in 1934 Rogers formed the cowboy musical group 'Sons of the Pioneers', with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. The trio got lots of attention, playing on the radio and appearing insome films. Their first movie appearance was in the Warner Brothers short "Radio Scout” (1935). They made their full-length feature film debut in “The Old Homestead” (1935) and went on to perform in additional pictures. Colombia Pictures also signed the group to be in a series of Charles Starrett’s westerners.

In 1937 Rogers went solo for an acting career, getting signed by Republic Studios. He sang only one song in his first role in “Wild Horse Radio” (1937). Following this part, he renamed himself Roy Rogers. Soon after he was given the lead character in “Under Western Stars” (1938). For this role he had a sidekick, Smiley Burnette, who stayed with him for a total of ten films. He was also required to choose a horse, which he named Trigger. Trigger and Rogers continued to star in further pictures, as their first one together was a giant success. Some of their films include “Rough Riders Roundup” (1939), “Frontier Express” (1939), “Days of Jesse James” (1939), and “Young Buffalo Bill” (1940). Rogers additionally appeared in one of his more notable movies, “The Dark Command” (1940), as the supporting role to John Wayne. In 1939 he was assigned a new sidekick, George 'Gabby' Hayes, and they were seen together in forty films, including “The Carson City Kid” (1940), “Sons of the Pioneers” (1942), “Lights of Old Santa Fe” (1944), and “Heldorado” (1945). Rogers did not forget about his prior singing group, however, and he had been urging Republic to include them in some of his films. In 1941 they finally allowed his old friends to reunite with him in every movie until 1948.

Furthermore, Rogers quickly became one of America’s favorite singing cowboys. Into the 1940's Rogers’ fame continued to grow as he acted in even more movies like “Jesse James at Bay” (1941), “Sunset on the Desert” (1942), and “Song of Texas” (1943). In 1943 he was even voted the number one cowboy at the box office and Republic Pictures began billing him as “King of the Cowboys ”. Over the next few years Rogers also became the number one most licensed individual name in product licensing, only second overall to Disney.

By the time 1944 rolled around, only seven years after beginning his solo acting career, he had thirty nine films on his resume, and had acted with nearly that many leading ladies. However, that changed when, in 1944, Dale Evans was cast opposite him in “The Cowboy and the Senorita”. Their chemistry was so perfect that Evans continued to work with Rogers in more than twenty pictures, like “Sunset in El Dorado” (1945), “Home in Oklahoma” (1946), “My Pal Trigger” (1946), and “Bells of Coronado” (1950). What's more, the pair even tied the knot in 1947.

In 1950 television was becoming the most predominant form of acting entertainment, and of course Rogers wanted to get in on the action. His contract with Republic was ending after fourteen years though, and they would not let him make any TV appearances. Thus, more than eighty films later, Rogers left Republic and signed with Paramount Pictures. Here he starred in “Son of Paleface” (1952) alongside Jane Russell and Bob Hope. In the meantime he was creating his own show, “The Roy Rogers Show”, which aired on NBC in 1951. Rogers’s series became wildly popular, and the theme song “Happy Trails” has now become an American classic. Sadly the show ended in 1957. However, Rogers and Evans hosted “The Chevy Show” a few times in the latter part of the decade. Then, in 1962, Rogers and Evans were given their very own variety series, “The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show”. The ABC show, unfortunately, was short lived. In 1962, the actor more over performed in his final feature film, “MacKintosh & T.J.”

In the late 1960's Rogers joined the restaurant business with a chain of Roy Rogers Family Restaurants. He did well for himself, and by the 1980's several hundred of Rogers’ restaurants could be found all over the country. The actor also created a museum dedicated to his life and by 1976 he had an even larger museum built that he called the “Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum”. He did not appear on the screen after his museum opening until 1983, though, when he appeared in “The Fall Guy” for two episodes: “Happy Trails” (1983) and “King of the Cowboys” (1984).

On July 8, 1988, the actor died of congestive heart failure.He has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for his contribution to radio, another for his involvement in television, and one for his role in the motion picture industry. Additionally, Rogers and his horse, Trigger, have a boot and hoof print at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. He also has two spots in the Country Music Hall of Fame, a Golden Boot, and a Founder’s Award.

The Roy Rogers Radio Show (1945-1953)

Filmography

1983 The Fall Guy

1977 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman

1975 MacKintosh & T.J.

1975 The Mickie Finns Finally Presents How the West Was Lost

1968 The Red Skelton Hour

1959 Alias Jesse James

1957 The Heart of Show Business

1952 Son of Paleface

1951 Pals of the Golden West

1951 South of Caliente