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.
Known For
The Parent Trap
(1961)
Charles McKendrick
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
Alice in Wonderland
(1933)
March Hare
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Horace Applegate
The Ugly Dachshund
(1966)
Dr. J. L. Pruitt
Son of Flubber
(1963)
Judge Murdock
If I Had a Million
(1932)
Henry Peabody
Love Me Tonight
(1932)
Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
Follow Me, Boys!
(1966)
John Everett Hughes
Madame Butterfly
(1932)
Lieutenant Barton
Full Filmography
Acting
The Reform Candidate
(1915)
Peer Gynt
(1915)
The Button Molder
The Majesty of the Law
(1915)
Lawrence Evans
The Heart Raider
(1923)
Gaspard McMahon (an insurance clerk)
The Battle of Paris
(1929)
Zizi
Gentlemen of the Press
(1929)
Charlie Haven
The Lady Lies
(1929)
Charlie Tayler
Queen High
(1930)
T. Boggs Johns
Roadhouse Nights
(1930)
Willie Bindbugel
Charley's Aunt
(1930)
Fancourt Babberley
Young Man of Manhattan
(1930)
Shorty Ross
Her Wedding Night
(1930)
Bertie Bird
The Smiling Lieutenant
(1931)
Max
Honor Among Lovers
(1931)
Monty Dunn
The House That Shadows Built
(1931)
(archive footage)
The Girl Habit
(1931)
Charlie Floyd
Husband's Holiday
(1931)
Clyde Saunders
The Beloved Bachelor
(1931)
Jerry Wells
Make Me a Star
(1932)
Charles Ruggles (uncredited)
One Hour with You
(1932)
Adolph
The Night of June 13
(1932)
Philo Strawn (as Charlie Ruggles)
This Is the Night
(1932)
Bunny West
Madame Butterfly
(1932)
Lieutenant Barton
If I Had a Million
(1932)
Henry Peabody
70,000 Witnesses
(1932)
Johnny Moran
This Reckless Age
(1932)
Goliath Whitney (as Charlie Ruggles)
Love Me Tonight
(1932)
Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
Trouble in Paradise
(1932)
Major
Evenings for Sale
(1932)
Bimpfl
Murders in the Zoo
(1933)
Peter Yates
Mama Loves Papa
(1933)
Wilbur Todd
Alice in Wonderland
(1933)
March Hare
Girl Without a Room
(1933)
Vergil Crock
Good-bye Love
(1933)
Oswald Groggs
Terror Aboard
(1933)
Blackie Witherspoon
Melody Cruise
(1933)
Pete Wells
Melody in Spring
(1934)
Warren Blodgett
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
(1934)
Asaph 'Ace' Holliday
Six of a Kind
(1934)
J. Pinkham Whinney (as Charlie Ruggles)
The Pursuit of Happiness
(1934)
Aaron Kirkland
Murder in the Private Car
(1934)
Godfrey D. Scott
No More Ladies
(1935)
Edgar Holden
The Big Broadcast of 1936
(1935)
Wilbur Sealingsworth
People Will Talk
(1935)
Henry Wilton
Ruggles of Red Gap
(1935)
Egbert Floud
The Preview Murder Mystery
(1936)
Cameo Appearance as Himself at Preview (Uncredited)
Hollywood Boulevard
(1936)
Charles Ruggles - Actor - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Yours for the Asking
(1936)
Sunbather
Wives Never Know
(1936)
Homer Bigelow
Mind Your Own Business
(1936)
Orville Shanks
Early to Bed
(1936)
Chester R. Beatty
Hearts Divided
(1936)
Henry
Anything Goes
(1936)
Rev. Dr. Moon
Turn Off the Moon
(1937)
J. Elliott Dinwiddy
Exclusive
(1937)
Tod Swain
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
(1938)
Charles Ruggles
Hollywood Handicap
(1938)
Himself
Breaking the Ice
(1938)
Sam Terwilliger
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Horace Applegate
His Exciting Night
(1938)
Adam Tripp
Service de Luxe
(1938)
Robinson
Balalaika
(1939)
Nicki Popoff
Invitation to Happiness
(1939)
Henry 'Pop' Hardy
Night Work
(1939)
Homer C. Fitch
Boy Trouble
(1939)
Homer C. Fitch
Sudden Money
(1939)
Sweeney J. Patterson
Maryland
(1940)
Dick Piper
No Time for Comedy
(1940)
Philo Swift
Opened by Mistake
(1940)
Buzz Nelson
The Invisible Woman
(1940)
George
Public Deb No. 1
(1940)
Milburn
The Farmer's Daughter
(1940)
Nickie North
Go West, Young Lady
(1941)
Jim Pendergast
The Perfect Snob
(1941)
Dr. Edgar Mason (as Charlie Ruggles)
Honeymoon for Three
(1941)
Harvey Wilson
Model Wife
(1941)
Milo Everett
The Parson of Panamint
(1941)
Chuckawalla Bill Redfield
Friendly Enemies
(1942)
Heinrich Block
Dixie Dugan
(1943)
Pa Dugan
The Shining Future
(1944)
Mr. Ames
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay
(1944)
Otis Skinner
The Road to Victory
(1944)
Mr. Ames (uncredited)
The Doughgirls
(1944)
Stanley Slade
3 Is a Family
(1944)
Sam Whitaker
Incendiary Blonde
(1945)
Cherokee Jim
Her Favorite Patient
(1945)
Dr. J.H. 'Doc' Fredericks
A Stolen Life
(1946)
Freddie Linley
Gallant Journey
(1946)
Jim Montgomery
My Brother Talks to Horses
(1947)
Richard Pennington Roeder
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
Ramrod
(1947)
Ben Dickason
The Perfect Marriage
(1947)
Dale Williams, Sr.
Give My Regards to Broadway
(1948)
Toby Helper
Look for the Silver Lining
(1949)
Caro "Pop" Miller
The Lovable Cheat
(1949)
Claude Mercadet
Ben and Me
(1953)
Ben Franklin (voice)
Eloise
(1956)
Murphy
The Pleasure of His Company
(1961)
Mackenzie Savage
All in a Night's Work
(1961)
Dr. Warren Kingsley, Sr
The Parent Trap
(1961)
Charles McKendrick
Son of Flubber
(1963)
Judge Murdock
Papa's Delicate Condition
(1963)
Anthony Ghio
I'd Rather Be Rich
(1964)
Dr. Charles Crandall
Follow Me, Boys!
(1966)
John Everett Hughes
The Ugly Dachshund
(1966)
Dr. J. L. Pruitt
Carousel
(1967)
The Starkeeper / Dr. Selden