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Will RogersAmerican cowboy, comedian, humorist, satirist and actor.
Date of Birth: 04.11.1879
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Will Rogers
Will Rogers was an American cowboy, comedian, humorist, satirist, and actor. He was born on the Dog Iron Ranch, located in the Indian Territory of modern-day Oklahoma. His parents, Clement Vann Rogers and Mary America Schrimsher, were of Cherokee Indian descent. Will had a mix of Indian blood in his veins, with slightly more than a quarter being Cherokee. Unfortunately, his mother passed away when he was only 11 years old, and his father remarried two years later.
Will was one of seven siblings, but only three of them managed to survive into adulthood. Despite being a good student, Will dropped out of school after the tenth grade. He had a keen interest in reading, particularly 'The New York Times', but his childhood passion was cowboys and horses. For a while, Will worked on his family's ranch, but towards the end of 1901, he and a friend embarked on a journey to earn money in Argentina. Unfortunately, their venture as independent ranchers was unsuccessful, and Will felt ashamed to return home. He decided to try his luck in South Africa instead.
During his travels, Will adopted the persona of a character from a popular Wild West show owned by a man named Texas Jack. Performing with Texas Jack's circus provided Will with valuable experience, but he eventually felt it was time to move on. He found work in Australia through a recommendation letter from Texas Jack, joining the Wirth Brothers Circus. In 1904, Will returned to the United States, where his cowboy skills were well-received in local vaudeville theaters. Will's remarkable rope and lasso tricks caught the attention of William Hammerstein, who invited him to perform in his show 'Victoria Roof'.
In 1908, Will married Betty Blake, and they had four children together - Will Rogers Jr., Mary Amelia, James Blake, and Fred Stone. Will Jr. went on to become a hero in World War II, starred in movies alongside his father, and even held a position in Congress. Mary became a Broadway actress, James pursued a career in journalism and ranching, while Fred tragically passed away from diphtheria at the age of two.
The Hollywood Years
In the autumn of 1915, Will began working with Florenz Ziegfeld. By this time, he had honed his skills to an incredible level, turning his craft into a precise science. In 1918, Hollywood took notice of Will's talent. However, the silent film era limited his ability to fully express himself, although he did manage to appear in 48 films.
In 1929, the era of sound films began, finally allowing Will to showcase his talent to a broader audience. Throughout his career, he appeared in around 20 full-length feature films, working alongside stars such as Billie Burke, Richard Cromwell, Jane Darwell, Andy Devine, Janet Gaynor, Rochelle Hudson, Boris Karloff, Myrna Loy, Joel McCrea, Hattie McDaniel, and Dick Powell.
Sadly, Will's enthusiasm for aviation, one of his most unusual hobbies, led to his untimely death. In 1935, he was invited on a flight by his fellow Oklahoman, Wiley Post. Unfortunately, while attempting to determine their location, the pilot lost control of the plane, resulting in the deaths of both Post and Rogers.
