Buddy Roosevelt (born Kenneth Stanhope Sanderson; June 25, 1898 – October 6, 1973) was an American

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

and

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertisin ...

actor and

stunt performer A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed ...

from Hollywood's early

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

years through the 1950s.

Biography

Roosevelt was born as Kenneth Stanhope Sanderson in Meeker in Rio Blanco County in northwestern

Colorado Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of t ...

. He was an athlete and a

cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...

in his youth. He started performing as a stuntman in 1916, his first work being on the film ''

Hell's Hinges ''Hell's Hinges'' is a 1916 American silent Western film starring William S. Hart and Clara Williams. Directed by Charles Swickard, William S. Hart and Clifford Smith, and produced by Thomas H. Ince, the screenplay was written by C. Gardne ...

''. He continued working as a stuntman as well as an actor throughout his long Hollywood career. Roosevelt served in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Although it has been said that he served aboard the USS ''Norfolk'', and that it was sunk during that war, no record of a USS ''Norfolk'' being in service during World War I has been found. After World War I, Roosevelt returned to Hollywood to perform stunts in films as notable as '' The Sheik'', the 1921 movie classic starring

Rudolph Valentino Rodolfo Pietro Filiberto Raffaello Guglielmi di Valentina d'Antonguolla (May 6, 1895 – August 23, 1926), known professionally as Rudolph Valentino and nicknamed The Latin Lover, was an Italian actor based in the United States who starred ...

and for which Valentino would become most remembered. Roosevelt's first acting role was in the 1924 film ''Down in Texas''. He would star in thirty-seven films from 1924 to 1929, most of which were

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

films. He made a successful transition to "talking films", mainly because of his abilities as a stuntman. In 1930, he appeared alongside

William Haines Charles William Haines (January 2, 1900 – December 26, 1973) was an American actor and interior designer. Haines was discovered by a talent scout and signed with Goldwyn Pictures in 1922. His career gained momentum when he received favo ...

and

Leila Hyams Leila Hyams (May 1, 1905 – December 4, 1977) was an American film and stage actress, model, and vaudevillian, who came from a show business family. Her relatively short film career began in 1924 during the era of silent films and ended in 19 ...

in '' Way Out West'', which continued him on the path of western film roles, mostly in

Poverty Row Poverty Row is a slang term used to refer to Hollywood films produced from the 1920s to the 1950s by small (and mostly short-lived) B movie studios. Although many of them were based on (or near) today's Gower Street in Hollywood, the term did n ...

films but he also made small or uncredited appearances in major films. During the 1930s he appeared in 66 films—some in which he both acted and did stunt work—almost all being westerns, and appeared with such notable actors and actresses as

Harry Carey Harry Carey may refer to: *Harry Carey (actor) (1878–1947), American actor * Harry Carey Jr. (1921–2012), American actor * Harry Carey (footballer) (1916–1991), Australian rules footballer See also * Henry Carey (disambiguation) * Harry Car ...

Hoot Gibson Edmund Richard "Hoot" Gibson (August 6, 1892 – August 23, 1962) was an American rodeo champion, film actor, film director, and producer. While acting and stunt work began as a sideline to Gibson's focus on rodeo, he successfully transitione ...

Gloria Stuart Gloria Frances Stuart (born Gloria Stewart; July 4, 1910 September 26, 2010) was an American actress, visual artist, and activist. She was known for her roles in Pre-Code films, and garnered renewed fame late in life for her portrayal of Rose ...

Joel McCrea Joel Albert McCrea (November 5, 1905 – October 20, 1990) was an American actor whose career spanned a wide variety of genres over almost five decades, including comedy, drama, romance, thrillers, adventures, and Westerns, for which he beca ...

, Edward G. Robinson,

Bette Davis Ruth Elizabeth "Bette" Davis (; April 5, 1908 – October 6, 1989) was an American actress with a career spanning more than 50 years and 100 acting credits. She was noted for playing unsympathetic, sardonic characters, and was famous for her pe ...

, and

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

. He also was a frequent

stand in A stand-in for film and television is a person who substitutes for the actor before filming, for technical purposes such as lighting and camera setup. Stand-ins are helpful in the initial processes of film and television production. Stand-ins al ...

for

Ronald Colman Ronald Charles Colman (9 February 1891 – 19 May 1958) was an English-born actor, starting his career in theatre and silent film in his native country, then immigrating to the United States and having a successful Hollywood film career. He wa ...

beginning with ''

Clive of India Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive, (29 September 1725 – 22 November 1774), also known as Clive of India, was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency. Clive has been widely credited for laying the foundation of the British ...

