Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope KBE, KC*SG, KSS (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.
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Known For
Spies Like Us
(1985)
Self
The Muppet Movie
(1979)
Ice Cream Vendor
The Greatest Show on Earth
(1952)
Spectator (uncredited)
Howard
(2018)
Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
The Ghost Breakers
(1940)
Larry Lawrence
Road to Bali
(1953)
Harold Gridley
The Paleface
(1948)
'Painless' Peter Potter
Alias Jesse James
(1959)
Milford Farnsworth
The Princess and the Pirate
(1944)
Sylvester the Great
Road to Morocco
(1942)
Orville Jackson
Road to Utopia
(1946)
Chester Hooton
Full Filmography
Acting
Paree, Paree
(1934)
Peter
Going Spanish
(1934)
Bob
The Old Grey Mayor
(1935)
Bob
Double Exposure
(1935)
Photographer / Robert
Watch the Birdie
(1935)
Bob
Calling All Tars
(1936)
Bobby
Shop Talk
(1936)
Robert Hope Jr.
Give Me a Sailor
(1938)
Jim Brewster
Thanks for the Memory
(1938)
Steve Merrick
College Swing
(1938)
Bud Brady
The Big Broadcast of 1938
(1938)
Buzz Fielding
Never Say Die
(1939)
John Kidley
The Cat and the Canary
(1939)
Wally Campbell
Some Like It Hot
(1939)
Nicky Nelson
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
(1940)
Self - Master of Ceremonies
Road to Singapore
(1940)
Ace Lannigan
The Ghost Breakers
(1940)
Larry Lawrence
Nothing But the Truth
(1941)
Steve Bennett
Caught in the Draft
(1941)
Don Bolton
Road to Zanzibar
(1941)
Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier
Louisiana Purchase
(1941)
Jim Taylor
Star Spangled Rhythm
(1942)
Bob Hope
Bob's Busy Day
(1942)
Bob
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
(1942)
Self
Road to Morocco
(1942)
Orville Jackson
My Favorite Blonde
(1942)
Larry Haines
Show-Business at War
(1943)
Self
Strictly G.I.
(1943)
Self - Master of Ceremonies
They Got Me Covered
(1943)
Robert Kittredge
Let's Face It
(1943)
Jerry Walker
Combat America
(1943)
Self
A Welcome to Britain
(1943)
Self (uncredited)
The Princess and the Pirate
(1944)
Sylvester the Great
Memo for Joe
(1944)
Self
The All-Star Bond Rally
(1945)
Self - Host
Hollywood Victory Caravan
(1945)
Bob Hope
Story of G.I. Joe
(1945)
Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
Road to Home
(1945)
Self
Monsieur Beaucaire
(1946)
Monsieur Beaucaire
Road to Utopia
(1946)
Chester Hooton
Where There's Life
(1947)
Michael Joseph Valentine
Is Everybody Listening?
(1947)
Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
Road to Rio
(1947)
Hot Lips Barton
My Favorite Brunette
(1947)
Ronnie Jackson
Variety Girl
(1947)
Bob Hope
The Paleface
(1948)
'Painless' Peter Potter
Sorrowful Jones
(1949)
Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
The Great Lover
(1949)
Freddie Hunter
Fancy Pants
(1950)
Humphrey / Arthur Tyler
You Can Change The World
(1950)
Self
Screen Actors
(1950)
Self (uncredited)
My Favorite Spy
(1951)
Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
The Lemon Drop Kid
(1951)
Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
Son of Paleface
(1952)
Peter Potter Jr.
