Bob Hope
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.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (48)
Breakdown: 1975
as Self - Co-Host, 47th Academy Awards (archive footage)
2025
Sally
as Self (archive footage)
2025
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
as Self (archive footage)
2022
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
2022
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Howard
as Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
2018
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
2017
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
as Self
2016
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
2014
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
as Self
2010
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
as Self (archive footage)
2010
The Best of Johnny Carson
as Self (archive footage)
2010
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
as Self (archive footage)
2009
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
as Self
2008
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
as Self (archive footage)
2006
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
as Self
2005
Los Angeles Plays Itself
as Adam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)
2004
Judy Garland: By Myself
as Self (archive footage)
2004
Christmas in Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
2003
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
as Self (archive footage)
2003
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self
2003
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
as (archive footage)
2002
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
as Self (archive footage)
2002
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
as Self (archive footage)
2002
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
2001
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
as Self (archive footage)
2000
Buñuel in Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
2000
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
as (archive footage)
1999
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
as Self (archive footage)
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
1999
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
as Self (archive footage)
1997
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
as Self - Co-Host
1996
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
as Self
1995
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
1994
Shanks for the Memory
1994
That Little Monster
as Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
1994
A Century of Cinema
as Self
1994
Liberation
as Self (archive footage)
1994
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
as Self
1993
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
as Self
1992
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
as Self
1991
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
as Self
1991
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
as Self
1990
Dors: The Other Diana
1990