'' (1935). In 1939 he both performed stunts and had a minor role in the

Claire Trevor Claire Trevor ( Wemlinger; March 8, 1910April 8, 2000) was an American actress. She appeared in 65 feature films from 1933 to 1982, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ''Key Largo'' (1948), and received nomina ...

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Gol ...

classic ''

Stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are draw ...

'', and in 1940 he appeared, uncredited, again with John Wayne in '' The Man from Dakota'', in which he also performed stunts. Throughout the 1940s he both appeared in or performed stunts in 32 films, most notably alongside

Randolph Scott George Randolph Scott (January 23, 1898 – March 2, 1987) was an American film actor whose career spanned the years from 1928 to 1962. As a leading man for all but the first three years of his cinematic career, Scott appeared in a variety of ...

and

Lloyd Bridges Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr. (January 15, 1913 – March 10, 1998) was an American film, stage and television actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. He was the father of four children, includi ...

in ''

Abilene Town ''Abilene Town'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Randolph Scott, Ann Dvorak, Edgar Buchanan, Rhonda Fleming and Lloyd Bridges. Adapted from Ernest Haycox's 1941 novel ''Trail Town'', the production's ...

''. During World War II he interrupted his film career by enlisting in the

U.S. Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mul ...

.http://www.rioblancocounty.org/hometown-kenneth-sanderson-becomes-buddy-roosevelt-in-the-movies/ In the 1950s, he appeared in sixty-five episodes as an unnamed townsman on the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

Desilu Desilu Productions () was an American television production company founded and co-owned by husband and wife Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. The company is best known for shows such as ''I Love Lucy'', ''The Lucy Show'', ''Mannix'', ''The Untouchabl ...

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...

, ''

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp ''The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp'' is the first Western television series written for adults, premiering four days before ''Gunsmoke'' on September 6, 1955. Two weeks later came the Clint Walker western ''Cheyenne''. The series is loosely base ...

''. From 1950 through 1962 he appeared in or perform stunts in thirty-six films and two television series. In 1957 he appeared uncredited as a Townsman in ''

The Lonely Man ''The Lonely Man'' is a 1957 American Western film directed by Henry Levin and written by Harry Essex and Robert Smith. The film stars Jack Palance, Anthony Perkins, Elaine Aiken,Neville Brand, Robert Middleton, Elisha Cook, Jr., Claude Akin ...

'', in again in 1959 ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was born to ...

''. He retired after 1962 with his last appearance being uncredited in the John Wayne and

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...

film ''

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' () is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and James Stewart. The screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck was adapted from a 1953 short story written by ...

''. He returned home to Meeker, Colorado, where he was living at the time of his death on October 6, 1973, at the age of seventy-five.

Partial filmography

* '' Smilin' Through'' (1922) * ''

Rough Ridin' ''Rough Ridin' '' is a lost 1924 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Buddy Roosevelt. It was released by the Weiss Brothers on State Rights basis. The film was remade with Buddy Roosevelt in 1934 as '' Boss Cow ...

'' (1924) * ''

Walloping Wallace ''Walloping Wallace'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Norbert A. Myles and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Violet La Plante and Lew Meehan.Goble p.1009 Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Buddy Wallace * Violet La Plante as Carol Grey ...

'' (1924) * ''

Lure of the Yukon ''Lure of the Yukon'' is a 1924 American silent Western film, also classified as a Northern film. It is directed by Norman Dawn and stars Eva Novak, Spottiswoode Aitken, and Buddy Roosevelt. It is set in Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush o ...

'' (1924) * ''

Battling Buddy ''Battling Buddy'' is a 1924 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Violet La Plante and William Lowery. Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Buddy West * Violet La Plante as Dorothy Parker * William Low ...

'' (1924) * '' Gold and Grit'' (1925) * ''

Fast Fightin' ''Fast Fightin is a 1925 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Nell Brantley and Joe Rickson.Munden, p. 232. Plot Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Buddy * Nell Brantley as The Girl * Joe Rickson as T ...

