Rudy Vallee
Acting • Born 1901-07-28 – Died 1986-07-06
Biography
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.
Filmography
79 credits
International House
Movie • 1933
Himself
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Movie • 1947
Lynn Sargent
People Are Funny
Movie • 1946
Ormsby Jamison
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Movie • 1967
Jasper B. Biggley
The Palm Beach Story
Movie • 1942
John D. Hackensacker III
Unfaithfully Yours
Movie • 1948
August Henshler
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Movie • 1947
Tommy Chamberlain
I Remember Mama
Movie • 1948
Dr. Johnson
Second Fiddle
Movie • 1939
Roger Maxwell
The Admiral Was a Lady
Movie • 1950
Peter Pedigrew
The Phynx
Movie • 1970
Rudy Vallee
Live a Little, Love a Little
Movie • 1968
Louis Penlow
My Dear Secretary
Movie • 1948
Charles Harris
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Movie • 1949
Charles Hingleman
Hansel and Gretel
Movie • 1958
Father
Time Out for Rhythm
Movie • 1941
Daniel 'Danny' Collins
So This Is New York
Movie • 1948
Herbert Daley
Slashed Dreams
Movie • 1975
Proprietor
Mother Is a Freshman
Movie • 1949
John Heaslip
Father Was a Fullback
Movie • 1949
Mr. Jessup
Betty Co-ed
Movie • 1931
Himself
Rudy Vallee Melodies
Movie • 1932
Self
Gold Diggers in Paris
Movie • 1938
Terry Moore
Glorifying the American Girl
Movie • 1929
Self
George White's Scandals
Movie • 1934
Jimmy Martin
Happy Go Lucky
Movie • 1943
Alfred Monroe
11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"
Movie • 1944
Himself - Bandleader
The Vagabond Lover
Movie • 1929
Rudy Bronson
Sweet Music
Movie • 1935
Skip Houston
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
Movie • 1995
Self (archive footage)
Man Alive
Movie • 1945
Gordon Tolliver
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Movie • 1984
(archive footage)
The Golden Twenties
Movie • 1950
Self (archive footage)
Rodeo Dough
Movie • 1940
Rudy Vallee
It's in the Bag!
Movie • 1945
Rudy Vallee
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Movie • 1955
Rudy Vallee
Too Many Blondes
Movie • 1941
Dick Kerrigan
Men Who Rate a 10
Movie • 1980
Self
Hollywood on Parade No. B-9
Movie • 1934
Self
Ricochet Romance
Movie • 1954
Worthington Higgenmacher
A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
Movie • 1935
Himself (uncredited)
Breakdowns of 1938
Movie • 1938
Rudy (archive footage) (uncredited)
Things You Never See on the Screen
Movie • 1935
Self
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Movie • 1975
Self (archive footage)
The Fabulous Suzanne
Movie • 1946
Hendrick Courtney Jr.
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform
Movie • 1943
Himself
Jazz Ball
Movie • 1956
Self (archive footage)
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
Movie • 1942
Kitty from Kansas City
Movie • 1931
Singer with Handlebar Moustache
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Movie • 2015
Self (archive footage)
The Musical Doctor
Movie • 1932
Dr. Vallee
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Movie • 1968
Opening Narrator (voice)
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Movie • 1976
Autograph Hound
Radio Rhythm
Movie • 1929
Rudy Vallee
The Perfect Woman
Movie • 1981
Tock
Campus Sweethearts
Movie • 1930
Lydia
Movie
Barker
The Helen Morgan Story
Movie • 1957
Self
CHiPs
TV • 1977
Arthur Forbinger
Here's Lucy
TV • 1968
Rudy Vallee
December Bride
TV • 1954
The Colgate Comedy Hour
TV • 1950
Self
Batman
TV • 1966
Lord Marmaduke Ffogg
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Petticoat Junction
TV • 1963
The Merv Griffin Show
TV • 1962
Self
The Chicago Teddy Bears
TV • 1971
Your Show of Shows
TV • 1950
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Co-Host
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV • 1948
Self
The Name of the Game
TV • 1968
Myron Lesser
Kraft Television Theatre
TV • 1947
Bromley
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
TV • 1957
Rudy Vallee
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
TV • 1987
Self
What's My Line?
TV • 1950
Self - Panelist
Ellery Queen
TV • 1975
Alvin Winer
Night Gallery
TV • 1970
Dr. Francis Deeking