Bob Hope
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.
Photos
Movies (233)
Breakdown: 1975
2025 · (archive footage)
Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII
2025 · Self - Host (archive footage)
Sally
2025 · Self (archive footage)
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
2022 · Self (archive footage)
Rat Pack
2022 · Self (archive footage)
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
2021 · Self (archive footage)
Howard
2018 · Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
This Is Bob Hope...
2017 · Self (archive footage)
The Fabulous Allan Carr
2017 · Self (archive footage)
Mansfield 66/67
2017
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
2016 · Self
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
2014 · Self (archive footage)
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
2010 · Self
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
2010 · Self (archive footage)
The Best of Johnny Carson
2010 · Self (archive footage)
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009 · Self (archive footage)
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
2008 · Self
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
2006 · Self (archive footage)
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
2005 · Self
Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown
2004 · Self (archive)
Judy Garland: By Myself
2004 · Self (archive footage)
Christmas from Hollywood
2003 · Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
2003 · Self (archive footage)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
2003 · Self
100 Years of Hope and Humor
2003 · Self
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
2002 · Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
2002 · Self (archive footage)
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
2002 · Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001 · Self (archive footage)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001 · Self (archive footage)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
2000 · Self (archive footage)
Buñuel in Hollywood
2000 · Self (archive footage)
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
1999 · (archive footage)
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
1999 · Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999 · Self (archive footage)
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1998 · Self - Roastee (archive footage)
Vaudeville
1997 · Self (archive footage)
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997 · Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
1996 · Self - Co-Host
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
1995 · Self
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995 · Self (archive footage)
That's Entertainment! III
1994 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
Shanks for the Memory
1994
That Little Monster
1994 · Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
A Century of Cinema
1994 · Self
Liberation
1994 · Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
1993 · Self
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years
1993 · Self
Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
1993 · Self
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
1992 · Self, Executive Producer
Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files
1992 · (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
1991 · Self
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
1991 · Self, Executive Producer
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
1990 · Self
Dors: The Other Diana
1990
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990 · Self (archive footage)
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990 · Self
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
1989 · Self - Host, Executive Producer
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
1989 · Self
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
1989 · Self
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
1988 · Self, Executive Producer
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
1988 · Self (archive footage)
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988 · Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988 · Self
Just a Song and Dance
1987
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987 · Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986 · Self
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986 · Self
A Masterpiece of Murder
1986 · Dan Dolan
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986 · Self
Classic Comedy Teams
1986 · Self (archive footage)
Spies Like Us
1985 · Self
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985 · Self (archive footage)
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
1984 · Self - Host
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984 · Self
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
1984 · Self
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
1983 · Self
James Bond: The First 21 Years
1983 · Self
Happy Birthday, Bob!
1983 · Self
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983 · Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Showbiz Goes to War
1982 · Self (archive footage)
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
1982 · Self
Let Poland Be Poland
1982 · Self
The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
1981 · Himself
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
1981 · Himself
A Tribute to Dr. Shock
1980 · Self (archive footage)
Lucy Moves to NBC
1980 · Self
Bob Hope on the Road to China
1979 · Self - Host
The Muppet Movie
1979 · Ice Cream Vendor
Leif
1979 · Self
The Hollywood Clowns
1979 · Self (archive footage)
Derby Fever USA
1979 · Self
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
1978 · Self
Mickey's 50
1978 · Self
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
1978 · Self
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
1978 · Self
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
1977 · Host / Barf Vader
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977 · Self
The George Burns One-Man Show
1977 · Self
Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl
1977 · Self
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
1977 · Self
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
1976
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976 · Self
NBC: The First Fifty Years
1976 · Self
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976 · Self - Host, Executive Producer
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star-Spangled Spectacular
1976 · Self
Joys
1976 · Self, Executive Producer
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975 · Self
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975 · Self (archive footage)
Mitzi & 100 Guys
1975 · Self
Hearts and Minds
1974 · Self (archive footage)
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974 · Self - Host
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling
1973 · Self
The Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special
1973 · Self - Host
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973 · Commentator
Cancel My Reservation
1972 · Dan Bartlett, Executive Producer
Richard
1972 · Self (archive)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
1972 · Self (archive footage)
Festival at Ford's
1971 · Self
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
1971 · Self
The Great Radio Comedians
1971 · Self (archive footage)
The Bob Hope Christmas Special
1971 · Self
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
1970 · Self
Honor America Day
1970 · Self
Raquel!
