Physical Characteristics
  • Height: 6'1"
  • Hair: Brown
  • Weight: 180-184 lbs.
  • Eyes: Blue
  • Generally right-handed
  • Ruddy complexion (did not require face makeup for movie roles)
  • Eyesight - Nearsighted since childhood. Began wearing glasses around the time he entered high school. Began wearing contact lenses when he began his acting career, which was shortly after they first became available.
  • Hearing - Hard of hearing, especially in the right ear, since an actor fired a pistol near his head during the making of a motion picture. The film was one of the four, released in 1939 and 1940, in which Reagan portrayed Secret Service agent Brass Bancroft. To avoid causing embarrassment, Reagan never publicly identified the particular film, or the individual who fired the gun. Began wearing a hearing aid in 1983.
Favorite - Physical Activities
  • Golf
  • Horseback riding
  • Ranch work
  • Swimming
  • Target shooting
  • After onset of Alzheimer's Disease, favored golf over more strenuous activities.
Favorite - Bible Verse

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotton son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Favorite - Books
  • The Bible

Books (in childhood)

  • Northern Trails, by William Joseph Long
  • That Printer of Udell's, by Harold Bell Wright
  • Book series featuring the Rover Boys, Tarzan of the Apes, and Frank Merriwell
  • The Bible

Book Genres

  • Fiction
  • Historical
Favorite - Christmas Carol
  • Silent Night
Favorite - Cologne
  • Royal Briar
Favorite - Comic Strip
  • Peanuts
Favorite - Desserts
  • Brownies
  • Carrot cake
  • Chocolate cake
  • Chocolate chip cookies
Favorite - Food/Recipes/Beverages
  • Apples - Apple cider
  • Cornbread dressing
  • Eggplant Lasagne
  • Hamburgers (grilled)
  • Macaroni and Cheese
  • Ice Cream
  • Jellybeans (Favorite Flavor: Licorice)
  • Pumpkin Pecan Pie
  • Meatloaf
  • Monkey bread
  • Split Pea Soup
  • Turkey Soup
Favorite - Hymn
  • Battle Hymn of the Republic
Favorite - Magazine
  • National Review
Favorite - Reagan's Movies and His Roles
  • Knute Rockne, All American (1940) Supporting Part: George Gipp (The Gipper)
  • King's Row (1941) Lead Role: Drake McHugh
Favorite - Movie Soundtrack
  • The Sound of Music (1965)
Favorite - Poem
  • If, by Rudyard Kipling
Favorite - Prayer

Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord;
Who can shew forth all his praise?
Blessed are they that keep judgment,
and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people;
O visit me with thy salvation;
That I may see the good of thy chosen,
that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation,
that I may glory with thine inheritance.
Psalm 106:2-5

Favorite - Presidents
  • George Washington
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Calvin Coolidge
Favorite - Song
  • Nancy With the Laughing Face
Favorite - Sport
  • Major League Baseball
  • Football - College and Professional
Favorite - Symphonic Works
  • Concerto #1, Tchaikovsky
  • Lara's Theme (from Doctor Zhivago)
  • Firebird Suite, Stravinsky
  • Grand Canyon Suite, Ferde Grofe
  • Porgy and Bess, Gershwin
Favorite - Television Shows
  • 1965:  Bonanza
  • 1967:  The Carol Burnett Show
  • The Dean Martin Show
  • Mission: Impossible
  • 1981:  Little House on the Prairie
  • The Waltons
Favorite - Tree
  • Sycamore
Dislikes - Foods
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Liver
  • Tomatoes
Dislikes - His Own Movies
  • That Hagen Girl (1947)
First in Life
  • Automobile - a 1934 Nash Lafayette Coupe
  • Job - A construction contractor hired him at 14 to dig ditches ten hours a day, six days a week, for a wage of 35 cents per hour.  He saved the money earned (about $200) for his college tuition.
  • Movie - Love Is On the Air (1937), in which he played a radio announcer.
Lifetime Nickname

The nickname “Dutch" was first applied to Ronald Reagan, in childhood, by his father.  According to Reagan's autobiographies, he received the nickname soon after his birth, from his father's remark that he looked like “a fat little Dutchman."  Reagan has also stated, however, that his father gave him the nickname because of the “Dutch boy" haircut, once popular for little boys, that his mother gave him when he was a toddler.  When asked to reconcile the two stories of the nickname's origin, Reagan stated that the haircut strengthened the use of the nickname.

Religion

Although raised in his mother's Disciples of Christ denomination, beginning in 1963 Reagan generally attended  Presbyterian church services at Bel-Air Presbyterian Church, Bel-Air, California. He became an official member of Bel-Air Presbyterian after leaving the Presidency. In addition, Reagan stated that he considered himself a “born-again Christian."