Profile of the Day: Will Rogers

On November 4, 1879, American cowboy, social commentator, and actor Will Rogers was born.

Image: Will Rogers / Wikimedia Commons

Known as “Oklahoma’s Favorite Son,” Rogers was born to a prominent Cherokee Nation family in what is now Oklahoma. After performing in Wild West shows as a young man, he broke out in vaudeville and film to become one of the most famous actors in the world in the 1920s and ’30s. In addition to his career in show business, Rogers was a writer. He wrote 4,000 syndicated newspaper columns and 6 books.

Sadly, his life was cut short when he died in a plane crash at the age of 55. Rogers was a big advocate of the aviation industry and had befriended several aviators, including famed pilot Wiley Post. On August 15, 1935, Post and Rogers were flying over Alaska when their plane suffered from engine failure and crashed. Both men were killed in the crash.

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