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People named Roy Rogers
Below are 510 people with the first name Roy and the last name Rogers. Try the Rogers Family page if you can't find a particular Collaborative Biography in your family tree.
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Roy Rogers, born Leonard Franklin Slye on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio, grew up in modest surroundings that shaped his down-to-earth character which held true his entire life. His childhood home would later become part of the site for Cincinnati’s Riverfront Stadium. In 1930, at the age of 18, he moved to California, where his journey toward stardom began.
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 Pioneers", 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.
Spouses (3)
Dale Evans (31 December 1947 - 6 July 1998) ( his death) ( 6 children)
Grace Arline Wilkins (11 June 1936 - 3 November 1946) ( her death) ( 3 children)
Lucile Ascolese (8 May 1933 - 8 June 1936) ( divorced)
Fun Facts & Trivia:
The dog who appeared in a few of his films was named Bullet.
Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers.
Nicknames: Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys", Dale Evans "Queen of the West", Trigger "Smartest Horse in the Movies"
There is a Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum at Branson, Missouri.
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.
Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Dale Evans.
He had two children and 1 adopted daughter with Arlene Wilkins.
He and wife Dale Evans adopted four children, one of whom--Cheryl Rogers--later became an actress.
One of his and Dale's daughters died in a bus wreck in Aug. 1964. One adopted son choked to death in Nov. 1965.
The little town of Portsmouth, Ohio (USA) also claims to be the hometown of Roy. They also have a little museum with mementoes and hoofprints of Trigger, handprints of Roy and Dusty in the sidewalk in front of the museum. Every year they had a Roy Rogers Day and Roy or Dusty would make an appearance.
Once received 78,852 fan letters in a single month.
Star of Mutual (1944-1951) and NBC Radio's (1951-1955) "The Roy Rogers Show."
His guest appearance on Wonder Woman (1975) in 1977 reflected his real life, as the character he played was a western man who had adopted several children. Roy's conservative side showed through, though, when he insisted to the show's producers that, in order for him to agree to do the episode, series star Lynda Carter needed to wear more clothing than the "bathing suit" type of costume she normally wore.
Rogers won out and Carter wore a sleeved solid red top and white chino pants.
Inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1976.
Inducted (as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1995.
Was a Master Mason. In other words, he became a member of the Masonic Fraternity.
Was a strong opponent of gun control, and once appeared in TV commercials put out by the National Rifle Association opposing a proposed ban outlawing certain types of guns in California.
Once lived next door to actor Val Kilmer (when Val was a child). When Roy moved, the Kilmers later moved into to his old ranch. Then, in 1999, Val led a Trigger lookalike on stage at the 1999 Academy Awards in honor of Roy Rogers.
Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 522-525. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
In his autobiography, "Happy Trails: The Story of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans," the former Leonard Slye stated that his stage name of Roy Rogers was given to him by executives at Republic Pictures when he became their new singing cowboy to replace Gene Autry. The Rogers came from Will Rogers, the beloved western comic and storyteller who had recently died in a plane crash in Alaska and Roy was made the first name because it is the French word for "king," as in "Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys." Roy said he had no input at all in the renaming decision.
Arline Wilkins, his second wife, died a few days after giving birth to their son, Roy Rogers Jr. (Dusty). She had complications from the cesarean--a blood clot formed, traveled to her brain and killed her. Dale Evans, his third wife, became his children's mom when Dusty was 15 months old. He and Arline had three children: two girls and Dusty.
Childhood home was on real estate that later included second base in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium.
His adopted daughter is Little Doe Rogers.
Besides his most famous role as Roy Rogers himself, "King of the Cowboys", Roy may be one of the few actors, if not the most famous one, to have played three of the West's greatest legends: Wild Bill Hickok, William F. Cody (aka Buffalo Bill) and Jesse James. Also, in Billy the Kid Returns (1938), he played the slain gunslinger as well.
Profiled in "Back in the Saddle: Essays on Western Film and Television Actors", Gary Yoggy, ed. (McFarland, 1998).
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!".
He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1752 Vine Street; for Radio at 1733 Vine Street; and for Television at 1620 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
The Sons of the Pioneers were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6843 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Godfather of Robbie Lee.
The Roy Rogers/Dale Evans Museum has closed. All the memorabilia was sold at auction in April and May of 2011.
In 1951, several years before the airing of his feature films on TV and just months before the premiere of his long running TV series "The Roy Rogers Show"(1951-57), Roy did TV Ads for "Quaker Oats" and "Mother's Oats" oatmeal. These commercials carried the then unusual slogan, "Quaker and Mother's Oats (oatmeal) are the same". However, things wouldn't remain the same. Following the TV success of "Hopalong Cassidy" feature films,"The Lone Ranger" (1949) and "The Gene Autry Show"(1950), "The Roy Rogers Show" debuted on Dec.30, 1951. "Post Cereals" was the sponsor and Roy's association with "Quaker" and "Mother's Oats" was soon forgotten.
His horse, Trigger, would often receive second billing, even above his wife and co-star, Dale Evans.
Son of Andrew Slye.
He and his third wife Dale Evans were one of three married couples to make guest appearances in The Muppet Show (1976). The other two were Kris Kristofferson and Rita Coolidge and Robert Shields and Lorene Yarnell Jansson.
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans had a large family - nine children in all. Dale had one son by a previous marriage, of whom Roy was the step-father. Roy had three children, including one adopted, by a previous marriage, for whom Dale was their step-mother. The couple had a child together and adopted four other children.
Personal Quotes
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.
[Advice to his son, Roy Jr. regarding the Roy Rogers Museum] If the museum starts costing you money, then liquidate everything and move on. [The museum closed its doors in December, 2009. The assets were auctioned off at Christie's in July 2010.]
Fun fact: His salary was $75/week under Western Stars in 1938.

