Charles Rogers (actor)

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Charles Rogers in the Army during World War II

Charles "Buddy" Rogers (born August 13, 1904 in Olathe , Kansas , † April 21, 1999 in Rancho Mirage , California ) was an American actor, film producer and jazz musician, who became famous for the silent film Wings and an honorary Oscar for humanitarian Merits received.

Life

Charles Rogers was born the son of judge and journalist Bert Henry Rogers in a small town in Kansas. While studying at the University of Kansas , Rogers, who was interested in film and music, was discovered by agents from Paramount Pictures who piloted him to Hollywood. Handsome and athletic, Rogers starred in his first film, Fascinating Youth , directed by Sam Wood . This was followed by a larger role alongside WC Fields in the comedy So's Your Old Man (1926), which cemented Roger's position as the new star. The actor finally became famous for his leading role in William A. Wellman's aviation drama Wings , which showed Rogers as a pilot in the First World War. The lavish production received the award for best film at the first Academy Awards in 1929 . At this height of his career he was nicknamed "America's Boyfriend" because he was the epitome of the young lover and received over 20,000 fan letters a month.

Charles Rogers at the 1988 Academy Awards

A number of high-quality films for Rogers followed, such as Get Your Man (1927), My Best Girl (1927) and Abie's Irish Rose (1928). But the beginning of the sound film in the late 1920s damaged his career; by the mid-1930s he was reduced to supporting roles or second-rate films. In his private life, however, “Buddy” Rogers was lucky: on the film set of My Best Girl , he met the silent film legend Mary Pickford, eleven years his senior . They were both married in 1937 and remained married until Pickford's death in 1979. They had two adopted children. As early as 1942, after 40 films, Rogers largely withdrew from acting, only returning to the camera for appearances in the comedy Der Pantoffelheld (1947) and the western With the Colt Under the Cushion (1957). He also starred in three Broadway productions between 1932 and 1948. Rogers produced nine films, including slings of fear with Claudette Colbert . In addition to his film career, Rogers had his own jazz band, with whom he appeared in films and on the radio for many years. With his band he made several successful records.

During the Second World War , Rogers was able to work as a flight instructor for the American Army because he had learned to fly himself while filming Wings . Even after retiring from show business, he remained a public figure, as he represented his withdrawn wife on many occasions and took part in numerous charity celebrations and silent film festivals.

After the death of Mary Pickford, Rogers married Beverly Ricondo in 1981, with whom he remained married until his death. He sold Pickford's legendary Pickfair estate for $ 5.4 million, which was demolished in the late 1980s by singer Pia Zadora and her husband under great public criticism. Charles "Buddy" Rogers died of natural causes in 1999 at the age of 94.

Awards

In 1986, Buddy Rogers was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award , which is equivalent to an honorary Oscar, for his humanitarian services in the interests of the film industry . He also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his film work and has received a Golden Boot Award for his western films.

Filmography (selection)

  • 1926: Fascinating Youth
  • 1926: So's Your Old Man
  • 1927 wing steel (Wings)
  • 1927: My Best Girl
  • 1927: am I your type? (Get Your Man)
  • 1928: Three weddings (Abie's Irish Rose)
  • 1929: River of Romance
  • 1930: Follow Thru
  • 1930: Safety in Numbers
  • 1930: Paramount Parade (Paramount on Parade)
  • 1931: Hollywood jewel theft (The Stolen Jools)
  • 1933: Take a Chance
  • 1935: Old Man Rhythm
  • 1942: Mexican Spitfire at Sea
  • 1948: The henpecked hero (An Innocent Affair)
  • 1948: Schlingen der Angst (Sleep, My Love) producer only
  • 1957: With the Colt under the pillow (The Parson and the Outlaw) actor & producer
  • 1958: High School Hellcats producer only
  • 1997: Mary Pickford: A Life on Film producer only

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Obituary for Charles Rogers in the Independent, 1999
  2. ^ A b c Charles Rogers at Allmovie
  3. ^ Obituary for Charles Rogers in the Los Angeles Times
personal data
SURNAME Rogers, Charles
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Rogers, Buddy (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor, film producer, and jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH August 13, 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH Olathe , Kansas
DATE OF DEATH April 21, 1999
Place of death Rancho Mirage , California