Bob Hope
Acting • Born 1903-05-29 – Died 2003-07-27
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. 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.
Filmography
287 credits
Mitzi & 100 Guys
Movie • 1975
Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Movie • 1985
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
Movie • 1988
Self
The Muppet Movie
Movie • 1979
Ice Cream Vendor
The Princess and the Pirate
Movie • 1944
Sylvester the Great
Son of Paleface
Movie • 1952
Peter Potter Jr.
Road to Morocco
Movie • 1942
Orville Jackson
The Road to Hong Kong
Movie • 1962
Chester Babcock
Road to Zanzibar
Movie • 1941
Hubert 'Fearless' Frazier
Road to Rio
Movie • 1947
Hot Lips Barton
The Lemon Drop Kid
Movie • 1951
Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
Spies Like Us
Movie • 1985
Self
The Seven Little Foys
Movie • 1955
Eddie Foy
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
Movie • 1978
Self
Road to Bali
Movie • 1952
Harold Gridley
Paris Holiday
Movie • 1958
Robert Leslie Hunter
The Hollywood Clowns
Movie • 1979
Self (archive footage)
The Iron Petticoat
Movie • 1956
Captain Chuck Lockwood
Road to Singapore
Movie • 1940
Ace Lannigan
Road to Utopia
Movie • 1946
Chester Hooton
The Ghost Breakers
Movie • 1940
Larry Lawrence
The Big Broadcast of 1938
Movie • 1938
Buzz Fielding
Monsieur Beaucaire
Movie • 1946
Monsieur Beaucaire
Shop Talk
Movie • 1936
Robert Hope Jr.
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
Movie • 1991
Self
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Movie • 1968
Self
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
Movie • 1966
Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
The Facts of Life
Movie • 1960
Larry Gilbert
I'll Take Sweden
Movie • 1965
Bob Holcomb
Where There's Life
Movie • 1947
Michael Joseph Valentine
Alias Jesse James
Movie • 1959
Milford Farnsworth
The Paleface
Movie • 1948
'Painless' Peter Potter
My Favorite Brunette
Movie • 1947
Ronnie Jackson
The Cat and the Canary
Movie • 1939
Wally Campbell
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
Movie • 2005
Self
Showbiz Goes to War
Movie • 1982
(archive footage)
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
Movie • 1956
Influential Man
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Movie • 2004
Adam J. Niles in Bachelor in Paradise (archive footage)
Bachelor in Paradise
Movie • 1961
Adam J. Niles
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Movie • 1983
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
Movie • 1971
Self
Fancy Pants
Movie • 1950
Humphrey / Arthur Tyler
The Oscar
Movie • 1966
Bob Hope
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
Movie • 1978
Self
Sorrowful Jones
Movie • 1949
Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
Casanova's Big Night
Movie • 1954
Pippo Popolino
Critic's Choice
Movie • 1963
Parker Ballantine
The Great Radio Comedians
Movie • 1971
Self (archive footage)
Nothing but the Truth
Movie • 1941
Steve Bennett
My Favorite Blonde
Movie • 1942
Larry Haines
Louisiana Purchase
Movie • 1941
Jim Taylor
Beau James
Movie • 1957
Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
Is Everybody Listening?
Movie • 1947
Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
My Favorite Spy
Movie • 1951
Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
Movie • 1993
Self
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Movie • 1970
Self
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
Movie • 1968
Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
Caught in the Draft
Movie • 1941
Don Bolton
Call Me Bwana
Movie • 1963
Matt
Star Spangled Rhythm
Movie • 1942
Bob Hope
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Movie • 1972
Self (archive footage)
How to Commit Marriage
Movie • 1969
Frank Benson
Off Limits
Movie • 1952
Wally Hogan
They Got Me Covered
Movie • 1943
Robert Kittredge
Cancel My Reservation
Movie • 1972
Dan Bartlett
A Global Affair
Movie • 1964
Frank Larrimore
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
Movie • 1989
Self - Host
Never Say Die
Movie • 1939
John Kidley
Variety Girl
Movie • 1947
Bob Hope
Here Come the Girls
Movie • 1953
Stanley Snodgrass
College Swing
Movie • 1938
Bud Brady
Roberta
Movie • 1969
Huck Haines
Going Spanish
Movie • 1934
Bob
The Great Lover
Movie • 1949
Freddie Hunter
Give Me a Sailor
Movie • 1938
Jim Brewster
Some Like It Hot
Movie • 1939
Nicky Nelson
That Certain Feeling
Movie • 1956
Francis X. Dignan
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling
Movie • 1973
Self
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
Movie • 1996
Self - Co-Host
Double Exposure
Movie • 1935
Photographer / Robert
Let's Face It
Movie • 1943
Jerry Walker
Thanks for the Memory
Movie • 1938
Steve Merrick
Road to Home
Movie • 1945
Self
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
Movie • 1942
Self
Watch the Birdie
Movie • 1935
Bob
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage)
Howard
Movie • 2018
Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
Some of Manie's Friends
Movie • 1959
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Movie • 1988
Self
Hearts and Minds
Movie • 1974
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
Movie • 1976
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Movie • 2003
Self
Paree, Paree
Movie • 1934
Peter
The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
Movie • 1981
Himself
Rat Pack
Movie • 2022
Self (archive footage)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Movie • 1990
Self
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Movie • 2016
Self