Roy Rogers Jr was born on October 28, 1946 in Los Angeles, California United States. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Roy Rogers Jr.


Roy Rogers is the stage name for Leonard Slye as is Steve Rogers or Captain America is the stage name for Chris Evans.

Roy W Rogers of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida was born on May 3, 1908, and died at age 68 years old in April 1977.

Roy Rogers of Oakland, Alameda County, California was born on April 22, 1908, and died at age 77 years old in March 1986.

Roy E Rogers of San Francisco, San Francisco County, California was born on October 7, 1910, and died at age 67 years old in July 1978.

Roy R Rogers of Eugene, Lane County, OR was born on February 11, 1923, and died at age 78 years old on May 13, 2001.

Roy W Sr Rogers of Toledo, Lewis County, Washington was born on August 21, 1903, and died at age 71 years old in August 1974.

Roy A Rogers of Uncasville, New London County, CT was born on December 15, 1917, and died at age 69 years old in February 1987.

Roy L Rogers of Groveton, Trinity County, TX was born on January 1, 1946, and died at age 55 years old on September 30, 2001.

Roy L Rogers of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas was born on March 26, 1907, and died at age 78 years old in August 1985.

Roy D Rogers of Springtown, Parker County, Texas was born on February 10, 1923, and died at age 60 years old in April 1983.

Roy Lee Rogers of Lindale, Smith County, Texas was born on October 3, 1951, and died at age 56 years old on May 24, 2008.

Roy Lavon Rogers of Brady, McCulloch County, Texas was born on June 24, 1958, and died at age 49 years old on March 2, 2008.

Roy D Rogers of Van Nuys, Los Angeles County, CA was born on December 25, 1918, and died at age 68 years old on September 10, 1987.

Roy Rogers of Trinity, Trinity County, Texas was born on September 2, 1921, and died at age 64 years old in August 1986.

Roy R Rogers of Lincoln City, Lincoln County, Oregon was born on September 1, 1917 in British North America or Canada or Labrador or Newfoundland, and died at age 68 years old in April 1986.

Roy Victor J Rogers of Saint Louis, Saint Louis City County, Missouri was born on June 16, 1921, and died at age 62 years old in April 1984.

Roy D Rogers of Osceola, Mississippi County, AR was born on May 15, 1925, and died at age 72 years old on December 6, 1997.

Roy P Rogers of Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL was born on February 9, 1928, and died at age 65 years old on June 12, 1993.

Roy V Rogers of Opp, Covington County, AL was born on November 9, 1910, and died at age 88 years old on December 15, 1998.

Roy R Rogers of Memphis, Shelby County, TN was born on June 25, 1919, and died at age 91 years old on January 10, 2011.

Roy E Rogers of Auburn, Logan County, KY was born on March 20, 1918, and died at age 83 years old on June 1, 2001.

Roy E Rogers of Louisville, Jefferson County, KY was born on June 20, 1926, and died at age 73 years old on August 10, 1999.

Roy H Rogers of Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, KY was born on May 29, 1922, and died at age 83 years old on May 22, 2006.

Roy J Rogers of San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas was born on July 20, 1920, and died at age 59 years old in October 1979.

Roy M Rogers of Harvey, Cook County, IL was born on November 22, 1915 in British North America or Canada or Labrador or Newfoundland, and died at age 72 years old on May 13, 1988.

