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. Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1980 as a member of the 'Sons of the Pioneers' and elected again in 1988 as Roy Rogers. Nicknames: Roy Rogers "King of the Cowboys", Dale Evans "Queen of the West", Trigger "Smartest Horse in the Movies" There is a Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum at Branson, Missouri. 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, being ridden by Olivia de Havilland in "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1938). Trigger died in 1965 aged thirty-three. Roy's theme song, "Happy Trails", was written by Dale Evans. He had two children and 1 adopted daughter with Arlene Wilkins. He and Dale adopted 4 children. One of his and Dale's daughters died in a bus wreck in Aug. 1964. One adopted son choked to death in Nov. 1965. 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. Once received 78,852 fan letters in a single month. Star of Mutual (1944-1951) and NBC Radio's (1951-1955) "The Roy Rogers Show." His guest-appearance on the Wonder Woman television series in 1977 reflected his real life as the character he played was a western man who had adopted several children. Roy's conservative side showed through though when he insisted with producers that in order for him to agree to do the episode series star Lynda Carter needed to wear more clothing than the 'bathing suit' she normally wore. Rogers won out and Lynda was obligated to wear a sleeved solid red top and white chino pants. Inducted (with his wife Dale Evans) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1976. Inducted (as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers) into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1995. Was a Master Mason. In other words, he a good man who became a member of the Masonic Fraternity. He was a firm believer in our 2nd Amendment Rights, and in fact appeared in TV commercials as an NRA spokesman, opposing a proposed gun ban in California. Once lived next door to actor Val Kilmer (when Val was a child). When Roy moved, the Kilmer's later moved into to his old ranch. Then, in 1999, Val led Trigger's grandson on stage at the 1999 Academy Awards in honor of Roy Rogers. Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 522-525. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002. When Leonard Slye needed a 'white hat' stage name, he chose to use the name of his childhood dentist from his Ohio hometown. The Dentist Roy Rogers had a son grandson, and great grandson who also share his name. Arline Wilkins, hiss second wife, died a few days after giving birth to their son, Roy Rogers Jr. (Dusty). She had complications from the cesarean - and a blood clot formed and traveled to her brain and killed her. Dale Evans, his third wife, became his children's mom when Dusty was 15 months old. He and Arline had three children, two girls and Dusty.