Charles Ruggles
Biography
Charles Sherman Ruggles was an American comic character actor born on February 8, 1886, in Los Angeles, California, and he died on December 23, 1970, at the age of 84. His career in Hollywood spanned over 50 to 60 years, encompassing close to or more than 100 films, where he often appeared in mild-mannered and comic roles. He made his film debut in 1914 in The Patchwork Girl of Oz. In the early 1930s, he was paired with Mary Boland in a series of comedies, and he was noted for his work in the all-star comedy If I Had a Million in 1932. His later credits included roles such as Mackenzie Savage in The Pleasure of His Company and Dr. J.L. Pruitt in The Ugly Dachshund.
Career overview
Charles Sherman Ruggles was an American comic character actor born in Los Angeles, California, on February 8, 1886. His career spanned six decades, encompassing more than 100 films, with sources noting close to 100 feature films and a career lasting more than 50 or 60 years. He made his film debut in 1914 in The Patchwork Girl of Oz and worked steadily after that, frequently playing mild-mannered and comic roles.
Ruggles became endeared to generations of moviegoers through his slight stature and distinctive mannerisms, which included a fluttery, jumpy manner of speaking and an often befuddled look when events seemed to overwhelm him. In the early 1930s, he was memorably paired with Mary Boland in a series of comedies. He was also one of the standouts in the all-star comedy If I Had a Million in 1932, portraying a harried, much-put-upon man who finally goes berserk in a china shop.
His extensive filmography continued across decades, with later credits including roles as Dr. J.L. Pruitt in The Ugly Dachshund in 1966, Charles Wingfield in Burke's Law in 1963, George Beaumont in Follow the Sun between 1961 and 1962, Mackenzie Savage in The Pleasure of His Company in 1961, and appearances in All in a Night's Work in 1961. Ruggles passed away on December 23, 1970, at the age of 84.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
117 titles- Bob Hope's World of Comedy (1976) as Self - Tribute Montage (archive footage)
- Carousel (1967) as The Starkeeper / Dr. Selden
- The Ugly Dachshund (1966) as Dr. J. L. Pruitt
- Follow Me, Boys! (1966) as John Everett Hughes
- Bewitched (1964) as Mr. Caldwell
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Governor Callahan
- I'd Rather Be Rich (1964) as Dr. Charles Crandall
- Burke's Law (1963) as Mr. Gregory
- Vacation Playhouse (1963) as Eli Harcourt
- Son of Flubber (1963) as Judge Murdock
- Papa's Delicate Condition (1963) as Anthony Ghio
- The Parent Trap (1961) as Charles McKendrick
- All in a Night's Work (1961) as Dr. Warren Kingsley, Sr
- The Pleasure of His Company (1961) as Mackenzie Savage
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as John Canfield
- Aesop and Son (1960) as Aesop (voice)
- The Bullwinkle Show (1959) as Aesop (voice)
- The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends (1959) as Aesop (voice)
- Eloise (1956) as Murphy
- The World of Mr. Sweeney (1954) as Cicero P. Sweeney
- Ben and Me (1953) as Ben Franklin (voice)
- The Ruggles (1949) as Charles Ruggles
- Look for the Silver Lining (1949) as Caro "Pop" Miller
- The Lovable Cheat (1949) as Claude Mercadet
- Give My Regards to Broadway (1948) as Toby Helper
- It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) as Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
- Ramrod (1947) as Ben Dickason
- The Perfect Marriage (1947) as Dale Williams, Sr.