The Greatest Show on Earth
(1952)
Spectator (uncredited)
Off Limits
(1952)
Wally Hogan
Here Come the Girls
(1953)
Stanley Snodgrass
Scared Stiff
(1953)
Skeleton (uncredited)
Road to Bali
(1953)
Harold Gridley
Casanova's Big Night
(1954)
Pippo Popolino
Playing Fields Association: Cricket
(1955)
Self
The Seven Little Foys
(1955)
Eddie Foy
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
(1956)
Influential Man
The Iron Petticoat
(1956)
Captain Chuck Lockwood
That Certain Feeling
(1956)
Francis X. Dignan
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
(1956)
Self
Beau James
(1957)
Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
Paris Holiday
(1958)
Robert Leslie Hunter
Alias Jesse James
(1959)
Milford Farnsworth
Some of Manie's Friends
(1959)
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
(1960)
Self
The Facts of Life
(1960)
Larry Gilbert
The Bing Crosby Show
(1961)
Self
Bachelor in Paradise
(1961)
Adam J. Niles
The Road to Hong Kong
(1962)
Chester Babcock
The Sound of Laughter
(1963)
Bing Fawcett - Plumber
Call Me Bwana
(1963)
Matt
Critic's Choice
(1963)
Parker Ballantine
A Global Affair
(1964)
Frank Larrimore
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
(1964)
Bill Blakely
I'll Take Sweden
(1965)
Bob Holcomb
The Jack Benny Hour
(1965)
Bob Hope / Marcello
The Oscar
(1966)
Bob Hope
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
(1966)
Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
Not With My Wife, You Don't
(1966)
Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
Eight on the Lam
(1967)
Henry Dimsdale
The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
(1968)
Self
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
(1968)
Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
(1968)
Self
Rowan & Martin At the Movies
(1968)
Self
Roberta
(1969)
Huck Haines
How to Commit Marriage
(1969)
Frank Benson
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
(1970)
Self
Raquel!
(1970)
Self
Swing Out, Sweet Land
(1970)
Self
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
(1971)
Self
The Great Radio Comedians
(1971)
Self (archive footage)
Cancel My Reservation
(1972)
Dan Bartlett
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
(1972)
Self (archive footage)
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling
(1973)
Self
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
(1973)
Commentator
Hearts and Minds
(1974)
Self (archive footage)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
(1975)
Self (archive footage)
Mitzi & 100 Guys
(1975)
Self
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
(1976)
Self
Joys
(1976)
Self
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
(1976)
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
(1977)
Host / Barf Vader
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
(1978)
Self
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
(1978)
Self
Leif
(1979)
Self
The Hollywood Clowns
(1979)
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope on the Road to China
(1979)
Self - Host
Derby Fever USA
(1979)
Self
The Muppet Movie
(1979)
Ice Cream Vendor
A Tribute to Dr. Shock
(1980)
Self (archive footage)
Lucy Moves to NBC
(1980)
Self
The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
(1981)
Himself
Showbiz Goes to War
(1982)
(archive footage)
Let Poland Be Poland
(1982)
Self
Happy Birthday, Bob!
(1983)
Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
(1983)
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
(1984)
Self - Host
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
(1984)
Self
Spies Like Us
(1985)
Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
(1985)
Self (archive footage)
A Masterpiece of Murder
(1986)
Dan Dolan
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
(1986)
Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
(1986)
Self
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
(1988)
Self (archive footage)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
(1988)
Self
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
(1988)
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
(1988)
Self
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
(1989)
Self - Host
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
(1990)
Self
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
(1990)
Self
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
(1990)
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
(1991)
Self
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
(1993)
Self
That Little Monster
(1994)
Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
A Century of Cinema
(1994)
Self
That's Entertainment! III
(1994)
(archive footage)
Liberation
(1994)
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
(1996)
Self - Co-Host
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
(1997)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
(1998)
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
(1999)
Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
(1999)
Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
(2000)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 1
(2001)
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 years of Laughter Volume 2
(2001)
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
(2002)
Self (archive footage)
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
(2002)
(archive footage)
Christmas in Hollywood
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
(2003)
Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
(2003)
Self
Los Angeles Plays Itself
(2004)
Adam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)
Judy Garland: By Myself
(2004)
Self (archive footage)
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
(2005)
Self
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
(2006)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
(2009)
Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
(2010)
Self
And the Oscar Goes To...
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
(2014)
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
(2016)
Self
This Is Bob Hope...
(2017)
Self (archive footage)
Howard
(2018)
Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
(2021)
Self (archive footage)
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
(2022)
Self (Archive Footage)
Rat Pack
(2022)
Self (archive footage)
Writing
Production