Roy Rogers of Seneca, Oconee County, South Carolina was born on July 14, 1943, and died at age 65 years old on January 21, 2009. Roy Rogers was buried at M.j. Dolly Cooper Veterans Cemetery
Section H Row 3 Site 91 140 Inway Drive, in Anderson.
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Roselyn Rogers (Mar 8, 1923 - Nov 2, 2005)
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Rosemay Rogers (Jul 11, 1902 - Dec 1976)
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Rosettie Rogers (Aug 1, 1920 - Mar 3, 2003)
Rosevelt Rogers (Dec 26, 1936 - Apr 18, 2008)
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Rosha Rogers (Mar 24, 1893 - Sep 1965)
Roshona Rogers (Oct 14, 1972 - Aug 16, 1998)
Roshun Rogers (Oct 20, 1975 - Jul 13, 2009)
Rosia Rogers (Apr 7, 1904 - Jan 1994)
Rosie Rogers
Rosier Rogers
Rosilda Rogers (Feb 14, 1911 - Oct 7, 1991)
Rosina Rogers
Rosine Rogers (Apr 6, 1909 - Nov 20, 2004)
Rosinia Trigg
Roslyn Rogers
Ross Rogers
Rossie Rogers (Aug 7, 1906 - Dec 1986)
Rosslyn Rogers (Aug 29, 1914 - Apr 1978)
Roswell Rogers (Oct 8, 1910 - Aug 6, 1998)
Rosy Rogers (Oct 6, 1887 - Jul 1977)
Rotha Rogers (Jan 7, 1930 - Aug 24, 1994)
Rovella Rogers (Apr 8, 1925 - May 1, 2007)
Rovenia Rogers (Aug 5, 1929 - Jan 1982)
Row Rogers (May 11, 1921 - Sep 15, 1991)
Rowan Rogers (Oct 8, 1942 - May 18, 2010)
Rowe Rogers (Apr 12, 1895 - Nov 1979)
Rowell Rogers (Aug 18, 1924 - Apr 6, 1999)
Rowena Rogers
Rowland Rogers
Roxane Rogers (Nov 22, 1894 - Oct 1963)
Roxann Rogers (Sep 29, 1940 - Mar 14, 2009)
Roxanna Rogers
Roxanne Rogers
Roxey Rogers
Roxie Rogers
Roxy Rogers (Aug 16, 1920 - Oct 1983)
Roy Rogers
Royal Rogers
Royce Rogers
Roydell Rogers (Dec 27, 1921 - Jun 5, 2003)
Royden Rogers
Roylee Rogers (Sep 2, 1950 - Mar 1974)
Rozanne Rogers (Aug 13, 1955 - Feb 8, 2003)
Rozar Rogers (Feb 10, 1917 - Dec 9, 2004)
Roze Rogers (Mar 23, 1913 - May 6, 1993)
Rozealius Rogers (Oct 17, 1912 - Oct 26, 1998)
Rozell Rogers
Rozella Rogers
Rozena Rogers (Feb 28, 1920 - Feb 1992)
Rozene Rogers (Mar 17, 1920 - Mar 18, 1999)
Rozie Rogers (Nov 16, 1913 - Aug 1977)
Rozilla Rogers
Rozina Rogers (Mar 14, 1909 - Jun 15, 1989)
Rua Rogers (Sep 28, 1923 - Mar 29, 1991)
Ruba Rogers (Apr 13, 1900 - Jun 1986)
Rube Rogers
Ruben Rogers
Rubie Rogers
Rubin Rogers
Ruble Rogers
Rubn Rogers (Mar 21, 1941 - Dec 23, 2001)
Ruby Rogers
Rubye Rogers
Rudell Rogers (Apr 16, 1943 - Jun 1980)
Rudelle Rogers (Oct 21, 1907 - Jan 28, 1991)
Rudolf Rogers
Rudoloph Rogers (Jul 30, 1919 - Feb 2, 2003)
Rudolph Rogers
Rudolphus Rogers (Jan 25, 1903 - Oct 1970)
Rudy Rogers
Rue Rogers
Rueben Rogers (Aug 23, 1985 - Jan 30, 2010)
Ruel Rogers
Ruene Rogers (Aug 2, 1922 - Nov 3, 1999)
Rufe Rogers (Sep 16, 1930 - Mar 6, 2007)
Ruff Rogers (Aug 14, 1940 - Oct 8, 2005)
Ruffie Rogers (Jan 1, 1930 - Feb 4, 2011)
Ruffin Rogers
Ruffus Rogers
Rufus Rogers
Ruleen Rogers
Rulon Rogers
Rupert Rogers
Rural Rogers
Rush Rogers (Mar 15, 1944 - Jul 8, 1999)
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