Charles Ruggles

Charles Ruggles was an American actor.

A native of Los Angeles, Ruggles lived in San Francisco as a teenager, and originally intended to be a doctor. He started acting in 1905 and played a variety of roles in stock companies. He made his Broadway debut in Help Wanted in 1914. He also acted in silent films, including The Majesty of the Law (1915), Peer Gynt (1915), and The Heart Raider (1923). His first talkie was Gentleman of the Press with Walter Huston (1929), in which he played a drunken news reporter.

He became renowned for his partnership with comic actress Mary Boland, usually playing a henpecked husband. Their films included Mama Loves Papa (1933), Six of a Kind (1934), and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935). In 1938 he portrayed big game hunter Major Horace Applegate in Bringing Up Baby (with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn), which is one of his best-remembered roles.

In addition to his film appearances, he acted on multiple radio shows and performed in USO tours during the 1940s. Programs he appeared on include Barrel of Fun, Suspense, Mayor of the Town and Lux Radio Theater.

He returned to films in the early 1960s, playing grandfather roles. They included The Parent Trap with Hayley Mills (1961), The Pleasure of His Company with Fred Astaire and Debbie Reynolds (1961), and Papa's Delicate Condition with Jackie Gleason (1963). Follow Me, Boys! with Fred MacMurray (1966) was his final film. His final acting credit was on The Danny Thomas Hour in 1968.

Ruggles has three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for his contributions to motion pictures, one for his radio work, and one for television.

Ruggles served as president of the Television Academy.

Ruggles died December 23, 1970, in Santa Monica, California. He was 84.