Bob Hope
Born
May 29, 1903
Died
July 27, 2003 (100 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Eltham, London, England, UK
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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Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
Self (archive footage)
2022
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
Self (archive footage)
2021
Howard
Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
2018
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Self
2016
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
2014
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Self
2010
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
Himself (archive footage)
2010
The Best of Johnny Carson
2010
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
2009
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
Self
2008
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Self (archive footage)
2006
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
Self
2005
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Adam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)
2004
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self (archive footage)
2004
Christmas in Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2003
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
Self (archive footage)
2003
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Self
2003
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
(archive footage)
2002
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
Self (archive footage)
2002
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
Self (archive footage)
2002
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2001
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Self (archive footage)
2000
Buñuel in Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2000
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
Self (Archival Footage)
1999
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
Self (archive footage)
1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
1999
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
1997
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
Self - Co-Host
1996
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Self
1996
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
1994
Forrest Gump
Self - in Vietnam (archive footage) (uncredited)
1994
Shanks for the Memory
1994
That Little Monster
Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
1994
A Century of Cinema
Self
1994
Liberation
Self (archive footage)
1994
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
Self
1993
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
Self
1991
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
Self
1991
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Self
1990
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Self (archive footage)
1990
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
1990
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
Self - Host
1989
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
Self
1989
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
Self
1989
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
Self
1988
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Self (archive footage)
1988
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
1988
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
1988
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Self
1986
A Masterpiece of Murder
Dan Dolan
1986
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Self
1986
Spies Like Us
Self
1985
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
1985
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
Self - Host
1984
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
Self
1984
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
Self
1983
Happy Birthday, Bob!
Self
1983
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Showbiz Goes to War
(archive footage)
1982
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Self
1982
Let Poland Be Poland
Self
1982
The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
Himself
1981
A Tribute to Dr. Shock
Self (archive footage)
1980
Lucy Moves to NBC
Self
1980
Bob Hope on the Road to China
Self - Host
1979
The Muppet Movie
Ice Cream Vendor
1979
Leif
Self
1979
The Hollywood Clowns
Self (archive footage)
1979
Derby Fever USA
Self
1979
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
Self
1978
Mickey's 50
Self
1978
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
Self
1978
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1978
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
Host / Barf Vader
1977
Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl
Self
1977
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
1976
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
1976
Joys
Self
1976
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Self
1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Mitzi & 100 Guys
Self
1975
Hearts and Minds
Self (archive footage)
1974
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Self - Host
1974
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling
Self
1973
The Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special
Self - Host
1973
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Commentator
1973
Cancel My Reservation
Dan Bartlett
1972
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1972
Festival at Ford's
Self
1971
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
Self
1971
The Great Radio Comedians
Self (archive footage)
1971
The Bob Hope Christmas Special
Self
1971
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Self
1970
Raquel!
Self
1970
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Self
1970
Roberta
Huck Haines
1969
How to Commit Marriage
Frank Benson
1969
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Self
1968
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
1968
The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
Self
1968
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
Self
1968
Eight on the Lam
Henry Dimsdale
1967
Bob Hope Comedy Special
1967
Not With My Wife, You Don't
Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
1966
Murder at N.B.C.
1966
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
1966
The Oscar
Bob Hope
1966
The Jack Benny Hour
Bob Hope / Marcello
1965
I'll Take Sweden
Bob Holcomb
1965
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Bill Blakely
1964
A Global Affair
Frank Larrimore
1964
The Sound of Laughter
Bing Fawcett - Plumber
1963
Call Me Bwana
Matt
1963
Critic's Choice
Parker Ballantine
1963
The Road to Hong Kong
Chester Babcock
1962
The Bing Crosby Show
Self
1961
Bachelor in Paradise
Adam J. Niles
1961
The Facts of Life
Larry Gilbert
1960
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Self
1960
Alias Jesse James
Milford Farnsworth
1959
Some of Manie's Friends
1959
Paris Holiday
Robert Leslie Hunter
1958
Beau James
Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
1957
The Iron Petticoat
Captain Chuck Lockwood
1956
That Certain Feeling
Francis X. Dignan
1956
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
Influential Man
1956
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Self
1956
The Seven Little Foys
Eddie Foy
1955
Playing Fields Association: Cricket
Self
1955
Casanova's Big Night
Pippo Popolino
1954
Here Come the Girls
Stanley Snodgrass
1953
Scared Stiff
Skeleton (uncredited)
1953
Road to Bali
Harold Gridley
1953
Off Limits
Wally Hogan
1952
Son of Paleface
Peter Potter Jr.
1952
The Greatest Show on Earth
Spectator (uncredited)
1952
My Favorite Spy
Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
1951
The Lemon Drop Kid
Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
1951
Fancy Pants
Humphrey / Arthur Tyler
1950
Screen Actors
Self (uncredited)
1950
You Can Change The World
Self
1950
The Great Lover
Freddie Hunter
1949
Sorrowful Jones
Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
1949
The Paleface
'Painless' Peter Potter
1948
Road to Rio
Hot Lips Barton
1947
Where There's Life
Michael Joseph Valentine
1947
Is Everybody Listening?
Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
1947
Variety Girl
Bob Hope
1947
My Favorite Brunette
Ronnie Jackson
1947
Monsieur Beaucaire
Monsieur Beaucaire
1946
Road to Utopia
Chester Hooton
1946
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Bob Hope
1945
Story of G.I. Joe
Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
1945
Road to Home
Self
1945
The All-Star Bond Rally
Self - Host
1945
The Princess and the Pirate
Sylvester the Great
1944
Memo for Joe
Self
1944
Let's Face It
Jerry Walker
1943
Show-Business at War
Self
1943
They Got Me Covered
Robert Kittredge
1943
Strictly G.I.
Self - Master of Ceremonies
1943
A Welcome to Britain
Self (uncredited)
1943
Combat America
Self
1943
Road to Morocco
Orville Jackson
1942
Bob's Busy Day
Bob
1942
My Favorite Blonde
Larry Haines
1942
Star Spangled Rhythm
Bob Hope
1942
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
Self
1942
Louisiana Purchase
Jim Taylor
1941
Nothing But the Truth
Steve Bennett
1941
Caught in the Draft
Don Bolton
1941
Road to Zanzibar
Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier
1941
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self - Master of Ceremonies
1940
The Ghost Breakers
Larry Lawrence
1940
Road to Singapore
Ace Lannigan
1940
The Cat and the Canary
Wally Campbell
1939
Some Like It Hot
Nicky Nelson
1939
Never Say Die
John Kidley
1939
Thanks for the Memory
Steve Merrick
1938
Give Me a Sailor
Jim Brewster
1938
College Swing
Bud Brady
1938
The Big Broadcast of 1938
Buzz Fielding
1938
Calling All Tars
Bobby
1936
Shop Talk
Robert Hope Jr.
1936
Double Exposure
Photographer / Robert
1935
Watch the Birdie
Bob
1935
Paree, Paree
Peter
1934
Going Spanish
Bob
1934
Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972
Bob Hope
Sally
Self (archive footage)
2025
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage) · (1 episode)
2016
Pebble Mill
Self · (1 episode)
1991
The Simpsons
Bob Hope (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
The Jim Henson Hour
Himself · (1 episode)
1989
The Golden Girls
Bob Hope · (1 episode)
1985
Highway to Heaven
Sycopomp · (1 episode)
1984
Late Night with David Letterman
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
Self · (1 episode)
1980
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
1978
The Captain and Tennille
Self · (1 episode)
1976
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star · (1 episode)
1976
Donny & Marie
Self · (3 episodes)
1976
Dinah!
Self · (4 episodes)
1974
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self · (2 episodes)
1973
Midi trente
Self · (1 episode)
1972
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self · (2 episodes)
1971
Great Performances
Self · (1 episode)
1971
Honor America Day
Self
1970
Treffpunkte
Self · (1 episode)
1970
The Barbara McNair Show
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Johnny Cash Show
Self · (1 episode)
1969
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self · (2 episodes)
1969
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest · (3 episodes)
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited) · (4 episodes)
1968
The Carol Burnett Show
Self (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1967
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Cameo Appearance (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1967
The Pruitts of Southampton
Library Patron · (1 episode)
1966
Bob Hope Christmas Show
Self
1965
Get Smart
Room Service Attendant (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1965
The Hollywood Palace
Self - Cameo Appearance · (1 episode)
1964
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Self - Host · (107 episodes)
1963
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
Self
1963
The Lucy Show
Plumber's Assistant · (1 episode)
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (4 episodes)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (134 episodes)
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (3 episodes)
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
Self · (25 episodes)
1961
The DuPont Show of the Week
Self · (1 episode)
1961
Startime
(1 episode)
1959
The All-Star Christmas Show
1958
Kraft Music Hall
Self · (1 episode)
1958
The Dick Clark Show
Self · (1 episode)
1958
Frank Sinatra Show
Self · (1 episode)
1957
The Thin Man
Self (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1957
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self · (4 episodes)
1957
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Himself/Ricky Ricardo
1956
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest · (4 episodes)
1956
Tony Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1956
Cinépanorama
Self · (1 episode)
1956
The Silent Partner
Bob Hope (uncredited)
1955
Screen Director's Playhouse
Bob Hope (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1955
The Chevy Show
Self · (1 episode)
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Self · (1 episode)
1954
Project XX
Narrator · (1 episode)
1954
The Oscars
Self · (14 episodes)
1953
I Love Lucy
Bob Hope · (1 episode)
1951
The Red Skelton Show
Self - Cameo · (1 episode)
1951
The Jack Benny Program
Bob Hope · (1 episode)
1950
The Jack Benny Program
Self / Clyde · (1 episode)
1950
The Jack Benny Program
Self · (4 episodes)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Intermission Guest · (1 episode)
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Lux Video Theatre Guest · (1 episode)
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · (20 episodes)
1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self - Host · (2 episodes)
1950
The Bob Hope Show
Self - Host · (217 episodes)
1950
What's My Line?
Self - Mystery Guest · (5 episodes)
1950
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (6 episodes)
1948
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (1 episode)
1944
The Old Grey Mayor
Bob
1935