Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian and actor. The first multimedia star, Crosby was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1931 to 1954. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed him, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. Also in 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music. Crosby won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Father Chuck O'Malley in the 1944 motion picture Going My Way and was nominated for his reprise of the role in The Bells of St. Mary's opposite Ingrid Bergman the next year, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character. In 1963, Crosby received the first Grammy Global Achievement Award. He is one of 33 people to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recording. He was also known for his collaborations with longtime friend Bob Hope, starring in the Road to... films from 1940 to 1962. Crosby influenced the development of the postwar recording industry. After seeing a demonstration of a German broadcast quality reel-to-reel tape recorder brought to America by John T. Mullin, he invested $50,000 in a California electronics company called Ampex to build copies. He then convinced ABC to allow him to tape his shows. He became the first performer to pre-record his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape. Through the medium of recording, he constructed his radio programs with the same directorial tools and craftsmanship (editing, retaking, rehearsal, time shifting) used in motion picture production, a practice that became an industry standard. In addition to his work with early audio tape recording, he helped to finance the development of videotape, bought television stations, bred racehorses, and co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.
Filmography
Twiggy
as (archival footage)
Twiggy
as (archival footage)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
as Self (archive footage)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
as Self (archive footage)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Grace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
as Self (archive footage)
Grace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
as Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self - C.K Dexter-Haven (archive footage)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self - C.K Dexter-Haven (archive footage)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Dean Martin: King of Cool
as Self (archive footage)
Dean Martin: King of Cool
as Self (archive footage)
My Music: A Classic Christmas
as Self (archive footage)
My Music: A Classic Christmas
as Self (archive footage)
Howard
as Jeff Peters (archive footage)
Howard
as Jeff Peters (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
Michael Bublé: Home For The Holidays
as Self (archive footage)
Michael Bublé: Home For The Holidays
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Johnny Carson
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Johnny Carson
as Self (archive footage)
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
as Self (archive footage)
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
as Self (archive footage)
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
as Self - (archive footage)
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
as Self - (archive footage)
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
as Self
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
as Self
'Twas the Night - A Holiday Celebration
as Self
'Twas the Night - A Holiday Celebration
as Self
Bing Crosby: Legends in Concert
as Self
Bing Crosby: Legends in Concert
as Self
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
as Self (Archive Footage)
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
as Self (Archive Footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
as Self (archive footage)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.1
as Narrator / Ichabod Crane / Brom Bones (voice) (archive footage)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.1
as Narrator / Ichabod Crane / Brom Bones (voice) (archive footage)
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
as Self (archive footage)
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
as Self (archive footage)
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
as Self (archive footage)
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
as Bob Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
as Bob Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Commercials: Volume 3
Classic Commercials: Volume 3
A Bing Crosby Christmas
as Self - Host (archive footage)
A Bing Crosby Christmas
as Self - Host (archive footage)
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
as Bob Wallace (archive footage)
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
as Bob Wallace (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage)
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
Shanks for the Memory
Shanks for the Memory
Songs That Won the War
as Himself (Archive)
Songs That Won the War
as Himself (Archive)
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
as Self
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
as Self (archive footage)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
as Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Grace Kelly: The American Princess
as Self (archive footage)
Grace Kelly: The American Princess
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
as Self (archive footage)
Classic Comedy Teams
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
as Self (archive footage)
Showbiz Goes to War
as Self (archive footage)
Disney's Halloween Treat
as (archive footage)
Disney's Halloween Treat
as (archive footage)
Showbiz Ballyhoo
as Self (archive footage)
Showbiz Ballyhoo
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
The Hollywood Clowns
as (archive footage)
The Hollywood Clowns
as (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years
as Himself (archival footage)
Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years
as Himself (archival footage)
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
as Self
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
as Self
Halloween Hall o' Fame
as Narrator/Brom Bones
Halloween Hall o' Fame
as Narrator/Brom Bones
Bing Crosby: Live In Mysen, Norway
