Skip to content
Join free
Bob Hope
Actor

Bob Hope

29 May 1903Born
27 Jul 2003Died
100Age at death
108Credits

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.

Read the full biography

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.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 108 credits.

  1. TBABob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972Film: Bob Hope
  2. TBATalking ComedySeries (1 episode)
  3. 2018HowardFilm: Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
  4. 2017Mansfield 66/67Film
  5. 2006The Best of Carson, Volume 1Film
  6. 2005Pioneers of PrimetimeFilm
  7. 1999Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox VaultsFilm: (archive footage)
  8. 1994That's Entertainment! IIIFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  9. 1994Shanks for the MemoryFilm
  10. 1994That Little MonsterFilm: Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
  11. 1992Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police FilesFilm: (archive footage) (uncredited)
  12. 1990Dors: The Other DianaFilm
  13. 1989The SimpsonsSeries: Bob Hope (voice) (1 episode)
  14. 1987Just a Song and DanceFilm
  15. 1986A Masterpiece of MurderFilm: Dan Dolan
  16. 1985The Golden GirlsSeries: Bob Hope (1 episode)
  17. 1984Highway to HeavenSeries: Sycopomp (1 episode)
  18. 1979The Muppet MovieFilm: Ice Cream Vendor
  19. 1977The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy SpecialFilm: Host / Barf Vader
  20. 1976Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas SpecialFilm
  21. 1973Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)Film: Commentator
  22. 1972Cancel My ReservationFilm: Dan Bartlett
  23. 1969RobertaFilm: Huck Haines
  24. 1969How to Commit MarriageFilm: Frank Benson
  25. 1968The Private Navy of Sgt. O'FarrellFilm: Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
  26. 1967The Danny Thomas HourSeries: Makeup Man (1 episode)
  27. 1967Eight on the LamFilm: Henry Dimsdale
  28. 1967Bob Hope Comedy SpecialFilm
  29. 1966Murder at N.B.C.Film
  30. 1966The Pruitts of SouthamptonSeries: Library Patron (1 episode)
  31. 1966Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!Film: Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
  32. 1966The OscarFilm: Bob Hope
  33. 1965The Jack Benny HourFilm: Bob Hope / Marcello
  34. 1965Get SmartSeries: Room Service Attendant (uncredited) (1 episode)
  35. 1965I'll Take SwedenFilm: Bob Holcomb
  36. 1964The Lucille Ball Comedy HourFilm: Bill Blakely
  37. 1964A Global AffairFilm: Frank Larrimore
  38. 1963The Sound of LaughterFilm: Bing Fawcett - Plumber
  39. 1963Call Me BwanaFilm: Matt
  40. 1963Critic's ChoiceFilm: Parker Ballantine
  41. 1962The Lucy ShowSeries: Plumber's Assistant (1 episode)
  42. 1962The Road to Hong KongFilm: Chester Babcock
  43. 1961Bachelor in ParadiseFilm: Adam J. Niles
  44. 1960The Facts of LifeFilm: Larry Gilbert
  45. 1959Alias Jesse JamesFilm: Milford Farnsworth
  46. 1959Some of Manie's FriendsFilm
  47. 1958Paris HolidayFilm: Robert Leslie Hunter
  48. 1957The Thin ManSeries: Bob Hope (uncredited) (1 episode)
  49. 1957Beau JamesFilm: Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
  50. 1956The Iron PetticoatFilm: Captain Chuck Lockwood
  51. 1956That Certain FeelingFilm: Francis X. Dignan
  52. 1956The Awful TruthFilm: Jerry Warner
  53. 1956Showdown at Ulcer GulchFilm: Influential Man
  54. 1955Screen Director's PlayhouseSeries: Bob Hope (uncredited) (1 episode)
  55. 1955The Seven Little FoysFilm: Eddie Foy
  56. 1954Project XXSeries: Narrator (1 episode)
  57. 1954Casanova's Big NightFilm: Pippo Popolino
  58. 1953Here Come the GirlsFilm: Stanley Snodgrass
  59. 1953Scared StiffFilm: Skeleton (uncredited)
  60. 1952Off LimitsFilm: Wally Hogan
  61. 1952Road to BaliFilm: Harold Gridley
  62. 1952Son of PalefaceFilm: Peter Potter Jr.
  63. 1952The Greatest Show on EarthFilm: Spectator (uncredited)
  64. 1951My Favorite SpyFilm: Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
  65. 1951I Love LucySeries: Bob Hope (1 episode)
  66. 1951The Lemon Drop KidFilm: Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
  67. 1950The Jack Benny ProgramSeries: Bob Hope, Bob Hope / Clyde (5 episodes)
  68. 1950Fancy PantsFilm: Humphrey
  69. 1949The Great LoverFilm: Freddie Hunter
  70. 1949Sorrowful JonesFilm: Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
  71. 1948The PalefaceFilm: 'Painless' Peter Potter
  72. 1947Road to RioFilm: Hot Lips Barton
  73. 1947Where There's LifeFilm: Michael Joseph Valentine
  74. 1947Is Everybody Listening?Film: Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
  75. 1947Variety GirlFilm: Bob Hope
  76. 1947My Favorite BrunetteFilm: Ronnie Jackson, Writer
  77. 1946Monsieur BeaucaireFilm: Monsieur Beaucaire
  78. 1946Road to UtopiaFilm: Chester Hooton
  79. 1945Hollywood Victory CaravanFilm: Bob Hope
  80. 1945Story of G.I. JoeFilm: Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.