- My Brother Talks to Horses (1947) as Richard Pennington Roeder
- A Stolen Life (1946) as Freddie Linley
- Gallant Journey (1946) as Jim Montgomery
- Incendiary Blonde (1945) as Cherokee Jim
- Bedside Manner (1945) as Dr. J.H. 'Doc' Fredericks
- The Doughgirls (1944) as Stanley Slade
- 3 Is a Family (1944) as Sam Whitaker
- Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (1944) as Mr. Otis Skinner
- The Shining Future (1944) as Mr. Ames
- The Road to Victory (1944) as Mr. Ames (uncredited)
- Dixie Dugan (1943) as Pa Dugan
- Friendly Enemies (1942) as Heinrich Block
- Model Wife (1941) as Milo Everett
- Honeymoon for Three (1941) as Harvey Wilson
- The Parson of Panamint (1941) as Chuckawalla Bill Redfield
- Go West, Young Lady (1941) as Jim Pendergast
- The Perfect Snob (1941) as Dr. Edgar Mason (as Charlie Ruggles)
- The Invisible Woman (1940) as George
- No Time for Comedy (1940) as Philo Swift
- The Farmer's Daughter (1940) as Nicksie North
- Opened by Mistake (1940) as Buzz Nelson
- Public Deb No. 1 (1940) as Milburn
- Maryland (1940) as Dick Piper
- Balalaika (1939) as Nicki Popoff
- Invitation to Happiness (1939) as Henry 'Pop' Hardy
- Sudden Money (1939) as Sweeney J. Patterson
- Boy Trouble (1939) as Homer C. Fitch
- Night Work (1939) as Homer C. Fitch
- Bringing Up Baby (1938) as Major Applegate
- Hollywood Handicap (1938) as Himself
- Breaking the Ice (1938) as Sam Terwilliger
- Service de Luxe (1938) as Robinson
- Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 (1938) as Charles Ruggles
- His Exciting Night (1938) as Adam Tripp
- Turn Off the Moon (1937) as J. Elliott Dinwiddy
- Exclusive (1937) as Tod Swain
- The Preview Murder Mystery (1936) as Himself (Uncredited)
- Hollywood Boulevard (1936) as Charles Ruggles - Actor - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
- Hearts Divided (1936) as Henry
- Early to Bed (1936) as Chester Beatty
- Anything Goes (1936) as Reverend Dr. Moon
- Wives Never Know (1936) as Homer Bigelow
- Yours for the Asking (1936) as Sunbather (uncredited)
- Mind Your Own Business (1936) as Orville Shanks
- No More Ladies (1935) as Edgar Holden
- The Big Broadcast of 1936 (1935) as Wilbur Sealingsworth
- Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) as Egbert Floud
- People Will Talk (1935) as Henry Wilton
- Six of a Kind (1934) as J. Pinkham Whinney (as Charlie Ruggles)
- Murder in the Private Car (1934) as Godfrey D. Scott
- Friends of Mr. Sweeney (1934) as Asaph 'Ace' Holliday
- The Pursuit of Happiness (1934) as Aaron Kirkland
- Melody in Spring (1934) as Warren Blodgett
- Good-bye Love (1933) as Oswald Groggs
- Alice in Wonderland (1933) as March Hare
- Murders in the Zoo (1933) as Peter Yates
- Mama Loves Papa (1933) as Wilbur Todd
- Girl Without a Room (1933) as Vergil Crock
- Melody Cruise (1933) as Pete Wells
- Terror Aboard (1933) as Blackie Witherspoon
- Love Me Tonight (1932) as Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
- Trouble in Paradise (1932) as Major
- If I Had a Million (1932) as Henry Peabody
- This Is the Night (1932) as Bunny West
- One Hour with You (1932) as Adolph
- Madame Butterfly (1932) as Lieutenant Barton
- Evenings for Sale (1932) as Bimpfl
- Make Me a Star (1932) as Charles Ruggles (uncredited)
- The Night of June 13 (1932) as Philo Strawn (as Charlie Ruggles)
- This Reckless Age (1932) as Goliath Whitney (as Charlie Ruggles)
- 70,000 Witnesses (1932) as Johnny Moran
- Husband's Holiday (1931) as Clyde Saunders
- The Smiling Lieutenant (1931) as Max
- Honor Among Lovers (1931) as Monty Dunn
- The Girl Habit (1931) as Charlie Floyd
- The House That Shadows Built (1931) as (archive footage)
- The Beloved Bachelor (1931) as Jerry Wells
- Her Wedding Night (1930) as Bertie Bird
- Charley's Aunt (1930) as Fancourt Babberley
- Roadhouse Nights (1930) as Willie Bindbugel
- Young Man of Manhattan (1930) as Shorty Ross
- Queen High (1930) as T. Boggs Johns
- Gentlemen of the Press (1929) as Charlie Haven
- The Battle of Paris (1929) as Zizi
- The Lady Lies (1929) as Charlie Tayler
- The Heart Raider (1923) as Gaspard McMahon (an insurance clerk)
- Peer Gynt (1915) as The Button Molder
- The Reform Candidate (1915)
- The Majesty of the Law (1915) as Lawrence Evans
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Charles Ruggles best known for?
Charles Ruggles is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The Ugly Dachshund (1966), Follow Me, Boys! (1966), French Twist (1995), The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964).
When and where was Charles Ruggles born?
Charles Ruggles was born on February 8, 1886 in Los Angeles, California, USA. They passed away on December 23, 1970.
How many credits does Charles Ruggles have?
Charles Ruggles has accumulated over 117 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1923 to 1976.
What is Charles Ruggles's background in cinema and television?
Charles Sherman Ruggles was an American comic character actor born on February 8, 1886, in Los Angeles, California, and he died on December 23, 1970, at the age of 84. His career in Hollywood spanned over 50 to 60 years, encompassing close to or more than 100 films, where he often appeared in mild-mannered and comic ro...
Charles Ruggles by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Bewitched (1964) as Mr. Caldwell — aged about 78
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as John Canfield — aged about 74
- Bringing Up Baby (1938) as Major Applegate — aged about 52
- Trouble in Paradise (1932) as Major — aged about 46
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Governor Callahan — aged about 78
- The Bullwinkle Show (1959) as Aesop (voice) — aged about 73
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