He knew what he was worth. He was a bright kid, but he would never graduate. Roy Rogers was always the ambitious type, and didnt want to only be famous in the United States. The Roy Rogers chain is still alive and kicking in various locations, including New York, Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and more. Rogers later joked that he was born on second base. Part of their love for children came from the familys deep religious beliefs, which were often felt in Roys songs and in Dales writing. Not long after his separation, the television host found love again in the arms of Grace Arlene Wilkins after they met in Roswell, New Mexico. The two fell in love and got married on New Year's Eve, 1947, at the Flying L Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma. Dale Evans later wrote a book called Angel Unaware, which highlighted the care that she and Rogers gave to the baby. He retained the position of the number one actor in Westerns for over a decade, a legacy that would eventually be taken over by legends like John Wayne and John Ford. Evans was inducted into the Texas Trail of Fame just four years before her passing. Luckily, she worked for a few years and managed to find herself acting as a cowgirl beside hubby Roy Rogers, and we all know where that lucky combination led. Trigger even got his own musical film called My Pal Trigger. Lucile Ascolese was born on 23 March 1914 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He was born on July 4th, 1934, which just happens to be Independence Day in the United States. Roy was inducted again in 1995, as one of the founding members of the Sons of the Pioneers. Five of his nine children were adopted and they were all loved and cared for greatly and equally. In 1933 he married 19 year old Lucille Ascolese in Los Angeles. He represented a western version of Batman, if you will. Login to add information, pictures and relationships, join in discussions and get credit for your contributions. Who is Lucille Ascolese? Help us build our profile of Lucile Ascolese! Soon after, he moved his family to Portsmouth aboard a houseboat, where they purchased land to build a home. It is the same smile that made people unaware of the tough and dark times he had to go through. Later in life, he received several other awards and accolades. Evans will forever be remembered by fans for her work in film, music and the various non-profit organizations she helped found with Roy Rogers. Alfonzin Lucille Ascolese Dinsmore (1914 - 2001) on Find A Grave. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Roy Rogers was born Leonard Franklin Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 5, 1911, to Mattie and Andrew. Whilst doctors informed them otherwise, Roy and Grace were overjoyed to realize that they were wrong about the couples inability to get pregnant. He was the most popular cowboy in the United States and was considered as a national symbol of what makes America great. She is buried at Wilmington Cemetery Wilmington, Los Angeles County, California, USA Show Map PLOT Block E, Lot 55, Grave #3. Content on this page is contributed by editors who belong to our editorial community. His first marriage was in 1933 to Lucile Ascolese, but it ended quickly in divorce. The young entertainer began touring with The Rocky Mountaineers in the middle of summer, with the group performing in locations such as New Mexico and Arizona on a very small budget. Too many people loved him. discoveries. Lucille Ascolese was the first wife of Roy Rogers. Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye; November 5, 1911 - July 6, 1998) was an American singer, actor, and television host.Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most popular Western stars of his era. 9438 People in (732) 752; 100% Landline; Introduced in Jul 6, 1997; TOP CARRIERS Another tragedy struck the Rogers when just 15 months after the loss of Debbie their 18-year-old Sandy, who enlisted in the U.S. Army in late 1964 after receiving consent from his parents due to being a minor, died from choking at a military hospital while being deployed in Germany. She died on 21 February 2001 in Wilmington, Los Angeles County, California, USA at the age of 86. This may come as a shock to all the fans who think they know their Hollywood idols well. Lucille had one brother: Arthur R Ascolesi. Lucille (Ascolese) Dinsmore has Italian Roots. After his marriage with Ascolese ended, Rogers and Wilkins began dating and eventually married in June 1936. He is most remembered for The Old Barn Dance (1938). Bullet was born in 1949 and passed away in the '60s. For example, Ronald Reagan served as the President of the United States. She would be Lucile Slye (born Ascolese), 1914 - 2001 Lucile Slye (born Ascolese) was born on month day 1914, at birth place, California, to Joe J Ascolese and Vinchinea Ascolese (born Mele). The Great Recession soon hit hard, and people did not have enough to pay for concerts, thus ending their tour in complete failure. Roys last appearance in a major film happened in 1975, when he played his usual role in "Macintosh and T.J". This proved to be a thorn in their relationship and would end up causing a huge breakup inside the family. At first there His jealous wife, stuck at home while Len toured, filed for divorce in 1934. The economy was going through a rough patch and just recovering from the DotCom bust, which led to poor sales. Lucille Ball's maid Harriet McClain was one of the first maids So how did he become Roy Rogers? Recent images. Grace was pregnant soon after the adoption of their first daughter, and in 1943, they welcomed Linda Lou Rogers into the world. The two remained married until he passed away in 1998. Their