Ivan Rogers (1954–2010) was an independent film actor, director and producer. He was also a musician. He appeared to be following in the footsteps of his mentor, fellow Indiana native,

Fred Williamson Frederick Robert Williamson (born March 5, 1938), also known as The Hammer, is an American actor and former professional American football defensive back who played mainly in the American Football League during the 1960s. Williamson is perhaps ...

Background

Rogers was born on September 20, 1954. He was one of three boys born to Paul B. Rogers and his wife Ola. His father was a building contractor. Rogers studied at

Ball State University Ball State University (Ball State, State or BSU) is a public university, public research university in Muncie, Indiana. It has two satellite facilities in Fishers, Indiana, Fishers and Indianapolis. On July 25, 1917, the Ball brothers, indust ...

and was in a music program. He left the university to become a professional musician. He worked in various R&B bands and even backed

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay Jr., who also spelled his surname as Gaye (April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984), was an American singer and songwriter. He helped to shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player and later as a solo ar ...

. He was also a martial artist and a second dan black belt. A professional kick boxer, he competed in martial arts and kickboxing tournaments in the US and abroad. He was approached by a video disc company executive to make an instructional video which he ended up starring in as well as writing and producing. In his travels he met former Elvis Presley bodyguard Mike Stone who had a degree of success with producing made-for-television movies. On the advice of Stone, Rogers moved to Los Angeles to further his film career.

gave him advice on other aspects of the film business.

Career

In the mid 1980s, he had a video out called Karate & Self Defense, released through Best Film & Video Corporation. His 1987 film ''Two Wrongs Make a Right'' was directed by Robert Brown. It had a resemblance harking back to the black actioners of the 1970s. According to '' Variety Film Reviews'' it also had an abstract tone and a similarity to work by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville. He produced and directed ''Caged Women II'' about a woman who encounters, drugs, molestation and torture. Rogers played Detective Nate Penna in the film. His films include ''Forgive Me Father'' which came out in the early 2000s. In the film Rogers plays a hit man who has been living as a priest in Canada. Thought to be dead Father Virgil Garrett (played by Rogers) goes after the people who killed his brother. It premiered at the Madame Walker Theatre Center in Indiana in March 2000. Rogers donated a portion of the premiere takings to Indianapolis Police department.

Death

He died in Indianapolis on 22 August 2010.

Selected filmography

Imdb
Ivan Rogers, Filmography
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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rogers, Ivan 1954 births 2010 deaths Male actors from Indiana Ball State University alumni American directors American producers African-American film directors American film directors African-American male actors 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American people