Birth Name: Leslie Townes Hope
Born: May 29, 1903
Birth Place: Eltham, England
Nationality: English
Bio: The English-born Hope and his family emigrated to the
USA in 1907. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Hope drifted into vaudeville in the 1920s, although his early act was "song,
patter, and eccentric dancing," and his uncomplicated, reachable and relatable trademark quips and razor-sharp delivery came later. After appearing on Broadway, in short
films and on radio, Hope moved to Hollywood in 1938 where he debuted in "The Big Broadcast of 1938" and introduced his signature theme, the Oscar-winning "Thanks for
the Memories". Trading on his knack for rapid-fire wisecracking, Hope was first teamed with Bing Crosby in
"The Road to Singapore" (1940) and went on to make a total of seven "Road" movies with Crosby and Dorothy Lamour (probably the best of which is "The Road to Utopia" 1945). Famous for his "ski-slope"
nose, Hope regularly made Hollywood's list of top ten box office stars throughout the 40s and early 50s, sometimes placing second to Crosby. His star image became that of the
comic coward
caught in adventurous situations who eventually makes good and wins his leading lady's hand. His better films sans
Crosby include "The Cat and the Canary" (1939), "The Ghost Breakers" (1940), "My Favorite Brunette" (1947) and "The Paleface" (1948). Hope worked well with his many co-stars, which reads like a
who's who of Hollywood films, with a few exceptions, like Katharine Hepburn, with whom he clashed while making "The Iron Petticoat" (1956).
"If I could live my life over, I
wouldn't have time!"
In the history of show business, no individual has traveled so far, or so often, to entertain so many as comedian Bob Hope.
Bob made his show business debut in 1924 in a dancing act with partner Lloyd Durbin in a Fatty Arbuckle Revue.
He triumphed in all five major show business medias - vaudeville, stage, motion picture, radio and television and he entertained audiences in every decade of the 20thcentury.
Bob starred in 60 movies; he has been honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 5 times -but has never won an Oscar.
He hosted 284 prime time television specials with an average Nielsen rating of over a 40 share; 4 specials pulled a 70 share or better.
Bob made over 700 guest appearances on television programs and talk shows.
He made the songs "Thanks for the Memory" and "Buttons and Bows" famous the world over.
His entertainment of over 10,000,000 American GI's from 1941 to the present is legendary.
Bob was cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as "The Most Honored Entertainer" of all time with over 1,500 awards and citations for humanitarian and
professional efforts, including the "Congressional Gold Medal" the "Medal of Freedom," the "Honor of Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British
Empire," and the "Congressional Resolution 75." This last honor made Bob Hope the first American in history to be made an honorary veteran.
He personally entertained the past 11 sitting Presidents of the United States.
He received 54 Honorary Degrees including 7 Doctor of Laws, 19 Doctor of Humane Letters, and 11 Doctor of Humanities.
Bob authored 12 books, 6 of which were bestsellers, and numerous videos.
His passion for the game of golf is also legendary. For 40 years he has hosted the "Bob Hope Desert Classic" in Palm Springs, raising millions for Desert Charities.
The Library of Congress recently dedicated the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment.
Bob has been hailed by Presidents of the United States as "America's most prized ambassador of good will around the world"; he is perhaps the most beloved and popular
entertainer of the 20th century and truly a national treasure
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