William Penn Adair `` Will '' Rogers ( November 4 , 1879 -- August 15 , 1935 ) was an American cowboy , vaudeville performer , humorist , newspaper columnist , social commentator and stage and motion picture actor .
William Penn Adair `` Will '' Rogers ( November 4 , 1879 -- August 15 , 1935 ) was a Cherokee-American cowboy , comedian , humorist , social commentator , vaudeville performer and actor .