1970 · Self
Swing Out, Sweet Land
1970 · Self
Roberta
1969 · Huck Haines, Executive Producer
How to Commit Marriage
1969 · Frank Benson
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
1968 · Self
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
1968 · Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
Carnival Nights
1968 · Self
The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
1968 · Self
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
1968 · Self
Eight on the Lam
1967 · Henry Dimsdale
Bob Hope Comedy Special
1967
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
1966 · Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
Murder at N.B.C.
1966
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
1966 · Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
The Oscar
1966 · Bob Hope
Bob Hope Christmas Show
1965 · Self, Associate Producer
The Jack Benny Hour
1965 · Bob Hope / Marcello
I'll Take Sweden
1965 · Bob Holcomb
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
1964 · Bill Blakely
A Global Affair
1964 · Frank Larrimore
The Sound of Laughter
1963 · Bing Fawcett - Plumber
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
1963 · Self
Call Me Bwana
1963 · Matt
Critic's Choice
1963 · Parker Ballantine
The Road to Hong Kong
1962 · Chester Babcock
The Bing Crosby Show
1961 · Self
Bachelor in Paradise
1961 · Adam J. Niles
Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers
1961 · Self - Narrator
The Facts of Life
1960 · Larry Gilbert
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
1960 · Self
Alias Jesse James
1959 · Milford Farnsworth, Executive Producer
Some of Manie's Friends
1959
The All-Star Christmas Show
1958 · Self
Paris Holiday
1958 · Robert Leslie Hunter, Story, Producer
Beau James
1957 · Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956 · Himself/Ricky Ricardo
The Iron Petticoat
1956 · Captain Chuck Lockwood
That Certain Feeling
1956 · Francis X. Dignan
The Awful Truth
1956 · Jerry Warner
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
1956 · Influential Man
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956 · Self
The Seven Little Foys
1955 · Eddie Foy
Playing Fields Association: Cricket
1955 · Self
Casanova's Big Night
1954 · Pippo Popolino
Here Come the Girls
1953 · Stanley Snodgrass
Scared Stiff
1953 · Skeleton (uncredited)
Off Limits
1952 · Wally Hogan
Road to Bali
1952 · Harold Gridley
Son of Paleface
1952 · Peter Potter Jr.
The Greatest Show on Earth
1952 · Spectator (uncredited)
My Favorite Spy
1951 · Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
The Lemon Drop Kid
1951 · Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
Fancy Pants
1950 · Humphrey
Screen Actors
1950 · Self (uncredited)
You Can Change The World
1950 · Self
The Great Lover
1949 · Freddie Hunter
Sorrowful Jones
1949 · Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
The Paleface
1948 · 'Painless' Peter Potter
Road to Rio
1947 · Hot Lips Barton
Where There's Life
1947 · Michael Joseph Valentine
Is Everybody Listening?
1947 · Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
Variety Girl
1947 · Bob Hope
My Favorite Brunette
1947 · Ronnie Jackson, Writer, Producer
Monsieur Beaucaire
1946 · Monsieur Beaucaire
Road to Utopia
1946 · Chester Hooton
Hollywood Victory Caravan
1945 · Bob Hope
Story of G.I. Joe
1945 · Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
Road to Home
1945 · Self
The All-Star Bond Rally
1945 · Self - Host
The Princess and the Pirate
1944 · Sylvester the Great
Memo for Joe
1944 · Self
Let's Face It
1943 · Jerry Walker
Show-Business at War
1943 · Self
Don't Hook Now
1943 · Self
They Got Me Covered
1943 · Robert Kittredge
Strictly G.I.
