Bob Hope
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 (284 Appearances)
Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972
Talking Comedy
Breakdown: 1975
Sally
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
Rat Pack
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
Howard
This Is Bob Hope...
Mansfield 66/67
O.J.: Made in America
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
The Best of Johnny Carson
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Pioneers of Primetime
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
Los Angeles Plays Itself
Judy Garland: By Myself
Christmas in Hollywood
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Buñuel in Hollywood
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
Television: The First Fifty Years
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
That's Entertainment! III
Shanks for the Memory
That Little Monster
Liberation
A Century of Cinema
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
Pebble Mill
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Dors: The Other Diana
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: The Making of a Movie Classic
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
The Simpsons
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
The Jim Henson Hour
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Just a Song and Dance
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
A Masterpiece of Murder
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Classic Comedy Teams
Spies Like Us
The Golden Girls
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
Highway to Heaven
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Happy Birthday, Bob!
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Showbiz Goes to War
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Late Night with David Letterman
Let Poland Be Poland
The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
A Tribute to Dr. Shock
Lucy Moves to NBC
Bob Hope on the Road to China
The Muppet Movie
Leif
The Hollywood Clowns
Derby Fever USA
The Kennedy Center Honors
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
Mickey's 50
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
The George Burns One-Man Show
Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
NBC: The First Fifty Years
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
The Captain and Tennille
The Muppet Show
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Joys
Donny & Marie
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Mitzi & 100 Guys
People's Choice Awards
Hearts and Minds
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Dinah!
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling
The Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Cancel My Reservation
Midi trente
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Festival at Ford's
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
The Great Radio Comedians
V.I.P. Schaukel
Great Performances
The Bob Hope Christmas Special
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Honor America Day
Treffpunkte
Raquel!
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Roberta
The Barbara McNair Show
How to Commit Marriage
The Johnny Cash Show
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
The Dick Cavett Show
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
Carnival Nights
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
The Carol Burnett Show
The Danny Thomas Hour
Eight on the Lam
Bob Hope Comedy Special
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
Murder at N.B.C.
The Pruitts of Southampton
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
The Oscar
Bob Hope Christmas Show
The Jack Benny Hour
Get Smart
I'll Take Sweden
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
A Global Affair
The Hollywood Palace
The Sound of Laughter
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
Call Me Bwana
Critic's Choice
The Lucy Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Merv Griffin Show
The Road to Hong Kong
The Mike Douglas Show
The Bing Crosby Show
Bachelor in Paradise
The DuPont Show of the Week
Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers
The Facts of Life
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Startime
Alias Jesse James
Some of Manie's Friends
The All-Star Christmas Show
Kraft Music Hall
Paris Holiday
The Dick Clark Show
Frank Sinatra Show
The Thin Man
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Beau James
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
The Iron Petticoat
The Steve Allen Show
That Certain Feeling
Tony Awards
The Awful Truth
Cinépanorama
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Screen Director's Playhouse
The Chevy Show
The Seven Little Foys
Playing Fields Association: Cricket
The Wonderful World of Disney
Project XX
Casanova's Big Night
Here Come the Girls
Scared Stiff
The Oscars
Off Limits
Road to Bali
Son of Paleface
The Greatest Show on Earth
My Favorite Spy
I Love Lucy
The Red Skelton Show
The Lemon Drop Kid
The Jack Benny Program
Lux Video Theatre
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Fancy Pants
Screen Actors
The Bob Hope Show
You Can Change The World
What's My Line?
The Great Lover
Sorrowful Jones
The Paleface
The Ed Sullivan Show
Road to Rio
Where There's Life
Is Everybody Listening?
Variety Girl
My Favorite Brunette
Monsieur Beaucaire
Road to Utopia
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Story of G.I. Joe
Road to Home
The All-Star Bond Rally
The Princess and the Pirate
Memo for Joe
Golden Globe Awards
Let's Face It
Show-Business at War
Don't Hook Now
They Got Me Covered
Combat America
Strictly G.I.
A Welcome to Britain
Road to Morocco
Bob's Busy Day
My Favorite Blonde
Star Spangled Rhythm
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
Louisiana Purchase
Nothing but the Truth
Caught in the Draft
Road to Zanzibar
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
The Ghost Breakers
Road to Singapore
The Cat and the Canary
Some Like It Hot
Never Say Die
Thanks for the Memory
Give Me a Sailor
College Swing
The Big Broadcast of 1938
Calling All Tars
Shop Talk
Double Exposure
Watch the Birdie
The Old Grey Mayor
Paree, Paree
Soup for Nuts
Going Spanish