Charlie Ruggles
(1886 - 1970)My favorite Charlie Ruggles role was as Maj. Horace Applegate, the big game hunter in the screwball comedy "Bringing Up Baby" (1938) with Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant, one of many hilarious roles he portrayed. Born Charles Sherman Ruggles in Los Angeles, California on February 8, 1886, he grew up in the San Francisco area and began acting at the age of 17 in stock theatre against the wishes of his family. His mother died tragically when she was shot by a burglar. Young Charlie continued his life's dream of acting. Even in his youth he played old men and character roles. He mastered many character types: debonair, scholarly, befuddled, timid, wise, grandfatherly, even wistful. We remember him best as a gentle, white haired senior with a distinguished mustache which graced his jolly, pleasant face. In some respects he looked a little like one of those quaint apple-faced dolls. One of his greatest assets was his distinct, articulate speaking voice which was put to good use in narration. He worked often on the Broadway stage and won a Tony Award in 1959. His film credits also include: "The Patchwork Girl of Oz" (1914) a silent and his film debut; "The Majesty of the Law" (1915) as Lawrence Evans; "Peer Gynt" (1915) another silent, as the Button Molder; "Gentleman of the Press" (1929) as Charlie Haven; "The Lady Lies" (1929) as Charlie Taylor; "The Battle of Paris" (1929) as Zizi; "Roadhouse Nights" (1930) as Willie Bindbugel; "Young Man of Manhattan" (1930) as Shorty Ross; "Her Wedding Night" (1930) as Bertie Bird; "Charley's Aunt" (1930) as 'Babbs' Babberly/Lord Farncourt; "Honor Among Lovers" (1931) as Monty Dunn; "The Smiling Lieutenant" (1931) as Max; "The Girl Habit" (1931) as Charlie Floyd; "Beloved Bachelor" (1931) as Jerry Wells; "This Reckless Age" (1932) as Goliath Whitney; "This Is the Night" (1932) as Bunny West; "Love Me Tonight" (1932) as Vicomte Gilbert de Vareze; "70,000 Witnesses" (1932) as Johnny Moran; "The Night of June 13th" (1932) as Philo Strawn; "Trouble in Paradise" (1932) as The Major; "Evenings For Sale" (1932) as Bimfel; "If I Had a Million" (1932) as Henry Peabody; Madame Butterfly" (1932) as Lt. Barton; "Terror Aboard" (1933) as Blackie Witherspoon; "Goodbye Love" (1933) as Groggs; "Girl Without a Room" (1933) as Vergil Crock; "Alice in Wonderland" (1933) as March Hare; "Melody in Spring" (1934) as Warren Blodgett; "Murder in the Private Car" (1934) as Godfrey Damrosh Scott; "Friends of Mr. Sweeney" (1934) as Asaph 'Ace' Holiday; "The Pursuit of Happiness" (1934) as Aaron Kirkland; "The Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935) as Egbert 'Sourdough' Floud; "People Will Talk" (1935) as Henry Wilton; "No More Ladies" (1935) as Edgar Holden; "The Big Broadcast of 1936" (1935) as Mr. Sealingsworth; "Anything Goes" (1936) as Rev. Dr. Moon; "Early to Bed" (1936) as Chester Beatty; "Hearts Divided" (1936) as Sen. Henry Ruggles; "Wives Never Know" (1936) as Homer Bigelow; "Mind Your Own Business" (1936) as Orville Shanks; "Turn Off the Moon" (1937) as Elliott Dinwiddy; "Exclusive" (1937) as Tod Swain; "Bringing Up Baby" (1938) as Maj. Horace Applegate, probably his best role; "Breaking the Ice" (1938) as Samuel Terwilliger; "Boy Trouble" (1939) as Homer C. Fitch; "Sudden Money" (1939) as Sweeney Patterson; "Invitation to Happiness" (1939) as Pop Hardy; "Balalika" (1939) as Nicki Popoff; "Maryland" (1940) as Dick Piper; "No Time for Comedy" (1940) with James Stewart, as Philo Swift; "The Farmer's Daughter" (1940) as Nicksie North; "Opened by Mistake" (1940) as Buzz Nelson; "The Invisible Woman" (1940) as George; "Honeymoon for Three" (1941) as Harvey Wilson; "Model Wife" (1941) as Milo Everett; "The Parson of Panamint" (1941) as Chuckawalla Bill Redfield; "The Perfect Snob" (1941) as Dr. Mason; "Friendly Enemies" (1942) as Heinrich Block; "Dixie Dugan" (1943) as Pa Dugan; "The Doughgirls" (1944) as Stanley Slade; "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" (1944) as Otis Skinner; "Three is a Family" (1944) as Sam Whitaker; "Bedside Manner" (1945) as Dr. Fredericks; "Incendiary Blonde" (1945) as Cherokee Jim; "The Parent Trap" (1961) as Charles McKendrick; "A Stolen Life" (1946) as Freddie Linley; "Gallant Journey" (1946) as Jim Montgomery; "The Perfect Marriage" (1947) as Dale Williams Sr.; "My Brother Talks to Horses" (1947) as Richard Pennington Roeder; "It Happened on 5th Avenue" (1947) as Michael O'Connor; "Ramrod" (1947) as Ben Dickason; "Give My Regards to Broadway" (1948) as Toby Helper; "The Lovable Cheat" (1949) as Claude Mercadet; "Look for the Silver Lining" (1949) as Caro Miller; the Disney animated film "Ben and Me" (1953) as Voice of Ben Franklin; "All in a Night's Work" (1961) as Dr. Warren Kingsley Sr.; "The Pleasure of His Company" (1961) as Mackenzie Savage; "The Parent Trap" (1961) as Charles McKendrick; "Son of Flubber" (1963) as Judge Murdock; "Papa's Delicate Condition" (1963) as Anthony Ghio; "I'd Rather Be Rich" (1964) as Dr. Charles Crandall; "The Ugly Dachshund" (1966) as Dr. Pruitt and "Follow Me Boys!" (1966) as John Everett Hughes, his final theatrical film. On TV, besides numerous guest appearances, he appeared on a TV version of "The Ruggles of Red Gap" (1949-52); "The World of Mr. Sweeney" (1954) as Cicero P. Sweeney and narrated Aesop's Fables on "The Bullwinkle Show" (1961-62). He starred in TV movies including: "The Bells of St. Mary's" (1959) and "Carousel" (1969) as Dr. Selden/The Starkeeper, his final film. He was married to Adele Rowland in 1914 and they divorced in 1921.He later married Marion LaBarba in 1942 and remained with her until their divorce in 1970. He died on December 23, 1970 of cancer in Hollywood, California.
From Great Character Actors, Page 1.
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