Bob Hope
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.
Filmography
Breakdown: 1975
as Self (archive footage)
Breakdown: 1975
as Self (archive footage)
Breakdown: 1975
as Self (archive footage)
Breakdown: 1975
as Self (archive footage)
Sally
as Self (archive footage)
Sally
as Self (archive footage)
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
as Self (archive footage)
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
as Self (archive footage)
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
as Self (archive footage)
Howard
as Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
Howard
as Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
as Self (archive)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
as Self (archive)
Mansfield 66/67
Mansfield 66/67
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
as Self
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
as Self
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
as Self (archive footage)
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
as Self
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
as Self
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
as Self (archive footage)
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Johnny Carson
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of Johnny Carson
as Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
as Self
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
as Self
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
as Self (archive footage)
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
as Self (archive footage)
Pioneers of Primetime
Pioneers of Primetime
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
as Self
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
as Self
Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown
as Self (archive)
Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown
as Self (archive)
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self (archive footage)
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self (archive footage)
Christmas in Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Christmas in Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
as Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self
100 Years of Hope and Humor
as Self
100 Years of Hope and Humor
as Self
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
as Self (archive footage)
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
as Self (archive footage)
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
as Self (archive footage)
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
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)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
as Self (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
as (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
as (archive footage)
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
as Self (archive footage)
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
Vaudeville
as Self (archive footage)
Vaudeville
as Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
as Self - Co-Host
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
as Self - Co-Host
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
as Self
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
as Self
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
That Little Monster
as Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
That Little Monster
as Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
A Century of Cinema
as Self
A Century of Cinema
as Self
Liberation
as Self (archive footage)
Liberation
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years
as Self
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years
as Self
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
as Self
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
as Self
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
as Self
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
as Self
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
as Self
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
as Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
as Self
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
as Self - Host
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
as Self - Host
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
as Self
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
as Self
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
as Self
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
as Self
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
as Self
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
as Self
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
as Self (archive footage)
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
as Self (archive footage)
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
as Self
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self
Just a Song and Dance
Just a Song and Dance
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
as Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
as Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
as Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
as Self
Spies Like Us
as Self
Spies Like Us
as Self
James Bond: The First 21 Years
as Self
James Bond: The First 21 Years
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob!
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob!
as Self
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
as Self
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
as Self
Let Poland Be Poland
as Self
Let Poland Be Poland
as Self
Lucy Moves to NBC
as Self
Lucy Moves to NBC
as Self
Derby Fever USA
as Self
Derby Fever USA
as Self
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
as Self
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
as Self
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
as Self
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
as Self
NBC: The First Fifty Years
as Self
NBC: The First Fifty Years
as Self
Joys
as Self
Joys
as Self
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)
Mitzi & 100 Guys
as Self
Mitzi & 100 Guys
as Self
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
as Commentator
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
as Commentator
Cancel My Reservation
as Dan Bartlett
Cancel My Reservation
as Dan Bartlett
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
as Self
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
as Self
Carnival Nights
as Self
Carnival Nights
as Self
Eight on the Lam
as Henry Dimsdale
Eight on the Lam
as Henry Dimsdale
Bob Hope Comedy Special
Bob Hope Comedy Special
I'll Take Sweden
as Bob Holcomb
I'll Take Sweden
as Bob Holcomb
A Global Affair
as Frank Larrimore
A Global Affair
as Frank Larrimore
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
as Self
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
as Self
Critic's Choice
as Parker Ballantine
Critic's Choice
as Parker Ballantine
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers
as Self - Narrator
Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers
as Self - Narrator
The Awful Truth
as Jerry Warner
The Awful Truth
as Jerry Warner
Scared Stiff
as Skeleton (uncredited)
Scared Stiff
as Skeleton (uncredited)
My Favorite Spy
as Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
My Favorite Spy
as Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
Sorrowful Jones
as Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
Sorrowful Jones
as Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
The Paleface
as 'Painless' Peter Potter
The Paleface
as 'Painless' Peter Potter
Variety Girl
as Bob Hope
Variety Girl
as Bob Hope
Road to Utopia
as Chester Hooton
Road to Utopia
as Chester Hooton
They Got Me Covered
as Robert Kittredge
They Got Me Covered
as Robert Kittredge
Combat America
as Self
Combat America
as Self
My Favorite Blonde
as Larry Haines
My Favorite Blonde
as Larry Haines
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
as Self
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
as Self
Road to Zanzibar
as Fearless
Road to Zanzibar
as Fearless
Road to Singapore
as Ace Lannigan
Road to Singapore
as Ace Lannigan
Calling All Tars
as Bobby
Calling All Tars
as Bobby
Double Exposure
as Photographer / Robert
Double Exposure
as Photographer / Robert