Reagan was considered for the movie about Will Rogers

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) _ Ronald Reagan was considered for the part of Will Rogers in the movie about the life of the Oklahoma humorist, according to Rogers' biographer Ben Yagoda. <br/><br/>In 1941,

Friday, June 11th 2004, 10:05 am

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) _ Ronald Reagan was considered for the part of Will Rogers in the movie about the life of the Oklahoma humorist, according to Rogers' biographer Ben Yagoda.

In 1941, six years following Rogers death, an unsigned memorandum at Warner Brothers Pictures read: ``Why not try to test Ronald Reagan for the part of Will Rogers? He is droll homely humorous and an all around good actor.''

The part eventually went to Will Rogers Jr.

``Ronald Reagan didn't get to play Will Rogers in the movie biography but who, with his ``well'' and shrugs, his just-folks bonhomie, managed a pretty impressive Rogers impersonation in the White House,'' Yagoda wrote in the book, ``Will Rogers: A Biography.''

In 1990, Oklahoma's Will Rogers Memorial Commission awarded its first ``Will Rogers Communicator Award'' to the former President.

The late Jim Rogers, Will Rogers' son, presented the plaque.

During the private exchange in Beverly Hills, Reagan told Jim Rogers: ``Will Rogers always was my hero,'' says Rogers historian Joe Carter, a former director of the memorial.