Charles Ruggles

Biography

Charles Ruggles carved a legendary path through Hollywood over five decades, appearing in more than 100 films. His cinematic journey began in 1914 with *The Patchwork Girl of Oz*, launching a career marked by relentless productivity. In the early 1930s, he formed a dynamic on-screen chemistry with Mary Boland in a series of comedies, but it was his role in *If I Had a Million* (1932) that truly captured attention—portraying a frazzled man whose composure unravels in a chaotic china shop. Ruggles’ charm stemmed from his diminutive frame and idiosyncratic flair: a stammering, high-pitched voice, and a wide-eyed, bewildered expression that mirrored the chaos around him. He shone as Maj. Applegate, the bumbling yet endearing big-game hunter in the zany *Bringing Up Baby* (1938). Beyond film, his voice became synonymous with wit in *The Bullwinkle Show* (1959), narrating the “Aesop’s Fables” segment with deadpan precision. The sibling of acclaimed director Wesley Ruggles, Charles etched his name into Hollywood history as a master of comedic timing and physical humor, leaving an indelible mark on generations of audiences.