Bob Hope
- Acting
- May 29, 1903 · Eltham, London, England, UK
- July 27, 2003
Biography
Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, and entertainer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films — 54 in which he starred. These included a series of seven Road to... musical comedy films with Bing Crosby as Hope's top-billed partner. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards show 19 times, more than any other host, Hope appeared in many stage productions and television roles and wrote 14 books. The song "Thanks for the Memory" was his signature tune. Hope was born in the Eltham district of southeast London. He arrived in the United States with his family at the age of four, and grew up near Cleveland, Ohio. After a brief stint in the late 1910s as a boxer, Hope began his career in show business in the early 1920s, initially as a comedian and dancer on the vaudeville circuit, before acting on Broadway. Hope began appearing on radio and in films starting in 1934. He was praised for his comedic timing, specializing in one-liners and rapid-fire delivery of jokes that were often self-deprecating. He helped establish modern American stand-up comedy. Between 1941 and 1991, Hope made 57 tours for the United Service Organizations (USO), entertaining active duty U.S. military personnel around the world. In 1997, the United States Congress passed a bill that made Hope an honorary veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. Hope appeared in numerous television specials for NBC during his career and was one of the first users of cue cards. Hope retired from public life in 1998 and died on July 27, 2003, at the age of 100.
Known for
Filmography
- Breakdown: 1975 · Self
- Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII · Self
- Sally · Self
- Kids' TV: The Surprising Story · Self
- Rat Pack · Self
- Boulevard! A Hollywood Story · Self
- Howard · Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
- This Is Bob Hope... · Self
- The Fabulous Allan Carr · Self
- Mansfield 66/67
- O.J.: Made in America · Self
- Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops · Self
- Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde · Self
- Bing Crosby: Rediscovered · Self
- Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials · Self
- Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino · Self
- The Best of Johnny Carson · Self
- 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year · Self
- Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas · Self
- The Best of Carson, Volume 1
- Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer · Self
- Pioneers of Primetime
- Legendary Christmas Entertainers · Self
- Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown · Self
- Judy Garland: By Myself · Self
- Christmas from Hollywood · Self
- Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter · Self
- Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer · Self
- 100 Years of Hope and Humor · Self
- Edith Head: The Paramount Years · Self
- Bob Hope and the Road to Success · Self
- Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO · Self
- The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 · Self
- The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 · Self
- Hollywood Musicals of the 40's · Self
- Buñuel in Hollywood · Self
- Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults · (archive footage)
- Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died · Self
- Television: The First Fifty Years · Self
- The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts · Self
- Vaudeville · Self
- The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender · Self
- Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents · Self
- Radio Star - Die AFN-Story · Self
- The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies · Self
- That's Entertainment! III · (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Shanks for the Memory
- That Little Monster · Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
- A Century of Cinema · Self
- Liberation · Self
- Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories · Self
- Bob Hope: The First 90 Years · Self
- Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie · Self
- Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio · Self, Executive producer
- Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files · (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II · Self
- Pebble Mill · Self
- Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia · Self, Executive producer
- You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story · Self
- Dors: The Other Diana
- The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic · Self
- Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration · Self
- The Simpsons · Bob Hope (Voice)
- Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy · Self, Executive producer
- Miss Piggy's Hollywood · Self
- The Jim Henson Hour · Self
- Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party! · Self
- Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show · Self, Executive producer
- The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind · Self
- Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration · Self
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC · Self
- Just a Song and Dance
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood · Self
- All Star Party for Clint Eastwood · Self
- TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines · Self
- A Masterpiece of Murder · Dan Dolan
- Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special · Self
- Classic Comedy Teams · Self
- Spies Like Us · Self
- The Golden Girls · Bob Hope