Bing Crosby
Known for: Acting
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian and actor. The first multimedia star, Crosby was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1931 to 1954. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed him, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. Also in 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music. Crosby won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Father Chuck O'Malley in the 1944 motion picture Going My Way and was nominated for his reprise of the role in The Bells of St. Mary's opposite Ingrid Bergman the next year, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character. In 1963, Crosby received the first Grammy Global Achievement Award. He is one of 33 people to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recording. He was also known for his collaborations with longtime friend Bob Hope, starring in the Road to... films from 1940 to 1962. Crosby influenced the development of the postwar recording industry. After seeing a demonstration of a German broadcast quality reel-to-reel tape recorder brought to America by John T. Mullin, he invested $50,000 in a California electronics company called Ampex to build copies. He then convinced ABC to allow him to tape his shows. He became the first performer to pre-record his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape. Through the medium of recording, he constructed his radio programs with the same directorial tools and craftsmanship (editing, retaking, rehearsal, time shifting) used in motion picture production, a practice that became an industry standard. In addition to his work with early audio tape recording, he helped to finance the development of videotape, bought television stations, bred racehorses, and co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.
Filmography
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage)
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self (archive footage)
1961
Series
Top of the Pops
Self (archive footage)
1964
Series
Top of the Pops
Self - Jim Hardy (archive footage)
1964
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Winner
1944
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
George Warren
1963
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self
1967
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Guest / Various Characters
1967
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Self - Award for Best Actor
1951
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self
1968
Series
The Jack Benny Program
Bing Crosby
1950
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Series
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self
1969
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Series
The Bell Telephone Hour
Self
1959
Series
The Phil Silvers Show
Bing Crosby
1955
Series
Legends
Self (archive footage)
2006
Series
The Danny Thomas Hour
Charlie Castle
1967
Film
High Society
C. K. Dexter-Haven
1956
Film
Angels in the Outfield
Bing Crosby (uncredited)
1951
Film
The Greatest Show on Earth
Spectator (uncredited)
1952
Film
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
Narrator (segment "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")
1949
Film
Stagecoach
Doc Josiah Boone
1966
Film
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
Film
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
1994
Film
Anything Goes
Billy Crocker
1936
Film
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Waikiki Wedding
Tony Marvin
1937
Film
Let's Make Love
Bing Crosby (uncredited)
1960
Film
Holiday Inn
Jim Hardy
1942
Series
The Bing Crosby Show
Bing Collins
1964
Film
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2023
Film
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Hank Martin
1949
Series
Frank Sinatra Show
Self
1957
The Pearl Bailey Show
Self
1971
Film
Mississippi
Tom Grayson
1935
Film
Howard
Jeff Peters (archive footage)
2018
Film
White Christmas
Bob Wallace
1954
Film
Robin and the 7 Hoods
Allen A. Dale
1964
Film
Doctor Rhythm
Dr. Bill Remsen
1938
Film
Alias Jesse James
Bing (uncredited)
1959
Film
That's Entertainment!
Self - Host / Narrator
1974
Film
Variety Girl
Bing Crosby
1947
Film
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Film
Going My Way
Father Chuck O'Malley
1944
Film
High Time
Harvey Howard
1960
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
1999
Film
The Movie Orgy
Self (archive footage)
1968
Film
Paris Honeymoon
'Lucky' Lawton
1939
Film
The Country Girl
Frank Elgin
1954
Film
Pepe
Bing Crosby
1960
Film
Billboard Girl
Bing
1932
Film
Twiggy
(archival footage)
2025
Film
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Narrator
1949
Film
Road to Rio
Scat Sweeney
1947
Film
Rhythm on the River
Bob Sommers
1940
Film
The Princess and the Pirate
Margaret's Sweetheart (uncredited)
1944
Film
Riding High
Dan Brooks
1950
Film
That's Entertainment, Part II
(archive footage)
1976
Film
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Road to Bali
George Cochran
1952
Film
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Self - C.K Dexter-Haven (archive footage)
2022
Film
Road to Morocco
Jeff Peters
1942
Film
You Can Change The World
Self
1950
Film
It's Showtime
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
Confessions of a Co-Ed
Bing
1931
