Jimmy Rogers (actor)

James Blake Rogers (July 25, 1915 – April 28, 2000), commonly known as Jimmy (also spelled Jimmie), was an American actor. He played Hopalong Cassidy's sidekick in six films. Rogers was also a horse rancher, polo player, and newspaperman. He was the family representative on the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, and worked with the staff at the Will Rogers State Historic Park.

Early years
Rogers was born in New York City on July 25, 1915, the son of Will Rogers and Betty Blake. He had three siblings: Will Jr. (1911–1993), Mary (1913–1989), and Fred (1918–1920). He spent his childhood in Beverly Hills, but moved to a ranch in the late 1920s, and grew to love working with horses. He attended Pomona College, but left in 1935, after his father and pilot Wiley Post died in a plane crash.

Film career
As a child he had parts in four of his father's silent films, and was billed as Jimmy Rogers. He used that stage name in all of his film roles. Rogers was more interested in raising horses, so in the 1930s he and a friend purchased a ranch in Santa Barbara County, but in the early 1940s the U. S. government bought the ranch for a new army base, which later became Vandenberg Air Force Base.

In need of a new occupation he returned to acting. He made three comedy westerns with Noah Beery Jr. at Hal Roach Studios. Rogers then went on to make six Hopalong Cassidy movies with William Boyd, playing a fictional version of himself, a character named Jimmy Rogers.

Later work
During the later part of World War II Rogers joined the Marine Corps and worked as a writer and correspondent. After the war he and his brother Will Rogers Jr. ran The Beverly Hills Citizen, a newspaper that was published between 1955 and 1962.

He appeared in documentaries about his father's life, includingThe Story of Will Rogers, a 1961 episode of the television documentary Project Twenty, which was narrated by Bob Hope, and Will Rogers, a 2001 episode of California’s Gold, which aired after Rogers’ death.

Rogers was the family representative on the Will Rogers Memorial Commission, and worked with the staff at the Will Rogers State Historic Park. Michelle Lefebvre-Carter, the director of the Memorial Commission stated: "Jim Rogers referred to Will Rogers affectionately as 'Dad' in family matters and 'WR' in reference to the icon."

Rogers owned a California ranch, where he trained horses and operated a riding school. He attended western fan conventions, and talked about his movie career.

Personal life
Rogers married Astrea Kemmler on March 26, 1938, and they had three children – James Kemmler Rogers, Charles Edward Rogers, and Astrea Elizabeth Rogers Brandon. His first wife died on November 19, 1987. He married Judith Braun on August 31, 1995. Rogers died of cancer on April 28, 2000.

Filmography

 * 1920  Water, Water, Everywhere – uncredited bit role
 * 1920  The Strange Boarder – Billy Gardner
 * 1920  Jes' Call Me Jim – Harry Benedict
 * 1921  Doubling for Romeo – Jimmie Jones
 * 1942  Dudes Are Pretty People – Jimmy
 * 1943  Calaboose – Jimmy
 * 1943  Prairie Chickens – Jimmy
 * 1943  False Colors – Jimmy Rogers
 * 1943  Riders of the Deadline – Jimmy Rogers
 * 1944  Texas Masquerade – Jimmy Rogers
 * 1944  Lumberjack – Jimmy Rogers
 * 1944  Mystery Man – Jimmy Rogers
 * 1944  Forty Thieves – Jimmy Rogers