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.
Movies
Trouble in Paradise The Major
Bringing Up Baby Horace Applegate
The Ugly Dachshund Dr. J. L. Pruitt
The Smiling Lieutenant Max
Love Me Tonight Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
Husband's Holiday Clyde Saunders
Alice in Wonderland March Hare
Peer Gynt The Button Molder
Follow Me, Boys! John Everett Hughes
The Invisible Woman George
Ruggles of Red Gap Egbert Floud
Her Favorite Patient Dr. J.H. 'Doc' Fredericks
Ramrod Ben Dickason
One Hour with You Adolph
The Perfect Marriage Dale Williams, Sr.
A Stolen Life Freddie Linley
The Lady Lies Charlie Tayler
Murders in the Zoo Peter Yates
Madame Butterfly Lieutenant Barton
Invitation to Happiness Henry 'Pop' Hardy
Roadhouse Nights Willie Bindbugel
The Parent Trap Charles McKendrick
Hollywood Handicap Himself
This Is the Night Bunny West
It Happened on Fifth Avenue Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
The Lovable Cheat Claude Mercadet
Papa's Delicate Condition Anthony Ghio
Breaking the Ice Sam Terwilliger
Look for the Silver Lining Caro "Pop" Miller
The Doughgirls Stanley Slade
All in a Night's Work Dr. Warren Kingsley, Sr
If I Had a Million Henry Peabody
Melody Cruise Pete Wells
Terror Aboard Blackie Witherspoon
Honeymoon for Three Harvey Wilson
The Pleasure of His Company Mackenzie Savage
Balalaika Nicki Popoff
No More Ladies Edgar Holden
Six of a Kind J. Pinkham Whinney (as Charlie Ruggles)
The Perfect Snob Dr. Edgar Mason (as Charlie Ruggles)
Incendiary Blonde Cherokee Jim
No Time for Comedy Philo Swift
Friends of Mr. Sweeney Asaph 'Ace' Holliday
Honor Among Lovers Monty Dunn
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12 Charles Ruggles
Good-bye Love Oswald Groggs
I'd Rather Be Rich Dr. Charles Crandall
The Pursuit of Happiness Aaron Kirkland
My Brother Talks to Horses Richard Pennington Roeder
The Road to Victory Mr. Ames (uncredited)
Anything Goes Rev. Dr. Moon
Hearts Divided Henry
Charley's Aunt Fancourt Babberley
The Big Broadcast of 1936 Wilbur Sealingsworth
Queen High T. Boggs Johns
Young Man of Manhattan Shorty Ross
Evenings for Sale Bimpfl
3 Is a Family Sam Whitaker
Service de Luxe Robinson
Early to Bed Chester R. Beatty
Mind Your Own Business Orville Shanks
Give My Regards to Broadway Toby Helper
Go West, Young Lady Jim Pendergast
Exclusive Tod Swain
Turn Off the Moon J. Elliott Dinwiddy
Boy Trouble Homer C. Fitch
Sudden Money Sweeney J. Patterson
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay Mr. Otis Skinner
Girl Without a Room Vergil Crock
The Shining Future Mr. Ames
Murder in the Private Car Godfrey D. Scott
Her Wedding Night Bertie Bird
The Night of June 13 Philo Strawn (as Charlie Ruggles)
Mama Loves Papa Wilbur Todd
Model Wife Milo Everett
Public Deb No. 1 Milburn
Gallant Journey Jim Montgomery
Dixie Dugan Pa Dugan
The Majesty of the Law Lawrence Evans
This Reckless Age Goliath Whitney (as Charlie Ruggles)
The Farmer's Daughter Nickie North
The Preview Murder Mystery Cameo Appearance as Himself at Preview (Uncredited)
Eloise Murphy
Hollywood Boulevard Charles Ruggles - Actor - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Yours for the Asking Sunbather
The Parson of Panamint Chuckawalla Bill Redfield
Maryland Dick Piper
His Exciting Night Adam Tripp
Gentlemen of the Press Charlie Haven
Son of Flubber Judge Murdock
The Battle of Paris Zizi
The Beloved Bachelor Jerry Wells
Friendly Enemies Heinrich Block
Carousel The Starkeeper / Dr. Selden
Melody in Spring Warren Blodgett
Ben and Me Ben Franklin (voice)
Make Me a Star Charles Ruggles (uncredited)
Wives Never Know Homer Bigelow
70,000 Witnesses Johnny Moran
Night Work Homer C. Fitch
The Heart Raider Gaspard McMahon (an insurance clerk)
Opened by Mistake Buzz Nelson
The House That Shadows Built (archive footage)
People Will Talk Henry Wilton
The Girl Habit Charlie Floyd
The Reform Candidate
Shows
Vacation Playhouse Eli Harcourt
The World of Mr. Sweeney Cicero P. Sweeney
The Andy Griffith Show John Canfield
The Bullwinkle Show Aesop (voice)
