Roy Rogers
Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998), nicknamed the King of the Cowboys,[1] was an American singer, actor, television host, and rodeo performer.
For other uses, see Roy Rogers (disambiguation).
Roy Rogers
July 6, 1998 (aged 86)
Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Apple Valley
34°33′25″N 117°08′35″W / 34.5569916°N 117.1429367°W
Len Slye
- Singer
- actor
- TV host
- 1932–1991
- 1935–1984 (acting)
9
Following early work under his given name, first as a co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then as an actor, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most famous and popular Western stars of his era.
He appeared in almost 90 motion pictures, as well as numerous episodes of his self-titled radio program that lasted for nine years. Between 1951 and 1957, he hosted The Roy Rogers Show television series. In many of them, he appeared with his wife, Dale Evans; his Golden Palomino, Trigger; and his German Shepherd, Bullet. Rogers is also best remembered for his signature song "Happy Trails".
His early roles were uncredited parts in films by fellow singing cowboy Gene Autry. His productions usually featured a sidekick, often either Pat Brady, Andy Devine, George "Gabby" Hayes, or Smiley Burnette.[2]
Rogers was the only country singer to be inducted twice into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Alongside Bob Hope, Mickey Rooney, and Tony Martin, he's the recipient of four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the latter of which was honored with the band mentioned above.
In his later years, he lent his name to the franchise chain of Roy Rogers Restaurants.
Life and career[edit]
Early life[edit]
Rogers was born Leonard Franklin Slye, the son of Mattie (née Womack) and Andrew "Andy" Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio.[3] The family lived in a tenement on 2nd Street, where Riverfront Stadium was later constructed. (Rogers later joked that he was born at second base.)[3] Len had three sisters: Kathleen, Mary, and Cleda. Dissatisfied with his job and city life, Andy and his brother Will built a 12-by-50-foot (3.7 m × 15.2 m) houseboat from salvage lumber, and in July 1912 the Slye family traveled up the Ohio River towards Portsmouth.[3] Desiring a more stable existence in Portsmouth, they purchased land on which they planned to build a house, but instead the Great Flood of 1913 enabled them to move the houseboat onto their property and continue living in it on dry land.[3]
For a number of years exhibitors voted Rogers among the most popular stars in the country: