Roger Converse

Biography

A lifelong California native, he would later enjoy a short yet moderately successful career as a motion picture actor of the late 1930's. Originally born in Santa Barbara, CA, he was educated at Hollywood High School where he was noted as both a star pupil and athlete graduating with several scholastic achievements in 1929. Upon graduation, he intended to enroll in college to study medicine but with the beginning of the Great Depression he put his higher education aspects aside and went straight into the workforce first as a men's fashion model and later on a fitness instructor. In late 1936, he was discovered by an MGM talent scout during the course of an exercise class at the Los Angeles Athletic Club and was brought into MGM studios for screen and wardrobe testing citing him be 'a fine figure of masculinity with a nice round face'. After making his debut in Bad Guy (1937) he later made a name for herself as popular supporting player of the late 1930s playing second fiddle to such legends as James Stewart, Maureen O'Sullivan, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Montgomery, Virginia Bruce, Herbert Marshall, Tyrone Power, Norma Shearer, and Melvyn Douglas. In 1939, following his appearance in Calling Dr. Kildare (1939), he retired from acting to focus on his new found marriage and to start a family. Making wise investments in motion pictures and oil, he lived comfortable life in Los Angeles, California, where he spent the remainder of his days active in Republican politics, his church, and community. He died in 1994 from natural causes.