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Movie • 2002
(archive footage)
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Movie • 1976
Self
Calling All Tars
Movie • 1936
Bobby
The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
Movie • 1968
Self
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
Movie • 2006
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Movie • 1990
Self
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
Movie • 2002
Self (archive footage)
The Jack Benny Hour
Movie • 1965
Bob Hope / Marcello
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
Movie • 2002
Self (archive footage)
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
Movie • 1984
Self - Host
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Movie • 1986
Self
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Movie • 1960
Self
Christmas in Hollywood
Movie • 2003
Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
Movie • 1999
Self (archive footage)
Derby Fever USA
Movie • 1979
Self
Eight on the Lam
Movie • 1967
Henry Dimsdale
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
Movie • 1966
Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Movie • 1986
Self
Strictly G.I.
Movie • 1943
Self - Master of Ceremonies
A Welcome to Britain
Movie • 1943
Self (uncredited)
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Movie • 2006
Self (archive footage)
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
Movie • 1989
Self
Raquel!
Movie • 1970
Self
Scared Stiff
Movie • 1953
Skeleton (uncredited)
The Greatest Show on Earth
Movie • 1952
Spectator (uncredited)
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
Movie • 2008
Self
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Movie • 1978
Self
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
Movie • 1983
Self
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
Movie • 1968
Self
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
Movie • 2010
Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
Movie • 1994
(archive footage)
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Movie • 1945
Bob Hope
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Movie • 2010
Self
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Movie • 2000
Self (archive footage)
Joys
Movie • 1976
Self
The Bing Crosby Show
Movie • 1961
Self
Lucy Moves to NBC
Movie • 1980
Self
This Is Bob Hope...
Movie • 2017
Self (archive footage)
That Little Monster
Movie • 1994
Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Movie • 1964
Bill Blakely
Show-Business at War
Movie • 1943
Self
Judy Garland: By Myself
Movie • 2004
Self (archive footage)
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Movie • 1940
Self - Master of Ceremonies
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie • 1975
Self (archive footage)
The All-Star Bond Rally
Movie • 1945
Self - Host
Bob's Busy Day
Movie • 1942
Bob
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Movie • 1970
Self
Combat America
Movie • 1943
Self
You Can Change The World
Movie • 1950
Self
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Movie • 1988
Self (archive footage)
Memo for Joe
Movie • 1944
Self
The Old Grey Mayor
Movie • 1935
Bob
A Masterpiece of Murder
Movie • 1986
Dan Dolan
Leif
Movie • 1979
Self
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Movie • 1956
Self
Happy Birthday, Bob!
Movie • 1983
Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Movie • 1988
Self
Story of G.I. Joe
Movie • 1945
Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Movie • 2009
Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Movie • 1997
Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Movie • 2014
Self (archive footage)
A Century of Cinema
Movie • 1994
Self
The Sound of Laughter
Movie • 1963
Bing Fawcett - Plumber
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic
Movie • 1990
Self (archive footage)
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
Movie • 1999
Self (archive footage)
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Movie • 1973
Commentator
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Movie • 2001
Self (archive footage)
Screen Actors
Movie • 1950
Self (uncredited)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Movie • 1998
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
Playing Fields Association: Cricket
Movie • 1955
Self
Liberation
Movie • 1994
Self (archive footage)
Let Poland Be Poland
Movie • 1982
Self
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
Movie • 1977
Host / Barf Vader
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
Movie • 1984
Self
Bob Hope on the Road to China
Movie • 1979
Self - Host
A Tribute to Dr. Shock
Movie • 1980
Self (archive footage)
The Bob Hope Christmas Special
Movie • 1971
Self
Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972
Movie
Bob Hope
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
Movie • 1989
Self
Festival at Ford's
Movie • 1971
Self
Honor America Day
Movie • 1970
Self
Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl
Movie • 1977
Self
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Movie • 1976
Self
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Movie • 1982
Self
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Movie • 1974
Self - Host
The Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special
Movie • 1973
Self - Host
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Movie • 1975
Self
Shanks for the Memory
Movie • 1994
Bob Hope Christmas Show
Movie • 1965
Self
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Movie • 1956
Himself/Ricky Ricardo
Murder at N.B.C.