as Himself
Bing Crosby: Live In Mysen, Norway
as Himself
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Hooray for Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
as Self
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
as Self
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show
Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show
Cancel My Reservation
as Himself (uncredited)
Cancel My Reservation
as Himself (uncredited)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas
as Himself
Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas
as Himself
The Great Radio Comedians
as Self
The Great Radio Comedians
as Self
Dr. Cook's Garden
as Leonard Cook
Dr. Cook's Garden
as Leonard Cook
Bing Crosby: Cooling It
as Self
Bing Crosby: Cooling It
as Self
Goldilocks
as Self / Papa Bear (voice)
Goldilocks
as Self / Papa Bear (voice)
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as Mark Twain
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as Mark Twain
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
Christmas with Crosby & Kate
as Himself
Christmas with Crosby & Kate
as Himself
Stagecoach
as Doc Josiah Boone
Stagecoach
as Doc Josiah Boone
Cinerama's Russian Adventure
as Narrator (voice)
Cinerama's Russian Adventure
as Narrator (voice)
Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show
as Self (host)
Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show
as Self (host)
Bob Hope Christmas Show
as Self
Bob Hope Christmas Show
as Self
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Allen A. Dale
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Allen A. Dale
The Sound of Laughter
as Bob (Singer in Grocery Store)
The Sound of Laughter
as Bob (Singer in Grocery Store)
The Bing Crosby Show
as Himself
The Bing Crosby Show
as Himself
The Road to Hong Kong
as Harry Turner
The Road to Hong Kong
as Harry Turner
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
The Grand Olympics
as Himself
The Grand Olympics
as Himself
Pepe
as Bing Crosby
Pepe
as Bing Crosby
High Time
as Harvey Howard
High Time
as Harvey Howard
Let's Make Love
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
Let's Make Love
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
Lifetime of Comedy
as (archive footage)
Lifetime of Comedy
as (archive footage)
The Frank Sinatra Timex Show
as Self
The Frank Sinatra Timex Show
as Self
Alias Jesse James
as Bing (uncredited)
Alias Jesse James
as Bing (uncredited)
Man on Fire
as Earl Carleton
Man on Fire
as Earl Carleton
High Society
as C. K. Dexter-Haven
High Society
as C. K. Dexter-Haven
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
as Influential Man
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
as Influential Man
White Christmas
as Bob Wallace
White Christmas
as Bob Wallace
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
Scared Stiff
as Skeleton (uncredited)
Scared Stiff
as Skeleton (uncredited)
Off Limits
as Bing Crosby (archive footage) (uncredited)
Off Limits
as Bing Crosby (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Spectator (uncredited)
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Spectator (uncredited)
Here Comes the Groom
as Peter 'Pete' Garvey
Here Comes the Groom
as Peter 'Pete' Garvey
America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgers
America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgers
Mr. Music
as Paul Merrick
Mr. Music
as Paul Merrick
Screen Actors
as Self (uncredited)
Screen Actors
as Self (uncredited)
Riding High
as Dan Brooks
Riding High
as Dan Brooks
You Can Change The World
as Self
You Can Change The World
as Self
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
as Narrator
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
as Narrator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
as Narrator (segment "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
as Narrator (segment "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")
Top o' the Morning
as Joe Mulqueen
Top o' the Morning
as Joe Mulqueen
Down Memory Lane
as Bing Crosby
Down Memory Lane
as Bing Crosby
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
as Hank Martin
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
as Hank Martin
Road to Rio
as Scat Sweeney
Road to Rio
as Scat Sweeney
Variety Girl
as Bing Crosby
Variety Girl
as Bing Crosby
Road to Hollywood
as Himself
Road to Hollywood
as Himself
Welcome Stranger
as Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson
Welcome Stranger
as Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson
Blue Skies
as Johnny Adams
Blue Skies
as Johnny Adams
Road to Utopia
as Duke Johnson
Road to Utopia
as Duke Johnson
The Bells of St. Mary's
as Father O'Malley
The Bells of St. Mary's
as Father O'Malley
We've Got Another Bond to Buy
We've Got Another Bond to Buy
Hollywood Victory Caravan
as Bing Crosby
Hollywood Victory Caravan
as Bing Crosby
Duffy's Tavern
as Bing Crosby
Duffy's Tavern
as Bing Crosby
The All-Star Bond Rally
as Self
The All-Star Bond Rally
as Self
Here Come the Waves
as Johnny Cabot
Here Come the Waves
as Johnny Cabot
The Princess and the Pirate
as Margaret's Sweetheart (uncredited)
The Princess and the Pirate
as Margaret's Sweetheart (uncredited)
The Road to Victory
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
The Road to Victory
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
Going My Way
as Father Chuck O'Malley
Going My Way
as Father Chuck O'Malley
Dixie
as Daniel Decatur Emmett
Dixie
as Daniel Decatur Emmett
Show-Business at War
as Self
Show-Business at War
as Self
My Favorite Blonde
as Man Outside Union Hall (uncredited)
My Favorite Blonde
as Man Outside Union Hall (uncredited)
Star Spangled Rhythm
as Bing Crosby
Star Spangled Rhythm
as Bing Crosby
Birth of the Blues
as Jeff Lambert
Birth of the Blues
as Jeff Lambert
Rhythm on the River
as Bob Sommers
Rhythm on the River
as Bob Sommers
The Star Maker
as Larry Earl
The Star Maker
as Larry Earl
Hollywood Handicap
as Himself
Hollywood Handicap
as Himself
Rhythm on the Range
as Jeff Larabee
Rhythm on the Range
as Jeff Larabee
Anything Goes
as Billy Crocker
Anything Goes
as Billy Crocker
Mississippi
as Tom Grayson
Mississippi
as Tom Grayson
Here Is My Heart
as J. Paul Jones
Here Is My Heart
as J. Paul Jones
Too Much Harmony
as Eddie Bronson
Too Much Harmony
as Eddie Bronson
King of Jazz
as Trio Singer (as The Rhythm Boys)
King of Jazz
as Trio Singer (as The Rhythm Boys)