Rudy Vallee
Born
July 28, 1901
Died
July 6, 1986 (84 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Island Pond, Vermont, USA
Rudy Vallee started his career as a saxophone player and singer and later became a band leader. In the 1920s and early 30s he had a hit radio program, The Fleishmann's Yeast Hour (where he was hated by his cast and crew due to his explosive ego-driven personality). In the early 1930's he was ranked with the likes of Bing Crosby and the tragic Russ Columbo in the Hit Parade. A huge hit on radio in 1933 with his program, initially known as 'The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour,' Vallee was considered a slave driver by his staff. He was known to instigate fist fights with virtually anyone who got on his nerves. During the run of his show he slugged photographers, threw sheet music in the faces of pianists' heads and if provoked, would sock hecklers in the nose. While audiences loved him, he was hated by most of his staff. As a very popular star in night clubs and on records, as well as in movies, he helped other singers like Alice Faye - who was for a while his band singer - and Frances Langford to start their careers. In his early movies he often played the romantic lead, but he switched later to stuffy and comic parts. He also appeared on Broadway. The mid-60's Broadway hit "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was filmed in 1967 with him in his original Broadway role.
Known For

Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Self (archive footage)
2015

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
Self (archive footage)
1995

The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
Self · (1 episode)
1987

Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984

The Perfect Woman
Tock
1981

Men Who Rate a 10
Self
1980

CHiPs
Arthur Forbinger · (1 episode)
1977

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Autograph Hound
1976

Ellery Queen
Alvin Winer · (1 episode)
1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975

Slashed Dreams
Proprietor
1975
The Chicago Teddy Bears
(1 episode)
1971

Alias Smith and Jones
(2 episodes)
1971

Night Gallery
Dr. Francis Deeking · (1 episode)
1970

The Phynx
Rudy Vallee
1970

The Night They Raided Minsky's
Opening Narrator (voice)
1968

Live a Little, Love a Little
Louis Penlow
1968

Here's Lucy
Rudy Vallee · (1 episode)
1968

The Name of the Game
Myron Lesser · (1 episode)
1968

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Jasper B. Biggley
1967

Batman
Lord Marmaduke Ffogg · (4 episodes)
1966

Petticoat Junction
(1 episode)
1963

The Merv Griffin Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (2 episodes)
1962

The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host · (2 episodes)
1961
Hansel and Gretel
Father
1958

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Rudy Vallee · (1 episode)
1957

The Helen Morgan Story
Himself
1957

Jazz Ball
Self (archive footage)
1956

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Rudy Vallee
1955

Ricochet Romance
Worthington Higgenmacher
1954

December Bride
(2 episodes)
1954

The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self · (1 episode)
1950

The Admiral Was a Lady
Peter Pedigrew
1950

The Golden Twenties
Self (archive footage)
1950

Your Show of Shows
(1 episode)
1950

What's My Line?
Self · (2 episodes)
1950

What's My Line?
Self - Panelist · (1 episode)
1950

Father Was a Fullback
Mr. Jessup
1949

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Charles Hingleman
1949

Mother Is a Freshman
John Heaslip
1949

Unfaithfully Yours
August Henshler
1948

My Dear Secretary
Charles Harris
1948

The Ed Sullivan Show
Self · (7 episodes)
1948

So This Is New York
Herbert Daley
1948

I Remember Mama
Dr. Johnson
1948

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Tommy Chamberlain
1947

Kraft Television Theatre
Bromley · (1 episode)
1947

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Lynn Sargent
1947

The Fabulous Suzanne
Hendrick Courtney Jr.
1946

People Are Funny
Ormsby Jamison
1946

Man Alive
Gordon Tolliver
1945

It's in the Bag!
Rudy Vallee
1945

11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"
Himself - Bandleader
1944

Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform
Himself
1943

Happy Go Lucky
Alfred Monroe
1943

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
1942

The Palm Beach Story
John D. Hackensacker III
1942
Too Many Blondes
Dick Kerrigan
1941

Time Out for Rhythm
Daniel 'Danny' Collins
1941

Rodeo Dough
Rudy Vallee
1940

Second Fiddle
Roger Maxwell
1939

Breakdowns of 1938
Rudy (archive footage) (uncredited)
1938

Gold Diggers in Paris
Terry Moore
1938

Things You Never See on the Screen
Self
1935

Sweet Music
Skip Houston
1935

A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
Himself (uncredited)
1935

Hollywood on Parade No. B-9
Self
1934

George White's Scandals
Jimmy Martin
1934

International House
Himself
1933
The Musical Doctor
Dr. Vallee
1932

Rudy Vallee Melodies
Self
1932

Kitty from Kansas City
Singer with Handlebar Moustache
1931

Betty Co-ed
Himself
1931
Campus Sweethearts
1930

Glorifying the American Girl
Self
1929

The Vagabond Lover
Rudy Bronson
1929
Radio Rhythm
Rudy Vallee
1929