Charles Ruggles

Biography

Charles Ruggles was an American comic character actor who appeared in close to 100 feature films over six decades. Born in Los Angeles in 1886, he trained as a doctor but found the stage instead, reaching Broadway in 1914, and made his screen debut in the silent Peer Gynt a year later. From 1929 he worked in talking pictures, beginning with Gentleman of the Press. In the 1930s he often partnered with Mary Boland in domestic farces including If I Had a Million (1932) and Ruggles of Red Gap (1935). He became best known for Bringing Up Baby (1938) and It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947). He had a radio show in 1944, moved into television in 1949 with The Ruggles and later headlined The World of Mr. Sweeney, then returned to film in The Parent Trap (1961) and The Pleasure of His Company, a role he had won a 1959 Tony Award for. He died in 1970.

84years old at death

Born February 8, 1886Los Angeles
Died December 23, 1970Santa Monica
Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
Also credited as Charlie Ruggles and Charles Sherman Ruggles

Movie Career

Films: 19
Career span: 35 years1931 to 1966

Genres

Comedy74%, 14 films
Romance58%, 11 films
Drama26%, 5 films
Family26%, 5 films
Music11%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Ruggles had trained to become a doctor, but he ended up on the stage instead. In 1905 he appeared in a stock production of Nathan Hale.
Behind the award
Ruggles won a Tony Award in 1959 for The Pleasure of His Company and later reprised that same role in the 1961 film version.
Beyond film
Ruggles provided his voice for the "Aesop and Son" features on Jay Ward's The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show, adding to his long career in entertainment.

Charles Ruggles movies on Netflix

Follow Me, Boys!1966IMDb rating 7.1as John Everett Hughes
The Ugly Dachshund1966IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. J.L. Pruitt
Son of Flubber1963IMDb rating 6.1as Judge Murdock
All in a Night's Work1961IMDb rating 6.2as Warren Kingsley Sr.
The Parent Trap1961IMDb rating 7.2as Charles McKendrick
It Happened on Fifth Avenue1947IMDb rating 7.6as Michael J. O'Connor
Ramrod1947IMDb rating 6.6as Ben Dickason
A Stolen Life1946IMDb rating 7.2as Freddie Linley
Go West, Young Lady1941IMDb rating 6.4as Jim Pendergast
The Invisible Woman1940IMDb rating 5.9as George
Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8as Major Applegate
Ruggles of Red Gap1935IMDb rating 7.5as Egbert Floud
If I Had a Million1932IMDb rating 6.9as Henry Peabody
Love Me Tonight1932IMDb rating 7.5as Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
Madame Butterfly1932IMDb rating 6.0as Lieutenant Barton
One Hour with You1932IMDb rating 7.0as Adolph
Trouble in Paradise1932IMDb rating 7.9as The Major
Honor Among Lovers1931IMDb rating 6.4as Monty Dunn
The Smiling Lieutenant1931IMDb rating 7.1as Max

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Bringing Up Baby1938 Comedy, Family, Romanceas Major Applegate
IMDb rating 7.870K votes
The Parent Trap1961 Comedy, Family, Romanceas Charles McKendrick
IMDb rating 7.227K votes
Trouble in Paradise1932as The Major
IMDb rating 7.918K votes
It Happened on Fifth Avenue1947as Michael J. O'Connor
IMDb rating 7.67.7K votes
Love Me Tonight1932as Viscount Gilbert de Varèze
IMDb rating 7.55.2K votes
The Ugly Dachshund1966as Dr. J.L. Pruitt
IMDb rating 6.55.1K votes
Ruggles of Red Gap1935as Egbert Floud
IMDb rating 7.54.9K votes
The Smiling Lieutenant1931as Max
IMDb rating 7.14.5K votes

Most often with

Ernst Lubitsch directed four of these films, Norman Tokar two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Charles Lane

