Roy Rogers

Overview

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.
- IMDb mini biography by: Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>

Roy got his horse Trigger in 1938 and rode him in every one of his films and TV shows after that. He had appeared in one earlier movie, ridden by Olivia de Havilland in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Trigger died in 1965 at age 33.
Rogers was asked to run for Congress on the Republican ticket at one time. He replied, "I have both Democrat and Republican fans and I can't afford to lose any of them!".
His horse, Trigger, would often receive second billing, even above his wife and co-star, Dale Evans.
Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Dale Evans.
Childhood home was on real estate that later included second base in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. He joked later that " he was born on second base".

If there were no valleys of sadness and death, we could never really appreciate the sunshine of happiness on the mountain top.
When I die, just skin me out and put me up on old Trigger and I'll be happy.
[in 1982] Another thing that burns me up is that California voted in capital punishment and they haven't electrocuted anyone yet.
[in 1982, when asked about Republic Pictures owner Herbert J. Yates, his boss for many years] I don't want to talk about Yates. Let's just say he wasn't very flexible.
[in 1982] Not long after Will Rogers died, they turned his ranch into a museum. And it didn't have anything in it. So I made up my mind I was gonna keep everything.