Charles Ruggles
Acting • Born 1886-02-08 – Died 1970-12-23
Biography
Charles Ruggles had one of the longest careers in Hollywood, lasting more than 60 years and encompassing more than 100 films. He made his film debut in 1914 in The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914) and worked steadily after that. He was memorably paired with Mary Boland in a series of comedies in the early 1930s, and was one of the standouts in the all-star comedy If I Had a Million (1932), as a harried, much-put-upon man who finally goes berserk in a china shop. Ruggles' slight stature and distinctive mannerisms - his fluttery, jumpy manner of speaking, his often befuddled look whenever events seemed about to overwhelm him, which was often - endeared him to generations of moviegoers. Memorable as Maj. Applegate the big-game hunter in the classic screwball comedy Bringing Up Baby (1938). Many will remember him as the narrator of the "Aesop's Fables" segment of the animated cartoon The Bullwinkle Show (1961). He was the brother of director Wesley Ruggles.
Filmography
114 credits
Trouble in Paradise
Movie • 1932
The Major
Bringing Up Baby
Movie • 1938
Horace Applegate
The Ugly Dachshund
Movie • 1966
Dr. J. L. Pruitt
The Smiling Lieutenant
Movie • 1931
Max
Love Me Tonight
Movie • 1932
Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
Husband's Holiday
Movie • 1931
Clyde Saunders
Alice in Wonderland
Movie • 1933
March Hare
Peer Gynt
Movie • 1915
The Button Molder
Follow Me, Boys!
Movie • 1966
John Everett Hughes
The Invisible Woman
Movie • 1940
George
Ruggles of Red Gap
Movie • 1935
Egbert Floud
Bedside Manner
Movie • 1945
Dr. J.H. 'Doc' Fredericks
Ramrod
Movie • 1947
Ben Dickason
One Hour with You
Movie • 1932
Adolph
The Perfect Marriage
Movie • 1947
Dale Williams, Sr.
A Stolen Life
Movie • 1946
Freddie Linley
The Lady Lies
Movie • 1929
Charlie Tayler
Murders in the Zoo
Movie • 1933
Peter Yates
Madame Butterfly
Movie • 1932
Lieutenant Barton
Invitation to Happiness
Movie • 1939
Henry 'Pop' Hardy
Roadhouse Nights
Movie • 1930
Willie Bindbugel
The Parent Trap
Movie • 1961
Charles McKendrick
Hollywood Handicap
Movie • 1938
Himself
This Is the Night
Movie • 1932
Bunny West
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
Movie • 1947
Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
The Lovable Cheat
Movie • 1949
Claude Mercadet
Papa's Delicate Condition
Movie • 1963
Anthony Ghio
Breaking the Ice
Movie • 1938
Sam Terwilliger
Look for the Silver Lining
Movie • 1949
Caro "Pop" Miller
The Doughgirls
Movie • 1944
Stanley Slade
All in a Night's Work
Movie • 1961
Dr. Warren Kingsley, Sr
Melody Cruise
Movie • 1933
Pete Wells
If I Had a Million
Movie • 1932
Henry Peabody
Terror Aboard
Movie • 1933
Blackie Witherspoon
Honeymoon for Three
Movie • 1941
Harvey Wilson
The Pleasure of His Company
Movie • 1961
Mackenzie Savage
Balalaika
Movie • 1939
Nicki Popoff
No More Ladies
Movie • 1935
Edgar Holden
Six of a Kind
Movie • 1934
J. Pinkham Whinney (as Charlie Ruggles)
The Perfect Snob
Movie • 1941
Dr. Edgar Mason (as Charlie Ruggles)
Incendiary Blonde
Movie • 1945
Cherokee Jim
No Time for Comedy
Movie • 1940
Philo Swift
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
Movie • 1934
Asaph 'Ace' Holliday
Honor Among Lovers
Movie • 1931
Monty Dunn
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
Movie • 1938
Charles Ruggles