Maurice Chevalier

Bess Flowers

Cary Grant

Glenn Ford

C. Aubrey Smith

Ernst LubitschDirector, 4 films Norman TokarDirector, 2 films

Films together

Charles Lane3 films together, 1940 to 1966
Charles Lane's page
- The Ugly Dachshund1966IMDb rating 6.5Ruggles as Dr. J.L. PruittLane as Judge
- It Happened on Fifth Avenue1947IMDb rating 7.6Ruggles as Michael J. O'ConnorLane as Landlord
- The Invisible Woman1940IMDb rating 5.9Ruggles as GeorgeLane as Growley
Maurice Chevalier3 films together, 1931 to 1932
Maurice Chevalier's page
- Love Me Tonight1932IMDb rating 7.5Ruggles as Viscount Gilbert de VarèzeChevalier as Maurice
- One Hour with You1932IMDb rating 7.0Ruggles as AdolphChevalier as Dr. Andre Bertier
- The Smiling Lieutenant1931IMDb rating 7.1Ruggles as MaxChevalier as Lt. Nikolaus 'Niki' von Preyn
Bess Flowers2 films together, 1932 to 1946
Bess Flowers's page
- A Stolen Life1946IMDb rating 7.2Ruggles as Freddie LinleyFlowers as Department Store Shopper
- One Hour with You1932IMDb rating 7.0Ruggles as AdolphFlowers as Party Guest
Cary Grant2 films together, 1932 to 1938
Cary Grant's page
- Bringing Up Baby1938IMDb rating 7.8Ruggles as Major ApplegateGrant as David Huxley
- Madame Butterfly1932IMDb rating 6.0Ruggles as Lieutenant BartonGrant as Lieutenant Pinkerton
Glenn Ford2 films together, 1941 to 1946
Glenn Ford's page
- A Stolen Life1946IMDb rating 7.2Ruggles as Freddie LinleyFord as Bill Emerson
- Go West, Young Lady1941IMDb rating 6.4Ruggles as Jim PendergastFord as Tex Miller
C. Aubrey Smith2 films together, 1932
C. Aubrey Smith's page
- Love Me Tonight1932IMDb rating 7.5Ruggles as Viscount Gilbert de VarèzeSmith as Duke d'Artelines
- Trouble in Paradise1932IMDb rating 7.9Ruggles as The MajorSmith as Adolph J. Giron
Ernst LubitschDirector, 4 films, 1931 to 1932
All films by Ernst Lubitsch
- If I Had a Million1932IMDb rating 6.9Ruggles as Henry Peabody
- One Hour with You1932IMDb rating 7.0Ruggles as Adolph
- Trouble in Paradise1932IMDb rating 7.9Ruggles as The Major
- The Smiling Lieutenant1931IMDb rating 7.1Ruggles as Max
Norman TokarDirector, 2 films, 1966
All films by Norman Tokar
- Follow Me, Boys!1966IMDb rating 7.1Ruggles as John Everett Hughes
- The Ugly Dachshund1966IMDb rating 6.5Ruggles as Dr. J.L. Pruitt
Also two films together23 more actors
- Fred MacMurrayFollow Me, Boys! (1966) and Son of Flubber (1963)
- Charles LaughtonRuggles of Red Gap (1935) and If I Had a Million (1932)
- Edward BrophyIt Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) and The Invisible Woman (1940)
- Parley BaerFollow Me, Boys! (1966) and The Ugly Dachshund (1966)
- Claudette ColbertHonor Among Lovers (1931) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
- Elizabeth PattersonLove Me Tonight (1932) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
- Berton ChurchillIf I Had a Million (1932) and Madame Butterfly (1932)
- Cecil CunninghamIf I Had a Million (1932) and Love Me Tonight (1932)
- Robert GreigLove Me Tonight (1932) and Trouble in Paradise (1932)
- Miriam HopkinsTrouble in Paradise (1932) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
- Roland YoungRuggles of Red Gap (1935) and One Hour with You (1932)
- Elliott ReidFollow Me, Boys! (1966) and Son of Flubber (1963)
- May RobsonBringing Up Baby (1938) and If I Had a Million (1932)
- Don DeForeIt Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947) and Ramrod (1947)
- George BarbierOne Hour with You (1932) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
- Granville BatesHonor Among Lovers (1931) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
- Carrie DaumeryLove Me Tonight (1932) and The Smiling Lieutenant (1931)
- Tyler BrookeLove Me Tonight (1932) and Trouble in Paradise (1932)
- Jeanette MacDonaldLove Me Tonight (1932) and One Hour with You (1932)
- Louise CarterMadame Butterfly (1932) and Trouble in Paradise (1932)
- Mary BolandRuggles of Red Gap (1935) and If I Had a Million (1932)
- Ken MurrayFollow Me, Boys! (1966) and Son of Flubber (1963)
- Marion ByronLove Me Tonight (1932) and Trouble in Paradise (1932)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.