Movie • 1966
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
Movie • 1963
Self
Bob Hope Comedy Special
Movie • 1967
Buñuel in Hollywood
Movie • 2000
Self (archive footage)
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie • 1987
Self
Mickey's 50
Movie • 1978
Self
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
Movie • 1999
(archive footage)
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
Movie • 1991
Self
Pioneers of Primetime
Movie • 2005
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Movie • 1984
Self
The Best of Johnny Carson
Movie • 2010
Self (archive footage)
Sally
Movie • 2025
Self (archive footage)
The All-Star Christmas Show
Movie • 1958
Self
Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers
Movie • 1961
Self - Narrator
Dors: The Other Diana
Movie • 1990
Just a Song and Dance
Movie • 1987
Carnival Nights
Movie • 1968
Self
Don't Hook Now
Movie • 1943
Self
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
Movie • 1995
Self
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Movie • 1983
Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Movie • 1986
Self
Classic Comedy Teams
Movie • 1986
Self (archive footage)
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
Movie • 1981
Himself
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
Movie • 1977
Self
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
Movie • 1992
Self
Breakdown: 1975
Movie • 2025
Self - Co-Host, 47th Academy Awards (archive footage)
NBC: The First Fifty Years
Movie • 1976
Self
The Awful Truth
Movie • 1956
Jerry Warner
Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files
Movie • 1992
Soup for Nuts
Movie • 1934
Master of Ceremonies
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
Movie • 1977
Self
The George Burns One-Man Show
Movie • 1977
Self
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Bob Hope (voice)
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
The Lucy Show
TV • 1962
Plumber's Assistant
Highway to Heaven
TV • 1984
Sycopomp
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
I Love Lucy
TV • 1951
Bob Hope
Donny & Marie
TV • 1976
Self
The Muppet Show
TV • 1976
Self - Special Guest Star
Late Night with David Letterman
TV • 1982
Self
The Hollywood Palace
TV • 1964
Self
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV • 1968
Self (uncredited)
The Johnny Cash Show
TV • 1969
Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
TV • 1969
Self
Kraft Music Hall
TV • 1958
Self
The Thin Man
TV • 1957
Self (uncredited)
Frank Sinatra Show
TV • 1957
Self
The DuPont Show of the Week
TV • 1961
Self
The Steve Allen Show
TV • 1956
Self - Guest
Pebble Mill
TV • 1991
Self
The Barbara McNair Show
TV • 1969
Self
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
TV • 1980
Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
TV • 1978
Self
The Captain and Tennille
TV • 1976
Self - Guest
The Chevy Show
TV • 1955
Self
The Dick Clark Show
TV • 1958
Self
O.J.: Made in America
TV • 2016
Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
TV • 1963
Self - Host
The Jack Benny Program
TV • 1950
Bob Hope
The Bob Hope Show
TV • 1950
Self - Host
Startime
TV • 1959
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Co-Host
The Carol Burnett Show
TV • 1967
Self (uncredited)
The Carol Burnett Show
TV • 1967
Self - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
The Pruitts of Southampton
TV • 1966
Library Patron
The Jack Benny Program
TV • 1950
Self / Clyde
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
TV • 1957
Self
The Red Skelton Show
TV • 1951
Self - Cameo
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self - Host
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Self - Intermission Guest
Lux Video Theatre
TV • 1950
Self - Lux Video Theatre Guest
The Golden Girls
TV • 1985
Bob Hope
V.I.P. Schaukel
TV • 1971
Self
Midi trente
TV • 1972
Self
The Jack Benny Program
TV • 1950
Self
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self
Cinépanorama
TV • 1956
Self
The Dick Cavett Show
TV • 1968
Self - Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Self
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
TV • 1973
Self
Screen Director's Playhouse
TV • 1955
Bob Hope (uncredited)
The Jim Henson Hour
TV • 1989
Himself
Treffpunkte
TV • 1970
Self
Great Performances
TV • 1971
Self
Project XX
TV • 1954
Narrator
Golden Globe Awards
TV • 1944
Self - Presenter
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV • 1968
Self (uncredited)
Talking Comedy
TV
The Danny Thomas Hour
TV • 1967
Makeup Man
People's Choice Awards
TV • 1975
Self - Presenter
Get Smart
TV • 1965
Room Service Attendant (uncredited)