Roy Rogers(1911-1998)
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye) moved to California in 1930, aged 18. He
played in such musical groups as The Hollywood Hillbillies, Rocky
Mountaineers, Texas Outlaws, and his own group, the International
Cowboys. In 1934 he formed a group with
Bob Nolan called
Sons of the Pioneers. While in that
group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston. Their songs
included "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". They first appeared
in the western
Rhythm on the Range (1936),
starring Bing Crosby and
Martha Raye. In 1936 he appeared as a bandit
opposite Gene Autry in "The Old Coral". In 1937 Rogers went solo from
"The Sons Of The Pioneeres", and made his first starring film in 1938,
Under Western Stars (1938).
He made almost 100 films.
The Roy Rogers Show (1951)
ran on NBC from October 1951 through 1957 and on CBS from 1961 to
September 1964. In 1955, 67 of his feature films were released to
television.