'' (1925) * '' Reckless Courage'' (1925) * ''

The Bandit Buster ''The Bandit Buster'' is a 1926 American silent Western film. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the film stars Buddy Roosevelt, Molly Malone, and Lafe McKee. It was released on December 19, 1926. Plot Henry Morton is a prominent banker. His daughte ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Dangerous Dub ''The Dangerous Dub'' is a 1926 American silent Western film. Directed by Richard Thorpe, the film stars Buddy Roosevelt, Peggy Montgomery, and Joseph Girard. It was released on July 4, 1926. Synopsis Buddy Martin, a cattle driver, is in lo ...

'' (1926) * '' The Ramblin' Galoot'' (1926) * ''

The Twin Triggers ''The Twin Triggers'' is a 1926 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Nita Cavalier, and Frederick Lee.Munden, p. 838 Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Bud Trigger / Kenneth Trigger * Nita Cavalier a ...

'' (1926) * ''

The Fightin' Comeback ''The Fightin' Comeback'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by Tenny Wright and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Clara Horton and Sidney M. Goldin. Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Jim Jones * Clara Horton as Goldie Lamont * Sidney M. Goldin ...

'' (1927) * '' Between Dangers'' (1927) * ''

The Phantom Buster ''The Phantom Buster'' is a 1927 American silent Western film directed by William Bertram and featuring Boris Karloff in a supporting role. Plot Bill Turner, a construction worker, steals from the corporate payroll for a gang and frames his ...

'' (1927) * '' Ride 'em High'' (1927) * '' Napoleon's Barber'' (1928) * ''

The Devil's Tower ''The Devil's Tower'' is a 1928 American silent western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Thelma Parr and McGowan.Munden p.187 Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as James Murdock * Frank Earle as Tom Murdock * J.P. McGowan as G ...

'' (1928) * ''

Trailin' Back ''Trailin' Back'' is a 1928 American silent western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Lafe McKee and Leon De La Mothe.Munden p.827 Cast * Buddy Roosevelt * Betty Baker * Lafe McKee * Leon De La Mothe * Tom B ...

'' (1928) * '' Lightnin' Shot'' (1928) * ''

The Cowboy Cavalier ''The Cowboy Cavalier'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Olive Hasbrouck and Charles K. French. Plot Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Prince Charming - Deputy Sheriff * Olive Hasbrouck ...

'' (1928) * ''

Trail Riders ''Trail Riders'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Robert Emmett Tansey. The film is the eighteenth in Monogram Pictures' "Range Busters" series, and it stars John "Dusty" King as Dusty, "Davy" Sharpe and Max "Alibi" Terhune, wit ...

'' (1928) * ''

Mystery Valley ''Mystery Valley'' is a 1928 American silent Western film directed by J.P. McGowan and starring Buddy Roosevelt.Munden, p. 536 Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Steve Larkin * Carol Lane as Marie Ladeaus * Tom Bay as Dan Mason * Art Rowlands * Jimm ...

'' (1928) * '' The Painted Trail'' (1928) * ''

Strong Boy ''Strong Boy'' is a 1929 American silent comedy film directed by John Ford which had a synchronized music track. The film, which was Ford's last silent film, is now considered to be lost. A trailer for the film was discovered in the New Zealand ...

'' (1929) * '' Way Out West'' (1930) * '' Westward Bound'' (1930) * ''

The Riding Kid ''The Riding Kid'' is a 1931 American Western film directed by Jack Irwin and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Jean Kay and Fred Church. The title is sometimes spelled ''The Ridin' Kid''. It was an independent production by the Poverty Row-based Syn ...

'' (1931) * ''

Dishonored ''Dishonored'' is a 2012 action-adventure game developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Set in the fictional, plague-ridden industrial city of Dunwall, ''Dishonored'' follows the story of Corvo Attano, bodyguard to th ...

'' (1931) * ''

Lightnin' Smith Returns ''Lightnin' Smith Returns'' is a 1931 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Jack Irwin and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Barbara Worth and Tom London. Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as John Smith * Barbara Worth as Helen Parker * Tom London ...

'' (1931) * '' Valley of Badmen'' (1931) * '' The Fourth Horseman'' (1932) * ''

Vanity Street ''Vanity Street'' is a 1932 American Pre-Code crime drama film directed by Nick Grinde and starring Charles Bickford, Helen Chandler and Mayo Methot.Scott p.42 A New York policeman assists a down-on-her-luck showgirl, helping her get a job at th ...

