Born in Olathe, KS; educated at the University of Kansas. An accomplished musician and former band leader, he was signed by Paramount in 1926 and trained at the Paramount Picture School. He became known as "America's Boy Friend," a pleasant leading man of several light Hollywood films. He is perhaps best remembered for his performances in WINGS (1927) and ABIE'S IRISH ROSE (1929). Other credits from this period include GET YOUR MAN (1927), HALFWAY TO HEAVEN (1929), YOUNG EAGLES, HEADS UP and ALONG CAME YOUTH (all 1930), THE ROAD TO RENO (1931), THIS RECKLESS AGE (1932), BEST OF ENEMIES (1933), OLD MAN RHYTHM, WEEKEND MILLIONAIRE and DANCE BAND (all 1935) and ONCE IN A MILLION (1936). In 1936 he married Mary Pickford, his leading lady in MY BEST GIRL (1927) and 11 years his senior. They remained married until her death in 1979. After his marriage to Pickford, Rogers worked mainly as a producer, but he did appear in the "Mexican Spitfire" series of films at RKO (1941-2). During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy as a flight training instructor. He appeared as himself in the "Wings" episode of "Petticoat Junction" in 1968. In 1997, he executive produced MARY PICKFORD: A LIFE ON FILM. Rogers married Beverly Ricono in 1981, and they remained married until his death in 1999.  Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award 1985 1 Honorary Award