American actor on stage and screen, a homespun philosopher and humorist. Rogers was a nationally syndicated columnist whose writings appeared in many newspapers reaching an estimated 40 million readers. He wrote for the Saturday Evening Post magazine as well as having a devoted audience that followed his radio broadcasts. Rogers personified an image of a kindly down home cowpoke at the campfire whose gentle criticisms of the day were more folksy than harsh. He poked fun at the absurdities of politicians and businessmen and anyone who was popular in his day during the Great Depression. At the time of his tragic death in 1935, Rogers was America’s most recognized humorist and folk hero. His strong point was the need for common sense and to entertain an audience that had been badly hurt by the Depression.
Rogers grew up in Oklahoma on his father’s cattle ranch. His dad, Clem Rogers, was half Cherokee Indian and was a senator, cattle rancher and judge. His mom, Mary Rogers, died when Will was 11 years-old. At the age of 19, he left home with his minimal formal education and went to work as a cowboy in the Texas Panhandle. In 1902, he called himself “The Cherokee Kid” and performed rope tricks for Wild West shows around the country. He was always proud of his Native American heritage. In 1904, he was performing around the world as a rope artist in Argentina, Australia and South Africa. After a couple of drinks, his personable American cowpoke routine was born. At parties, he enjoyed singing the minstrel songs that were popular at the time.
On returning to the U.S., Rogers joined the Vaudeville stage and began speaking his humorous lines between his rope tricks. His career took off when President Woodrow Wilson showed himself a good sport by laughing at Rogers jokes about the president. In 1915, Rogers began appearing in New York headlining the legendary Ziegfeld Follies. His newspaper columns began to appear and soon, radio broadcasts that delighted his listeners. He went to Hollywood and made the films, “Going to Congress,” 1924, “Ambassador Bill,” 1931, “A Connecticut Yankee,” 1931, “Mr. Skitch,” 1933, “Judge Priest,” 1934 and “Doubting Thomas,” in 1935.
Rogers wrote many love letters to his sweetheart Betty Blake, who became his wife. The couple built their ranch home in Pacific Palisades, CA in the 1930s. After his death, the house and land became a state historic park in Santa Monica, CA. He died on 8/15/1935, after 5:00 PM in an Alaska plane crash near Point Barrow while on a flying tour with his pal, aviator Wiley Post. Newspapers in England, Germany and Russia carried the front page news of Rogers tragic airplane death.
Link to Wikipedia biography