relationship turned sour fast, and Rogers and Ascolese split up in 1936. He had numerous action figures, collecting cards, fiction novels, theme songs and other memorabilia made of him. Between 1935 and 1951, Roy Rogers was a name in every American household. Roy Rogers first wife was Arlene Wilkins. Add a New Bio. While working with the company, she was promoted as an unmarried woman who financially helped her teenage brother "Tommy". Roy Rogers knew he was popular, but he never let it get to his head. The Slye family relocated a few times more, and in 1931, they lived in Inglewood, California. Rogers was a popular figure both in the musical and the film scene, and it was only natural that he received recognition for it. But no matter how much a married couple is in love, time always wins at the end and separates the two. relationship as employer and employee was rough but as the years His first wife was an admirer named Lucile Ascolese. The pair dated shortly before tying the knot in 1936. Lucille married Glenn Allen Dinsmore. In 1932, Len met an admirer, dark-haired Lucile Ascolese. Soon after, Roy married Dale Back in his prime, Roy Rogers was the second most popular cowboy and Western star in the world. Dale Evans, 1947 till Roy's death in 1998. However, it did not bother Roy in the slightest. Reports claim that Lucile was actually an admirer of Rogers, and it seemed it wasn't the best basis for a relationship as it ended fairly quickly. This cute comment turned into a loving relationship, and the couple got married three years later, in 1936. He tried to balance work and studies by attending night school, but he kept falling asleep, and soon called it quits on his education. and more from FamousFix.com. The show was called "The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Show" and was a Western comedy that featured many of the iconic people from Roy's past, including the members of The Sons of the Pioneers and his sidekick from The Roy Rogers Show. This makes Roy Rogers the only person to have ever been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame - twice! The end of this blog post has been a lot about Roy Rogers and his long career, which is great for those who want to learn more about this Actor. His first marriage fell apart and he lost his second wife to childbirth. Dale Evans began her career singing at a radio station, even though she was officially working there as a secretary. This caused him to react very negatively when he found out that his son, Dusty, also had his heart set on becoming an actor. The various tragedies and issues his family faced seemed to finally quiet down, letting some love and peace replace them. Mele. Rogers was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame twice the only person to accomplish that. Whilst his film career with Republic was very successful, he wanted to move into television, a move that was vetoed by the studio. Slowly but surely, Roy, too, reached his spot to first place as the most popular cowboy in the industry, and he stayed there for a very long time. If that wasnt enough, the IRS levied a heavy tax on the family assets; these two factors proved to be the beginning of the end for the prestigious museum. The couple was devastated and mourned her death for a long time. He would spend hours every day learning horsemanship and would grow up to become very adept with the four-legged creature. But while on tour with an act called the O-bar-O Cowboys he met Grace Arline Wilkins at a Roswell, New Mexico dance. The band was very frugal and despite their popularity, the often struggled to even pay for food. In 1968, the popular fast-food chain called RoBee's House of Beef was forced to rebrand itself, following a lawsuit from Arby's, who claimed that the name was too similar and was considered as trademark infringement and unfair competition. Alfonzin Lucille Ascolesi Dinsmore Birth 23 Mar 1914. The actor and his wife truly went the extra mile to make sure their kids were not exposed to the challenges children of Hollywood celebrities typically face. Lucile Ascolese was born on 23 March 1914 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. The song reached number seven in the U.S. country charts. Continue Learning about General Arts & Entertainment. Fans of 'The Roy Rogers Show' followed Bullet, the Wonder Dog, for six straight seasons and over 100 episodes. Roy then married Arline Wilkins on June 14, 1936. In Hollywood, studios often change the screen names of actors to get the right feel. The Sons of the Pioneers paved the way for Roy to get into films. after giving birth to their son. Roy married and divorced his first wife in the 1930s then married another woman who died in childbirth. They wanted more siblings for their children. The bond between Roy Rogers and Dale Evans was stronger than steel, as the two were together for many decades, parented many children, appeared in numerous films together, traveled the world hand-in-hand, and even improved the lives of many young children through their various non-profit ventures. In 1931, not long after moving to Cali, Leonard decided to give his entertainment skills a chance and set out to work for the Midnight Frolics radio show, in Los Angeles. A few hours later, he vomited and choked to death in 1965, before even reaching the age of 20. Rogers got the part, and he made his starring debut in 1938 in the film Under Western Stars. Rogers began dating Lucile Ascolese in 1932, whom he met during the acquisition of a palomino colt named Golden Cloud, which Rogers renamed as Trigger. Away from performing, however, Rogers was hitched a couple of times during the stature of his vocation. While Roy's professional life