'' (1932) * ''

Circle Canyon ''Circle Canyon'' is a 1933 American Western film directed by Victor Adamson and starring Buddy Roosevelt, June Mathews and Clarissa Woods.Pitts, p. 4. Plot Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Chris Morell * June Mathews as Clara Moore * Clarissa ...

'' (1933) * ''

Lightning Range ''Lightning Range'' is a 1933 American Western film directed by Victor Adamson and starring Buddy Roosevelt, Patsy Bellamy and Lafe McKee.Pitts p.4 Plot Cast * Buddy Roosevelt as Deputy Marshal Buddy * Patsy Bellamy as Dorothy Horton * La ...

'' (1933) * ''

Boss Cowboy ''Boss Cowboy'' is a 1934 Western B movie remake of Rough Ridin' (1924)produced and directed by low-budget independent filmmaker Victor Adamson and starring Buddy Roosevelt. Plot Hard-riding ranch owner Dick Taylor hunts for a band of cattle ...

'' (1934) * ''

Men Without Names ''Men Without Names'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Kubec Glasmon and Howard J. Green. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Madge Evans, David Holt, Lynne Overman, Elizabeth Patterson, J. C. Nugent, Grant Mit ...

'' (1935) * '' Rainbow's End'' (1935) * '' Powdersmoke Range'' (1935) * '' Captain Blood'' (1935) * ''

General Spanky ''General Spanky'' is a 1936 American comedy film produced by Hal Roach. A spin-off of Roach's popular ''Our Gang'' short subjects, the film stars George McFarland, Phillips Holmes, Rosina Lawrence, Billie Thomas and Carl Switzer. Directed by F ...

'' (1936) * ''

Dick Tracy ''Dick Tracy'' is an American comic strip featuring Dick Tracy (originally Plainclothes Tracy), a tough and intelligent police detective created by Chester Gould. It made its debut on Sunday, October 4, 1931, in the ''Detroit Mirror'', and it ...

'' (1937) * ''

Ambush An ambush is a long-established military tactics, military tactic in which a combatant uses an advantage of concealment or the element of surprise to attack unsuspecting enemy combatants from concealed positions, such as among dense underbru ...

'' (1939) * ''

Billy the Kid's Range War ''Billy the Kid's Range War'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield that was the fourth of Producers Releasing Corporation's Billy the Kid film series. Despite the film's title and mention of Lincoln County, there is neithe ...

'' (1941) * '' Holt of the Secret Service'' (1941) * ''

The Lone Rider Rides On ''The Lone Rider Rides On'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Sam Newfield and written by Joseph O'Donnell. The film stars George Houston as the Lone Rider and Al St. John as his sidekick "Fuzzy" Jones, with Hillary Brooke, Karl Hac ...

'' (1941) * ''

Badman's Territory ''Badman's Territory'' is a 1946 American Western film starring Randolph Scott. It was followed by the loose sequels '' Return of the Bad Men'' (1948) and ''Best of the Badmen'' (1951). Plot Just north of Texas and west of the Oklahoma borde ...

'' (1946) * '' Fargo'' (1952) * '' The Old West'' (1952) * ''

Reprisal! ''Reprisal!'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by George Sherman and starring Guy Madison, Felicia Farr and Kathryn Grant.Hampes p.176 The film's sets were designed by the art director Walter Holscher. Plot A man named Frank Madden ( ...

'' (1956) * ''

The Fastest Gun Alive ''The Fastest Gun Alive'' is a 1956 MGM Western film starring Glenn Ford, Jeanne Crain, and Broderick Crawford directed by Russell Rouse. Plot Son of a notorious fast-drawing sheriff, George Kelby Jr. (Ford) and his wife Dora (Jeanne Crain) ...

'' (1956) (uncredited) * '' Shoot Out at Big Sag'' (1962) (uncredited) * ''

'' (1962)

References

External links

*
Buddy Roosevelt B-western star
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Roosevelt, Buddy 1898 births 1973 deaths United States Navy sailors United States Navy personnel of World War I American male film actors American male silent film actors American stunt performers Male actors from Colorado People from Meeker, Colorado Military personnel from Colorado Male actors from Los Angeles 20th-century American male actors