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.
Photos
Movies (59)
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015 · Self (archive footage)
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
1995 · Self (archive footage)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984 · (archive footage)
The Perfect Woman
1981 · Tock
Men Who Rate a 10
1980 · Self
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976 · Autograph Hound
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975 · Self (archive footage)
Slashed Dreams
1975 · Proprietor
The Phynx
1970 · Rudy Vallee
The Night They Raided Minsky's
1968 · Opening Narrator (voice)
Live a Little, Love a Little
1968 · Louis Penlow
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
1967 · J. B. Biggley
Hansel and Gretel
1958 · Father
The Helen Morgan Story
1957 · Self
Jazz Ball
1956 · Self (archive footage)
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
1955 · Rudy Vallee
Ricochet Romance
1954 · Worthington Higgenmacher
The Admiral Was a Lady
1950 · Peter Pedigrew
The Golden Twenties
1950 · Self (archive footage)
Father Was a Fullback
1949 · Mr. Jessup
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
1949 · Charles Hingleman
Mother Is a Freshman
1949 · John Heaslip
Unfaithfully Yours
1948 · August Henshler
My Dear Secretary
1948 · Charles Harris
So This Is New York
1948 · Herbert Daley
I Remember Mama
1948 · Dr. Johnson
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
1947 · Tommy
The Unfaithful
1947 · Lyricist
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
1947 · Lynn Sargent
The Fabulous Suzanne
1946 · Hendrick Courtney Jr.
People Are Funny
1946 · Ormsby Jamison
Man Alive
1945 · Gordon Tolliver
It's in the Bag!
1945 · Rudy Vallee
11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"
1944 · Himself - Bandleader
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform
1943 · Himself
Happy Go Lucky
1943 · Alfred Monroe
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
1942
The Palm Beach Story
1942 · John D. Hackensacker III
Too Many Blondes
1941 · Dick Kerrigan
Time Out for Rhythm
1941 · Daniel 'Danny' Collins
Rodeo Dough
1940 · Rudy Vallee
Second Fiddle
1939 · Roger Maxwell
Breakdowns of 1938
1938 · Rudy (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gold Diggers in Paris
1938 · Terry Moore
Things You Never See on the Screen
1935 · Self
Sweet Music
1935 · Skip Houston
A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
1935 · Himself (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. B-9
1934 · Self
George White's Scandals
1934 · Jimmy Martin
International House
1933 · Himself
The Musical Doctor
1932 · Dr. Vallee
Rudy Vallee Melodies
1932 · Self
Kitty from Kansas City
1931 · Singer with Handlebar Moustache
Betty Co-ed
1931 · Himself
Campus Sweethearts
1930
Glorifying the American Girl
1929 · Self
The Vagabond Lover
1929 · Rudy Bronson, Songs
Radio Rhythm
1929 · Rudy Vallee
Lydia
· Barker
TV shows (20)
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
1987 · Self
CHiPs
1977 · Arthur Forbinger
Ellery Queen
1975 · Alvin Winer
The Chicago Teddy Bears
1971
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
Night Gallery
1970 · Dr. Francis Deeking
Here's Lucy
1968 · Rudy Vallee
The Name of the Game
1968 · Myron Lesser
Batman
1966 · Lord Marmaduke Ffogg
Petticoat Junction
1963
The Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self - Co-Host
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957 · Rudy Vallee
December Bride
1954
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950 · Self
Your Show of Shows
1950
What's My Line?
1950 · Self
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948 · Self
Kraft Television Theatre
1947 · Bromley