was heating up, so was his love life. Roger and Evans didnt wait too long before giving birth to their first baby girl. They married in 1933 in Los Angeles, unfortunately, the marriage failed, and the couple divorced in 1936. He ventured into The Roy Rogers Show a western television series that portrayed Rogers as a cattle rancher who brought justice to the city. He maintained a neutral stance in politics, citing that he had fans across the political spectrum and didnt want to upset any of them. His wife is Dale Evans (31 December 1947 - 6 July 1998) ( his death) ( 6 children), Grace Arline Wilkins (11 June 1936 - 3 November 1946) ( her death) ( 3 children), Lucile Ascolese (8 May 1933 - 8 June 1936) ( divorced) Family. He believed that he could do it and never gave up. Lucille Ascolese, 1933 till divorce in 1935. The Happy Trails Foundation was a non-profit founded by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans to work with abused children and help curb the epidemic. One of the most important charities founded by Roy and Dale was the Happy Trails Childrens Foundation, whose purpose was to combat the phenomena of child abuse in families. They wanted to keep their children away from Hollywood, but even then, their son Dusty acted in two movies even before leaving high school. She had fallen in love and later married her high school friend Larry Barnett. As popular and inspiring as he was an icon of the Western genre, there was a lot of sadness and sorrow in his life that tends to take many people by surprise. Wilmington, Los Angeles County, California, USA, Wilmington Cemetery Wilmington, Los Angeles County, California, USA Show Map PLOT Block E, Lot 55, Grave #3. Her full name at birth was Alfonzin Lucille Ascolese. He was 86 years old, with his wife Dale Evans and other family members at his side. Somewhere on a small farm in Cincinnati, Ohio, a young and vibrant boy named Leonard Slye was born in late 1911. Her most popular and inspiring quote is: "Cowgirl is an attitude, really; a pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. Known as the "King of the Cowboys", he appeared in over 100 films and numerous radio and television episodes of The Roy Rogers Show. that she employed in the early days of her career. It included various items that the actor had collected throughout his career, and as written above, also included his two beloved pets, Trigger and Bullet. The studio turned him down because apparently, he looked too young. On November 5, 1911, Roy Rogers was born east of the Mississippi River - in Cincinnati, Ohio, to be precise. With young boys adoring Roy Rogers and young girls dreaming of marrying someone like him, the popular cowboy was one of the symbols of American manliness and freedom. What is the height of Roy Rogers? Known as the "King of the Cowboys", he appeared in over 100 films and numerous . Lucile Ascolese was previously married to Glenn Allen Dinsmore (1958) and Roy Rogers (1933 - 1936). 3 years later they divorced on 8th Jun 1936. The horse was able to hold his needs while indoors! main elevators. In an attempt to revive their fame and success, Roy and Dale Rogers decided to try another TV show, this time with ABC. Losing your own child is an indescribable sadness and both Rogers and Evans felt that when their biological daughter, Robin, who passed away right in front of their eyes because of heart failure. Rogers' first marriage was to Lucile Ascolese in 1933. He also starred as a fictionalized version of himself on The Roy Rogers Show. If you've ever watched even one episode of I Love Lucy, you'll find it's pretty much impossible not to fall in love with Lucille Ball. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. The book was called Angel Unaware: A Touching Story of Love and Loss, and became a major influence in the way that parents deal with identifying and raising kids that have special needs. Lucile Ascolese photo shoot. Its very likely that Roy Rogers, who was a very traditional and god-loving person, experienced a lot of problems being a popular Hollywood star. Not only is Roy Rogers popular, but his residences are popular as well. Los Angeles County, California, USA. They were married in 1933 by a justice of the peace in Los Angeles. Arline (not Arlene with an e) passed away on November 3, 1946. They were married in Roswell on June 11 . Grace Wilkins, who Roy met a month after his first marriage, 1936 till her death soon after childbirth in 1946. The couple made it their goal to become role models for other parents, and subsequently opened various foundations and charities whose goal was to improve the lives of children. Divorce proceedings began in 1934 and divorce was granted in 1936. Three: The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans museum was set up in 1967 and included a collection of memorabilia that were presented by Roy himself. When it comes to Western music, very few people have influenced Americans as much as Roy Rogers. It's been common throughout the '40s and '50s for doctors to advise parents of children with special needs to put them away in foster homes or health institutions. As weve already established, Rogers was a very intelligent and capable businessman creating a merchandising franchise of his own name. Besides his frail age, he had also undergone numerous heart surgeries in his later years, which contributed to his death. Dale was married in 1937 and divorced in 1946 from Republic musical director Robert Dale Butts. They worked together in several films, including Rainbow Over Texas and Song of Nevada. When Dale Evans worked with 20th-Century Fox Studios, she was often featured on the Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy show.