Good-bye Love
Movie • 1933
Oswald Groggs
I'd Rather Be Rich
Movie • 1964
Dr. Charles Crandall
The Pursuit of Happiness
Movie • 1934
Aaron Kirkland
My Brother Talks to Horses
Movie • 1947
Richard Pennington Roeder
The Road to Victory
Movie • 1944
Mr. Ames (uncredited)
Anything Goes
Movie • 1936
Rev. Dr. Moon
Hearts Divided
Movie • 1936
Henry
Charley's Aunt
Movie • 1930
Fancourt Babberley
The Big Broadcast of 1936
Movie • 1935
Wilbur Sealingsworth
Queen High
Movie • 1930
T. Boggs Johns
Young Man of Manhattan
Movie • 1930
Shorty Ross
Evenings for Sale
Movie • 1932
Bimpfl
3 Is a Family
Movie • 1944
Sam Whitaker
Service de Luxe
Movie • 1938
Robinson
Early to Bed
Movie • 1936
Chester R. Beatty
Mind Your Own Business
Movie • 1936
Orville Shanks
Give My Regards to Broadway
Movie • 1948
Toby Helper
Go West, Young Lady
Movie • 1941
Jim Pendergast
Turn Off the Moon
Movie • 1937
J. Elliott Dinwiddy
Exclusive
Movie • 1937
Tod Swain
Boy Trouble
Movie • 1939
Homer C. Fitch
Sudden Money
Movie • 1939
Sweeney J. Patterson
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay
Movie • 1944
Mr. Otis Skinner
Girl Without a Room
Movie • 1933
Vergil Crock
The Shining Future
Movie • 1944
Mr. Ames
Murder in the Private Car
Movie • 1934
Godfrey D. Scott
Her Wedding Night
Movie • 1930
Bertie Bird
The Night of June 13
Movie • 1932
Philo Strawn (as Charlie Ruggles)
Mama Loves Papa
Movie • 1933
Wilbur Todd
Model Wife
Movie • 1941
Milo Everett
Public Deb No. 1
Movie • 1940
Milburn
Gallant Journey
Movie • 1946
Jim Montgomery
Dixie Dugan
Movie • 1943
Pa Dugan
The Majesty of the Law
Movie • 1915
Lawrence Evans
This Reckless Age
Movie • 1932
Goliath Whitney (as Charlie Ruggles)
The Farmer's Daughter
Movie • 1940
Nicksie North
The Preview Murder Mystery
Movie • 1936
Himself (Uncredited)
Eloise
Movie • 1956
Murphy
Hollywood Boulevard
Movie • 1936
Charles Ruggles - Actor - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Yours for the Asking
Movie • 1936
Sunbather (uncredited)
Maryland
Movie • 1940
Dick Piper
The Parson of Panamint
Movie • 1941
Chuckawalla Bill Redfield
His Exciting Night
Movie • 1938
Adam Tripp
Gentlemen of the Press
Movie • 1929
Charlie Haven
Son of Flubber
Movie • 1963
Judge Murdock
The Battle of Paris
Movie • 1929
Zizi
The Beloved Bachelor
Movie • 1931
Jerry Wells
Friendly Enemies
Movie • 1942
Heinrich Block
Carousel
Movie • 1967
The Starkeeper / Dr. Selden
Melody in Spring
Movie • 1934
Warren Blodgett
Ben and Me
Movie • 1953
Ben Franklin (voice)
Make Me a Star
Movie • 1932
Charles Ruggles (uncredited)
Wives Never Know
Movie • 1936
Homer Bigelow
70,000 Witnesses
Movie • 1932
Johnny Moran
Night Work
Movie • 1939
Homer C. Fitch
The Heart Raider
Movie • 1923
Gaspard McMahon (an insurance clerk)
Opened by Mistake
Movie • 1940
Buzz Nelson
The House That Shadows Built
Movie • 1931
(archive footage)
People Will Talk
Movie • 1935
Henry Wilton
The Girl Habit
Movie • 1931
Charlie Floyd
The Reform Candidate
Movie • 1915
Vacation Playhouse
TV • 1963
Eli Harcourt
The World of Mr. Sweeney
TV • 1954
Cicero P. Sweeney
The Andy Griffith Show
TV • 1960
John Canfield
The Bullwinkle Show
TV • 1959
Aesop (voice)
Bewitched
TV • 1964
Mr. Caldwell
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends
TV • 1959
Aesop (voice)
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
TV • 1964
Governor Callahan
Burke's Law
TV • 1963
Mr. Gregory