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
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Horace Applegate
Son of Flubber
(1963)
Judge Murdock
The Ugly Dachshund
(1966)
Dr. J. L. Pruitt
Alice in Wonderland
(1933)
March Hare
Trouble in Paradise
(1932)
Major
The Invisible Woman
(1940)
George
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
Balalaika
(1939)
Nicki Popoff
Ramrod
(1947)
Ben Dickason
All in a Night's Work
(1961)
Dr. Warren Kingsley, Sr
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 Lady Lies
(1929)
Charlie Tayler
The Battle of Paris
(1929)
Zizi
Gentlemen of the Press
(1929)
Charlie Haven
Roadhouse Nights
(1930)
Willie Bindbugel
Queen High
(1930)
T. Boggs Johns
Young Man of Manhattan
(1930)
Shorty Ross
Her Wedding Night
(1930)
Bertie Bird
Charley's Aunt
(1930)
Fancourt Babberley
The Smiling Lieutenant
(1931)
Max
Honor Among Lovers
(1931)
Monty Dunn
The Beloved Bachelor
(1931)
Jerry Wells
The House That Shadows Built
(1931)
(archive footage)
The Girl Habit
(1931)
Charlie Floyd
Husband's Holiday
(1931)
Clyde Saunders
Trouble in Paradise
(1932)
Major
Love Me Tonight
(1932)
Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
One Hour with You
(1932)
Adolph
This Is the Night
(1932)
Bunny West
Madame Butterfly
(1932)
Lieutenant Barton
If I Had a Million
(1932)
Henry Peabody
Evenings for Sale
(1932)
Bimpfl
The Night of June 13
(1932)
Philo Strawn (as Charlie Ruggles)
This Reckless Age
(1932)
Goliath Whitney (as Charlie Ruggles)
Make Me a Star
(1932)
Charles Ruggles (uncredited)
70,000 Witnesses
(1932)
Johnny Moran
Alice in Wonderland
(1933)
March Hare
Murders in the Zoo
(1933)
Peter Yates
Terror Aboard
(1933)
Blackie Witherspoon
Melody Cruise
(1933)
Pete Wells
Good-bye Love
(1933)
Oswald Groggs
Girl Without a Room
(1933)
Vergil Crock
Mama Loves Papa
(1933)
Wilbur Todd
Six of a Kind
(1934)
J. Pinkham Whinney (as Charlie Ruggles)
Friends of Mr. Sweeney
(1934)
Asaph 'Ace' Holliday
The Pursuit of Happiness
(1934)
Aaron Kirkland
Murder in the Private Car
(1934)
Godfrey D. Scott
Melody in Spring
(1934)
Warren Blodgett
Ruggles of Red Gap
(1935)
Egbert Floud
No More Ladies
(1935)
Edgar Holden
The Big Broadcast of 1936
(1935)
Wilbur Sealingsworth
People Will Talk
(1935)
Henry Wilton
Anything Goes
(1936)
Rev. Dr. Moon
Hearts Divided
(1936)
Henry
Early to Bed
(1936)
Chester R. Beatty
Mind Your Own Business
(1936)
Orville Shanks
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
Turn Off the Moon
(1937)
J. Elliott Dinwiddy
Exclusive
(1937)
Tod Swain
Bringing Up Baby
(1938)
Horace Applegate
Hollywood Handicap
(1938)
Himself
Breaking the Ice
(1938)
Sam Terwilliger
Service de Luxe
(1938)
Robinson
His Exciting Night
(1938)
Adam Tripp
Screen Snapshots Series 17, No. 12
(1938)
Charles Ruggles
Invitation to Happiness
(1939)
Henry 'Pop' Hardy
Balalaika
(1939)
Nicki Popoff
Boy Trouble
(1939)
Homer C. Fitch
Sudden Money
(1939)
Sweeney J. Patterson
Night Work
(1939)
Homer C. Fitch
The Invisible Woman
(1940)
George
No Time for Comedy
(1940)
Philo Swift
Public Deb No. 1
(1940)
Milburn
The Farmer's Daughter
(1940)
Nickie North
Maryland
(1940)
Dick Piper
Opened by Mistake
(1940)
Buzz Nelson
Honeymoon for Three
(1941)
Harvey Wilson
The Perfect Snob
(1941)
Dr. Edgar Mason (as Charlie Ruggles)
Go West, Young Lady
(1941)
Jim Pendergast
Model Wife
(1941)
Milo Everett
The Parson of Panamint
(1941)
Chuckawalla Bill Redfield
Friendly Enemies
(1942)
Heinrich Block
Dixie Dugan
(1943)
Pa Dugan
The Doughgirls
(1944)
Stanley Slade
The Road to Victory
(1944)
Mr. Ames (uncredited)
Our Hearts Were Young and Gay
(1944)
Otis Skinner
The Shining Future
(1944)
Mr. Ames
3 Is a Family
(1944)
Sam Whitaker
Her Favorite Patient
(1945)
Dr. J.H. 'Doc' Fredericks
Incendiary Blonde
(1945)
Cherokee Jim
A Stolen Life
(1946)
Freddie Linley
Gallant Journey
(1946)
Jim Montgomery
Ramrod
(1947)
Ben Dickason
The Perfect Marriage
(1947)
Dale Williams, Sr.
It Happened on Fifth Avenue
(1947)
Michael J. 'Mike' O'Connor
My Brother Talks to Horses
(1947)
Richard Pennington Roeder
Give My Regards to Broadway
(1948)
Toby Helper
The Lovable Cheat
(1949)
Claude Mercadet
Look for the Silver Lining
(1949)
Caro "Pop" Miller
Ben and Me
(1953)
Ben Franklin (voice)
Eloise
(1956)
Murphy
The Parent Trap
(1961)
Charles McKendrick
All in a Night's Work
(1961)
Dr. Warren Kingsley, Sr
The Pleasure of His Company
(1961)
Mackenzie Savage
Papa's Delicate Condition
(1963)
Anthony Ghio
Son of Flubber
(1963)
Judge Murdock
I'd Rather Be Rich
(1964)
Dr. Charles Crandall
The Ugly Dachshund
(1966)
Dr. J. L. Pruitt
Follow Me, Boys!
(1966)
John Everett Hughes
Carousel
(1967)
The Starkeeper / Dr. Selden