Google Pays Tribute to Will Rogers, Celebrated Native-American Actor

Who can forget the line "I never met a man I didn't like" from the celebrated Will Rogers? Throughout the years, many Native Americans grew up watching this iconic American actor on the screen.

Today is the 140th Birthday of Will Rogers, who was born in 1879 at Rogers Ranch in Oologah, Cherokee Territory, now known now as the state of Oklahoma. In celebration of the Native American Indian Heritage Month, Google made an animated doodle dedicated to Will Rogers.

The animated doodle was created by Kevin Laughlin, a San Francisco-based artist, who said that he finds the idea of a cowboy deeply satisfying. His approach in his doodle was unique because he spent a lot of time reading the life of Will Rogers and his quotes as opposed to studying imagery. The animated doodle will appear for Google users in North America.

In an article published in the Time Bulletin, a short biography was written about Will Rogers. The story recalled some facts about the late actor's life. Will Rogers, also known as William Penn Adair Rogers in real life, was an American stage and movie actor, humorist, newspaper columnist, vaudeville performer, cowboy, and a social pundit in Oklahoma.

William Rogers is the son of the Cherokee senator who raised Texas longhorns in his farm. Cherokee Nation is under the Indian Territory, which is why William Rogers is known as Oklahoma's Favorite Son. He travelled around the world three times, made 71 movies, and composed in excess of more than 4,000 nationally syndicated newspaper columns.

According to CBS NEWS, he called politics as the best show in the world and even called the Congress as the national joke factory. In spite of this, his humor, charm, and keen observation of the government earned him respect from American citizens.

Jennifer Rogers-Etcheverry, the great-granddaughter of Will Rogers, thanked Google for honoring his great-grandfather. Jennifer added that Will Rogers is the unofficial ambassador for the United States in which his presence can still be felt until today.

Likewise, Will Rogers had lots of contributions in the entertainment industry. His vaudeville rope act prompted accomplishments in the Ziegfeld Follies and it was the beginning of his numerous movie contracts. Moreover, his syndicated newspaper in 1920s and his appearance in radio expanded his visibility and popularity during his time.

In the midst of 1930, Will Rogers became the highest paid Hollywood film star and became immensely prevalent in the United States of America. In 1934, he was viewed as the most popular Hollywood actor and hosted an exceptionally rated radio show. During the Great Depression that hit America, Will Rogers became a remarkable pundit for expressing his opinion in the present issue of the nation that time.

That being said, everyone was shocked when he died in 1935 due to an airplane crash in Northern Alaska. To honor him, his childhood home near Oologah, Oklahoma was turned until today into a museum where his life contributions are opened to the public. It is now known as the Will Rogers Follies. He also has an inheritance that lives on through the Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore, Oklahoma and the Will Rogers State Historic Park in California.

Read more: Will Rogers - Google Celebrates American Indian Actor and Cowboy Philosopher' 140th Birthday with Animated Doodle and Google Doodle's animated cowboy celebrates what would've been Will Rogers' 140th birthday