Rogers, Roy, 1911–98, American Western film star, b. Cincinnati, Ohio, as Leonard Franklin Slye. The guitar-strumming Rogers succeeded Gene Autry Autry, Gene (Orvon Gene Autry), 1907–98, American entertainer and businessman, b. Tioga Springs, Tex. Probably the most successful of the movies' singing cowboys, Autry began singing on the radio during the 1920s in Tulsa, Okla.
..... Click the link for more information. as America's favorite singing cowboy in movies of the mid-1940s. An ex–fruit picker and cowpuncher, he and his brother performed on the radio during the 1930s. Rogers was a founder (1934) of the Sons of the Pioneers, a singing trio that began appearing in movies in 1935. His first starring role came three years later. In 1947, Rogers, by then the "king of the cowboys," married

Dale Evans, 1912–2001, b. Uvalde, Tex., as Frances Octavia Smith. Together, they sang, rode, and acted in dozens of B movies, usually accompanied by their bearded sidekick George "Gabby" Hayes and Roy's palomino horse Trigger. The couple also starred (1951–57) in television's Roy Rogers Show and hosted (1962–63) a variety program. The Roy Rogers–Dale Evans Museum, which displays their memorabilia, is in Branson, Mo.

Bibliography

See R. Rogers and D. Evans, Happy Trails (1979, repr. 1995); biography by R. W. Phillips (1995); D. Rothel, The Roy Rogers Book (1987).

Rogers, Roy

orig. Leonard Franklin Slye Rogers

(born Nov. 5, 1911/12, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.—died July 6, 1998, Apple Valley, Calif.) U.S. actor and singer. During his childhood Rogers took up singing, guitar playing, and square-dance calling. He made radio and personal appearances with a succession of groups before helping form the singing group Sons of the Pioneers. He acted in westerns with Gene Autry, whom he replaced as “King of the Cowboys” when Autry went to war. His films include Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935), Red River Valley (1941), and Yellow Rose of Texas (1944). He acted in several with his wife, Dale Evans, usually riding his famous horse, Trigger. He also starred on radio in The Roy Rogers Show (1944–55) as well as on television in a series of the same name (1951–57).