1943 · Self - Master of Ceremonies
A Welcome to Britain
1943 · Self (uncredited)
Combat America
1943 · Self
Road to Morocco
1942 · Orville Jackson
Bob's Busy Day
1942 · Bob
My Favorite Blonde
1942 · Larry Haines
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942 · Bob Hope
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
1942 · Self
Louisiana Purchase
1941 · Jim Taylor
Nothing but the Truth
1941 · Steve Bennett
Caught in the Draft
1941 · Don Bolton
Road to Zanzibar
1941 · Fearless
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940 · Self - Master of Ceremonies
The Ghost Breakers
1940 · Larry Lawrence
Road to Singapore
1940 · Ace Lannigan
The Cat and the Canary
1939 · Wally Campbell
Some Like It Hot
1939 · Nicky Nelson
Never Say Die
1939 · John Kidley
Thanks for the Memory
1938 · Steve Merrick
Give Me a Sailor
1938 · Jim Brewster
College Swing
1938 · Bud Brady
The Big Broadcast of 1938
1938 · Buzz Fielding
Calling All Tars
1936 · Bobby
Shop Talk
1936 · Robert Hope Jr.
Double Exposure
1935 · Photographer / Robert
Watch the Birdie
1935 · Bob
The Old Grey Mayor
1935 · Bob
Paree, Paree
1934 · Peter
Soup for Nuts
1934 · Master of Ceremonies
Going Spanish
1934 · Bob
Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972
· Bob Hope
TV shows (58)
O.J.: Made in America
2016 · Self (archive footage)
Pebble Mill
1991 · Self
Los Simpson
1989 · Bob Hope (voice)
The Jim Henson Hour
1989 · Self
The Golden Girls
1985 · Bob Hope
Highway to Heaven
1984 · Sycopomp
Late Night with David Letterman
1982 · Self
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980 · Self
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978 · Self
The Captain and Tennille
1976 · Self - Guest
The Muppet Show
1976 · Self - Special Guest Star
Donny & Marie
1976 · Self
People's Choice Awards
1975 · Self - Presenter
Dinah!
1974 · Self
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973 · Self
Midi trente
1972 · Self
V.I.P. Schaukel
1971 · Self
Great Performances
1971 · Self
Treffpunkte
1970 · Self
The Barbara McNair Show
1969 · Self
The Johnny Cash Show
1969 · Self
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969 · Self
The Dick Cavett Show
1968 · Self - Guest
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968 · Self (uncredited)
The Carol Burnett Show
1967 · Self (uncredited), Self - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
The Danny Thomas Hour
1967 · Makeup Man
The Pruitts of Southampton
1966 · Library Patron
Get Smart
1965 · Room Service Attendant (uncredited)
The Hollywood Palace
1964 · Self
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963 · Self - Host, Executive Producer
The Lucy Show
1962 · Plumber's Assistant
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host, Self
The DuPont Show of the Week
1961 · Self
Kraft Music Hall
1958 · Self
The Dick Clark Show
1958 · Self
Frank Sinatra Show
1957 · Self
The Thin Man
1957 · Bob Hope (uncredited)
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957 · Self
The Steve Allen Show
1956 · Self
Tony Awards
1956 · Self
Cinépanorama
1956 · Self
Screen Director's Playhouse
1955 · Bob Hope (uncredited)
The Chevy Show
1955 · Self
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Self
Project XX
1954 · Narrator
The Oscars
1953 · Self
I Love Lucy
1951 · Bob Hope
The Red Skelton Show
1951 · Bob Hope
The Jack Benny Program
1950 · Bob Hope, Bob Hope / Clyde
Lux Video Theatre
1950 · Self - Lux Video Theatre Guest, Self - Intermission Guest
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950 · Self, Self - Host
The Bob Hope Show
1950 · Self - Host
What's My Line?
1950 · Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self
Golden Globe Awards
1944 · Self - Presenter
Talking Comedy