Charles Sherman Ruggles (1886 - 1970)

Born 8 Feb 1886 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Adele (Levi) Rowland — married 4 Mar 1914 (to 1916) in Jersey City, New Jersey

Husband of Marion Louise (Shields) Ruggles — married 7 May 1942 in Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, United States

Died 23 Dec 1970 at age 84 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Miranda Bailey [send private message]

Biography

Charlie Ruggles is Notable.

Charlie was born in 1886.

From his Find A Grave: Memorial #3561

Actor. Remembered for his comedic roles in a career that spanned six decades. Born to Charles Sherman and Theresa Maria (Heinsch) Ruggles. His younger brother was director Wesley Ruggles. His parents divorced when he was young. He lived in San Francisco as a teenager. He started acting in 1905 and played a variety of roles in stock companies.

He married actress Adele Rowland in 1914. They divorced a couple years later. He made his Broadway debut in "Help Wanted" in 1914. His Broadway successes included "Battling Buttler" and "Queen High". He also acted in silent films such as "The Majesty of the Law" (1915), "Peer Gynt" (1915) and "The Heart Raider" (1923). He married actress Barbara Guillan before 1920 and they remained married until her death in 1941.

His first talkie was "Gentleman of the Press" (1929), in which he played a drunken news reporter. He became renowned for his partnership with Mary Boland. He played the henpecked husband. Their films included "Mama Loves Papa" (1933), "Six of a Kind" (1934) and "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935).

In the late thirties, he opened See Are Kennels, a dog boarding kennel. In 1938 he portrayed big game hunter Major Horace Applegate in "Bringing Up Baby", which is commonly cited as his best-remembered role. In addition to his film appearances, he acted on multiple radio shows and performed in USO tours during the 1940.Programs he appeared on include "Barrel of Fun", "Suspense", "Mayor of the Town" and "Lux Radio Theater".

In 1942 he married Marion La Barba, who he was married to for the remainder of his life. In 1947 he appeared in "It Happened on 5th Avenue" as Michael J. O'Connor, a millionaire who discovers his mansion is taken over by homeless people. He halted his film career to try television. He flourished, starring in shows such as "The Ruggles" and "The World of Mr. Sweeney". He made guest appearances on "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Playhouse 90", "The Life of Riley" and "Bewitched", among others.

He was president of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1953. In 1958 he returned to Broadway as Mackenzie Savage in "The Pleasure of His Company". He won a Tony Award for his performance. He also voiced the Aesop and Son segment on "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show." He returned to films in the early 1960s, playing grandfather roles. They included "The Parent Trap" and "Papa's Delicate Condition". "Follow Me, Boys!" (1966) was his final film. His final acting credit was on "The Danny Thomas Hour" in 1968. Two years later he died of cancer at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. He was versatile actor, excelling at both comedy and drama, and was able to transition to different forms of entertainment.

Bio by: Miranda (Miranda Bailey|Bailey-30060)

He passed away in 1970.

Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #3561

• "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9GQ-PDS : accessed 12 May 2021), Chas S Ruggles Jr. in household of Harry V Cloak, Precinct 11 San Francisco city Ward 37, San Francisco, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 153, sheet 1A, family 11, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,104.

• "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MV25-9YT : accessed 12 May 2021), Charles H Ruggles in household of Harvey Brown, Los Angeles Assembly District 70, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 221, sheet 12A, family 219, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 80; FHL microfilm 1,374,093.

• "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch(https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K9HJ-LM9 : 6 January 2021), Charles S Ruggles, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 60-6, sheet 9A, line 3, family 182, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 374.

• Charles S. Ruggles, Los Angeles, California, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 66-11, sheet 48, line 24, Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, NARA.

• U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989 for Adele Levi and Charles Ruggles Jr. Link: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6961/images/43103_356258-00246?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=hlf15510&_phstart=successSource&pId=902705059

• "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6JC-BZ7 : 23 February 2021), Charles Sherman Ruggles, Jr, 1917-1918.