I . Buck Rogers
a character in popular US stories. He was a traveller in space in the 25th century and fought criminals, such as Killer Kane. His world capital was Niagra, and he was helped by Wilma Deering, Dr Huer and, from Mars, Black Barney. The Rogers character appeared first in a novel in the 1920s and was then in films, a comic strip and comic books, and on radio and television.
➡ note at comics and comic strips .
II . Ginger Rogers
(1911–95)
a US actor, singer and dancer. She is best remembered as the partner of Fred Astaire in several musical films, including Flying Down to Rio (1933), Top Hat (1935) and Swing Time (1936). She later appeared on stage in Hello Dolly (1966) in New York and Mame (1969) in London.
III . Richard Rogers
(1933– )
a British architect, born in Italy. His buildings include the Pompidou Centre (1971–9, with Renzo Piano) in Paris, the Lloyd’s Building (1979–85) in London, both of which are famous for having large tubes for water, air and electricity showing on the outside, and the Millennium Dome (1999) at Greenwich . He was made a knight in 1991.
IV . Roy Rogers
(1912–98)
a US singer and actor. He was the most popular Hollywood cowboy star of the 1940s and was called the ‘King of the Cowboys’. He and his famous horse Trigger appeared in about 100 films, including Under Western Stars (1938), The Yellow Rose of Texas (1944) and Apache Rose (1947). His wife, the actor Dale Evans (1912–2001), often acted with him. He made many records and was chosen for the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1988.
V . Will Rogers
(1879–1935)
a US entertainer, sometimes called the ‘cowboy philosopher’. He was famous for his sharp but humorous comments about politicians and news events, but is best remembered for two remarks: ‘All I know is what I read in the papers,’ and ‘I never met a man I didn’t like.’ He first became well known in 1916 in the Ziegfeld Follies, a variety show, and later made many films, including State Fair (1933) and Steamboat Round the Bend (1935). He also wrote a humorous column which appeared in many newspapers.