Roy Rogers (born Leonard Slye) moved to California in 1930, aged 18. 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 and Tim Spencer called Sons of the Pioneers. While in that group he was known as Leonard Slye, then Dick Weston, and finally Roy Rogers. Their songs included "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". They first appeared in the western Rhythm on the Range, starring Bing Crosby and Martha Raye. In 1937 Rogers went solo, and made his first starring film in 1938, Under Western Stars. He made almost 100 films. The Roy Rogers Show ran on CBS from October 1951 through September 1964.


Under Western Stars (1938): $75/week

His dog's name was Bullet and appeared in almost as many of his films as did Trigger. Nicknames: Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys", Dale Evans "Queen of the West", Trigger "Smartest Horse in the Movies" 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. He had two children and 1 adopted daughter with Arlene Wilkins. 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. Star of Mutual (1944-1951) and NBC Radio's (1951-1955) "The Roy Rogers Show." Inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1976. Was a Master Mason. In other words, he a good man who became a member of the Masonic Fraternity. 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. When Leonard Slye needed a "white hat" stage name, he chose to use the name of a dentist he had used during his childhood in Ohio. The dentist Roy Rogers had a son, grandson and great-grandson who also share his name. Childhood home was on real estate that later included second base in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium. 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. 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!". The Sons of the Pioneers were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6843 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.