Charles Rogers
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
Rogers and Pickford were two of the early donors to the Motion Picture and Television Home.
He has an award named after him that is presented by the Hollywood Women's Press Club.
Biography
A good-looking, pleasant leading man of mostly light Hollywood films, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers broke into films at the urging of his father, who had submitted his son's photograph to a talent search. As one of 20 selected to screen test and undergo a six-month training course, he made his film debut in "Fascinating Youth" (1926). The following year was particularly historic for him as he played opposite future wife Mary Pickford in "My Best Girl" and acted in one of the most famous silent films, the first Oscar-winning Best Picture, "Wings". In the latter, Rogers portrayed one of two All-American boys (in love with the same girl--Clara Bow) who enlist in the army air corps during WWI. Renowned for its combat flying sequences, the film introduced him to sophomore director William Wellman, tapped for his exposure to aerial warfare as a member of the Layfayette Escadrille Flying Corps, and the two worked together again on another flying picture, "Young Eagles" (1930).
With his narrow range but pleasant charm, Rogers headlined a series of undistinguished films at Paramount, including being cast as the Jewish boy in "Abie's Irish Rose" (1929). In 1931, he asked to be let out of his contract with the studio and embarked on a second, minor career as an orchestra leader, forming a band with Johnny Green and Gene Krupa with Mary Martin and Marilyn Maxwell as vocalists. After nearly ten years of pursuing Pickford, he finally convinced her to marry him in 1937. In the early 40s, he replaced Donald Woods as the husband of Lupe Velez in three of the "Mexican Spitfire" movies before embarking on a career as a producer, which saw him oversee (along with Pickford) "Sleep, My Love" (1948), among other pictures. His last feature appearance came in "The Parson and the Outlaw" (1957), which he also produced.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Producer (Feature Film)
Director (Short)
Cast (Short)
Music (Short)
Life Events
1925
Father submitted photograph to Famous Players-Lasky nationwide talent search; one of 20 selected for a screen test
1925
Chosen by Paramount to take a six-month training course for actors
1926
Film debut, "Fascinating Youth"; alongside other winners of the talent search
1927
Starred in the first Oscar-winning Best Picture, the silent "Wings"; second feature directed by William Wellman; also starred Clara Bow
1927
Acted opposite future wife Mary Pickford in "My Best Girl" (Pickford's last silent movie)
1928
First time headlining a movie, "Varsity"; also his first talkie, it contained 13 minutes of dialogue, mostly in the last 10 minutes of the film
1930
Reteamed with Wellman for "Young Eagles", once again playing a WWI American pilot
1931
Asked to be released from Paramount contract; formed first in a series of orchestras with musicians Johnny Green and Gene Krupa and singers Mary Martin and Marilyn Maxwell; reportedly Pickford provided some of the financing for the band
1933
Acted in movie musical, "Take a Chance"
1935
Played playboy son of George Barbier in Edward Ludwig's fluffy musical, "Old Man Rhythm"
1941
Replaced Donald Woods as Lupe Velez's husband in the "Mexican Spitfire" movies, acting in "Mexican Spitfire's Baby"; also acted in "Mexican Spitfire at Sea" and "Mexican Spitfire Sees a Ghost" (both 1942)
1946
First producing credits, two movies directed by Reginald LeBorg, "Little Iodine" and "Susie Steps Out" (also produced LeBorg's "Adventures of Don Coyote" 1947)
1947
Produced Cy Enfield's "Stork Bites Man"
1948
Returned to screen after six year absence, "An Innocent Affair/Don't Trust Your Husband"
1948
Produced Douglas Sirk's "Sleep, My Love"; Pickford also produced after 12 years away from films
1957
Final screen appearance, "The Parson and the Outlaw"; also produced
Videos
Movie Clip
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Rogers and Pickford were two of the early donors to the Motion Picture and Television Home.
He has an award named after him that is presented by the Hollywood Women's Press Club.
