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