Will Rogers, American Entertainer and Humorist
Rogers in a studio photograph, 1920. William Penn Adair "Will" Rogers (November 4, 1879 - August 15, 1935) was an American cowboy, vaudeville performer, humorist, social commentator and motion picture actor. Known as "Oklahoma's Favorite Son," Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma). His vaudeville rope act led to success in the Ziegfeld Follies, which in turn led to the first of his many movie contracts. His 1920s syndicated newspaper column and his radio appearances increased his visibility and popularity. Rogers crusaded for aviation expansion, and provided Americans with firsthand accounts of his world travels. His earthy anecdotes and folksy style allowed him to poke fun at gangsters, prohibition, politicians, government programs, and a host of other controversial topics in a way that was appreciated by a national audience, with no one offended. He traveled around the world three times, made 71 movies, and wrote more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns. He was the leading political wit of the Progressive Era, and was the highest paid Hollywood movie star at the time. Rogers died in 1935, at the age of 55, with aviator Wiley Post, when their small airplane crashed in Alaska. His untimely death shocked and saddened the nation.
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