Roger Converse

Roger Converse (June 26, 1911 – September 21, 1994) was an American motion picture actor and MGM contract player of the late 1930s, who made a name for himself portraying gentlemen, boyfriends, and blue collar guys.

Life and career He was born on June 26, 1911, in Santa Barbara, California, and was educated at Hollywood High School where he was noted as being both an intellectual academic and a star athlete who graduated with several scholastic achievements in 1929. He had intended on furthering his education going onto medical school but following the Stock Market Crash of 1929, he choose to take other ventures and went straight into the workforce as a men's clothing model followed by a turn as a fitness instructor with the Los Angeles Athletic Club. In 1936, he was teaching an exercise class one day and was discovered by a talent scout who brought him to MGM Studios to be screen and wardrobe tested for motion pictures, the scout describing him, a blue-eyed, brown-haired man, who was 5 feet 8 inches in height, as appearing to be a "fine figure of masculinity with a nice round face". He began his career in 1937, in the motion picture The Bad Guy and went on to appear in 20 more films, some of which were My Dear Miss Aldrich (1937), The Shopworn Angel (1938), Snow Gets in Your Eyes (1938), Marie Antoinette (1938), and Calling Dr. Kildare (1939). He tested for the role of Rhett Butler for Gone with the Wind but was one of many men who lost out to Clark Gable.

He retired in 1939 to focus on marriage and fatherhood. He was financially secure from wise investments and was married to Wilhelmina Schulte from 1939 until his death in 1994. They had one son who predeceased the both of them in 1954. He spent the rest of his life living in Los Angeles, California, was supportive of the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings of the 1940s, even listing names of supposed communists as well, and he was active in Republican politics. He was also a diabetic and a devout Methodist who was active within his local church. He died from natural causes on September 21, 1994, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Los Angeles, California.

Filmography + Year Title Role Notes 1937 Bad Guy Detective Uncredited 1937 My Dear Miss Aldrich Ted Martin 1937 Navy Blue and Gold Size Inspector Uncredited 1938 What Do You Think? (Number Three) Fred Short, Uncredited 1938 The First Hundred Years Young Actor with Reggie Uncredited 1938 Test Pilot Advertising Man Uncredited 1938 Snow Gets in Your Eyes Tommy Bradford Short 1938 Yellow Jack Lieutenant Uncredited 1938 Three Comrades Becker's Assistant Uncredited 1938 Woman Against Woman Holland's Secretary Uncredited 1938 Fast Company Assistant Dist. Atty. Byers Uncredited 1938 Marie Antoinette Man in Gaming House Uncredited 1938 The Shopworn Angel Hotel Clerk Uncredited 1938 The Chaser Hotel Desk Clerk Uncredited 1938 It's in the Stars Mr. Jones Short 1938 Boys Town Lane - Newspaper Reporter Uncredited 1938 Vacation from Love Wedding Usher Uncredited 1938 Young Dr. Kildare Dr. Joiner Uncredited 1938 The Shining Hour Hotel Clerk Uncredited 1938 Sweethearts Usher Uncredited 1939 Calling Dr. Kildare Joiner (final film role)