Roy Rogers (November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host. The ultimate 'white hat' singing cowboy, Rogers, his wife Dale Evans, his horse Trigger and the theme song from his show, became a frequent touchstone for Mork and others, through the series.
Born Leonard Franklin Slye, November 5, 1911, the son of Mattie (née Womack) and Andrew "Andy" Slye in Cincinnati Ohio. The family lived in a tenement on 2nd Street, where Riverfront Stadium was later constructed (Rogers later joked that he was born at second base).
Following early work under his given name first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, he worked steadily in Western films, including a large supporting role as a singing cowboy while still billed as Leonard Slye in a Gene Autry movie. In 1938, Autry demanded more money for his work, and there was a competition for a new singing cowboy. Many singers sought the job, including Willie Phelps of the Phelps brothers, who appeared in early Western movies. Len ended up winning the contest and was given the stage name Roy Rogers by Republic Pictures, suggesting the western-sounding name Roy and combining it with the surname of the popular western comic entertainer Will Rogers.
The rebranded Rogers then became one of the most popular Western stars of his era, second only to Randolph Scott. Known as the "King of the Cowboys", he appeared in over 100 films and numerous radio and television episodes of The Roy Rogers Show. In many of his films and television episodes, he appeared with his wife, Dale Evans; his Golden Palomino, Trigger; and his German Shepherd, Bullet, with the theme song for the show Happy Trails, written by Dale Evans.
His show was broadcast on radio for nine years and then on television from 1951 through 1957. His early roles were uncredited parts in films by fellow cowboy singing star Gene Autry and his productions usually featured a sidekick, often Pat Brady, Andy Devine, George "Gabby" Hayes, or Smiley Burnette. In his later years, he lent his name to the franchise chain of Roy Rogers Restaurants.
Rogers was married three times, first to Lucile Ascolese, married in 1933 by a justice of the peace in Los Angeles; the marriage failed, and the couple divorced in 1936. Rogers then went on tour with the O-Bar-O Cowboys and in June 1933 met Grace Arline Wilkins at a Roswell, New Mexico radio station. They were married in Roswell on June 11, 1936, having corresponded since their first meeting. In 1941, the couple adopted a daughter, Cheryl Darlene. Two years later, Grace gave birth to daughter Linda Lou. A son, Roy, Jr. ("Dusty"), was born in 1946; Grace died of complications from the birth a few days later, on November 3.
Rogers met Dale Evans in 1944 when they were cast in a film together. They fell in love soon after Grace's death, and Rogers proposed to her during a rodeo at Chicago Stadium. They married on New Year's Eve in 1947 at the Flying L Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma, where they had filmed Home in Oklahoma a few months earlier. Together they had five children: Robin Elizabeth, who had Down syndrome and died of complications with mumps shortly before her second birthday; three adopted daughters, Mimi, Dodie, and Debbie; and one adopted son, Sandy. Evans wrote about the loss of their daughter Robin in her book Angel Unaware. Rogers and Evans remained married until his death.
Rogers died of congestive heart failure on July 6, 1998, in Apple Valley, California. He was buried at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Apple Valley, as was his wife Dale Evans three years later
Mork's Multiple References[]
Mork and others often referenced Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, along with Trigger the palomino, and the Happy Trails theme song including:
- Little Orphan Morkie - Mork hopes whoever adopts him its not Roy Rogers as if he dies he'll stuff him and put him in his museum, referring to what happened to Trigger, Roy Roger's famous horse.
- Mork's Vacation - Ricky Day tells the couple that the entertainment at the Lazy Hacienda that night is a slide show of Roy Roger's wife 'Dale Evans - The Early Years'
- Dueling Skates - Mork imitates legendary screen bad guy Peter Lorre singing Roy Rogers & Dale Evan's theme song Happy Trails from the radio and TV show in the 1940s and 50s.
- Gunfight at the Mork-Kay Corral - Fred namechecks Roy Rogers as one of the big Movie/TV singing Cowboy heroes of the 30s, 40s and 50s.
- Mork sings 'Happy Tails to you' for Squellman's rear disappearing into the horizon, a 'revised' version of Roy Rogers / Dale Evans theme song 'Happy Trails
- Mork runs through a gamut of lines and Western characters in the recreation of the card game in Windy Gulch, including Roy Rogers.
- Mork the Monkey's Uncle - In telling Doc about 'Animal Heaven' he says Trigger (Roy Rogers Horse) is up there.
- Mork and Mindy Meet Rick and Ruby - The baby name Rick & Ruby fight over, Trigger, is the name of Roy Rogers' Horse.
- Rich Mork, Poor Mork - Mindy tells Mork that Mearth "eats more than Trigger,"
- The Mork Report - The crazy orange fringe on the leopard print arm of the dress Mork has bought for Mindy, he describes as 'Roy Rogers gone berserk' highlighting the singing cowboys propensity for fringe on his outfits.