Rudy Vallee

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 (78 Appearances)

Lydia

TBA

Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

2015

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

1995

The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

1987

Going Hollywood: The '30s

1984

The Perfect Woman

1981

Men Who Rate a 10

1980

CHiPs

1977

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

1976

Ellery Queen

1975

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

1975

Slashed Dreams

1975

The Chicago Teddy Bears

1971

Alias Smith and Jones

1971

Night Gallery

1970

The Phynx

1970

The Night They Raided Minsky's

1968

Live a Little, Love a Little

1968

Here's Lucy

1968

The Name of the Game

1968

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

1967

Batman

1966

Petticoat Junction

1963

The Merv Griffin Show

1962

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

Hansel and Gretel

1958

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

1957

The Helen Morgan Story

1957

Jazz Ball

1956

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

1955

Ricochet Romance

1954

December Bride

1954

The Colgate Comedy Hour

1950

The Admiral Was a Lady

1950

The Golden Twenties

1950

Your Show of Shows

1950

What's My Line?

1950

Father Was a Fullback

1949

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

1949

Mother Is a Freshman

1949

My Dear Secretary

1948

Unfaithfully Yours

1948

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

So This Is New York

1948

I Remember Mama

1948

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

1947

Kraft Television Theatre

1947

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

1947

The Fabulous Suzanne

1946

People Are Funny

1946

Man Alive

1945

It's in the Bag!

1945

11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"

1944

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

1943

Happy Go Lucky

1943

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

1942

The Palm Beach Story

1942

Too Many Blondes

1941

Time Out for Rhythm

1941

Rodeo Dough

1940

Second Fiddle

1939

Breakdowns of 1938

1938

Gold Diggers in Paris

1938

Things You Never See on the Screen

1935

Sweet Music

1935

A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

1935

Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

1934

George White's Scandals

1934

International House

1933

The Musical Doctor

1932

Rudy Vallee Melodies

1932

Kitty from Kansas City

1931

Betty Co-ed

1931

Campus Sweethearts

1930

Glorifying the American Girl

1929

The Vagabond Lover

1929

Radio Rhythm

1929 Debut
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