Film
Double or Nothing
'Lefty' Boylan
1937
Film
Going Hollywood
Bill 'Billy' Williams
1933
Film
Pennies from Heaven
Larry Poole
1936
Film
Road to Utopia
Duke Johnson
1946
Film
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
1985
Film
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
Self (archive footage)
1982
Film
Scared Stiff
Skeleton (uncredited)
1953
Film
The Road to Hong Kong
Harry Turner
1962
Film
Cancel My Reservation
Himself (uncredited)
1972
Film
Grace Kelly: The American Princess
Self (archive footage)
1987
Film
Blue Skies
Johnny Adams
1946
Film
Dixie
Daniel Decatur Emmett
1943
Film
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Mark Twain
1970
Film
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1972
Film
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
Off Limits
Bing Crosby (archive footage) (uncredited)
1952
Film
Classic Comedy Teams
Self (archive footage)
1986
Film
Welcome Stranger
Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson
1947
Film
Here Comes the Groom
Peter 'Pete' Garvey
1951
Film
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Self (archive footage)
1990
Film
Star Spangled Rhythm
Bing Crosby
1942
Film
Road to Singapore
Josh Mallon
1940
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
College Humor
Professor Frederick Danvers
1933
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
Self - Vocalist (archive footage)
1992
Film
Showbiz Goes to War
Self (archive footage)
1982
Film
The Bells of St. Mary's
Father Chuck O'Malley
1945
Film
My Favorite Brunette
Harry (uncredited)
1947
Film
King of Jazz
Trio Singer (as The Rhythm Boys)
1930
Film
Show-Business at War
Self
1943
Film
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
Self - Actor (archive footage)
2006
Film
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
Bob Wallace (archive footage)
1997
Film
Say One for Me
Father Conroy
1959
Film
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.1
Narrator / Ichabod Crane / Brom Bones (voice) (archive footage)
2003
Film
Sing, You Sinners
Joe Beebe
1938
Film
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Going Hollywood: The '30s
(archive footage)
1984
Film
Man on Fire
Earl Carleton
1957
Film
My Favorite Blonde
Man Outside Union Hall (uncredited)
1942
Film
Here Come the Waves
Johnny Cabot
1944
Film
Jolson Sings Again
Himself (voice) (uncredited)
1949
Film
They Got Me Covered
Music Box (voice)
1943
Film
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Self
1975
Film
Here Is My Heart
J. Paul Jones
1934
Film
Two for Tonight
Gilbert Gordon
1935
Film
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Bing Crosby
1945
Screen Actors
Self (uncredited)
1950
Film
Road to Zanzibar
Chuck
1941
Film
Hooray for Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
1976
Film
The Emperor Waltz
Virgil Smith
1948
Film
Son of Paleface
Driver (uncredited)
1952
Film
East Side of Heaven
Denny Martin
1939
Film
Mr. Music
Paul Merrick
1950
Film
The Star Maker
Larry Earl
1939
Film
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Self (archive footage)
2019
Film
Michael Bublé: Home For The Holidays
Self (archive footage)
2012
Film
High Tor
Van Van Dorn
1956
Film
The Hollywood Clowns
(archive footage)
1979
Film
Anything Goes
Bill Benson
1956
Film
Lifetime of Comedy
(archive footage)
1960
The Road to Victory
Bing Crosby (uncredited)
1944
Film
Out of This World
Herbie Fenton (singing voice)
1945
Film
The Sound of Laughter
Bob (Singer in Grocery Store)
1963
Film
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
Self (archive footage)
2024
Dream House
Bing Fawcett (Plumber)
1932
Film
The All-Star Christmas Show
Self
1958
Film
The Big Broadcast of 1936
Bing
1935
Film
Reaching for the Moon
Bing
1930
Film
Too Much Harmony
Eddie Bronson
1933
Film
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
Duffy's Tavern
Bing Crosby
1945
Film
One More Chance
Bing Bangs
1931
Film
Hollywood Handicap
Himself
1938
Film
Rhythm on the Range
Jeff Larabee
1936
Film
Disney's Halloween Treat
(archive footage)
1982
Film
'Twas the Night - A Holiday Celebration
Self
2004
Film
Bing Crosby's Merrie Olde Christmas
Self
1977
Film
Grace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1968
Film
We're Not Dressing
Stephen Jones
1934
Film
Just for You
Jordan Blake
1952
Film
Little Boy Lost
Bill Wainright
1953
Film
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Self (archive footage)
2000
Film
The Big Broadcast
Bing Hornsby
1932
Film
Moments in Music
Self
1950
Film
Classic Commercials: Volume 3
1998
Film
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Self - Host (archive footage)
1998
Film
Road to Hollywood
Himself
1947
Film
Hollywood on Parade No. A-2
Self
1932
Film
The March of Time
Self
1930
Film
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
Influential Man
1956
Film
Dr. Cook's Garden
Leonard Cook
1971
Film
She Loves Me Not
Paul Lawton
1934
The Great Radio Comedians
Self
1971
Film
If I Had My Way
Buzz Blackwell
1940
Film
Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show
Self (host)
1965
Film
Shanks for the Memory
1994
Film
Goldilocks
Self / Papa Bear (voice)
1970
Film
The Frank Sinatra Timex Show
Self
1959
Film
Hollywood on Parade
Self
1932
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
Self (Archive Footage)
2003
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
Self
2005
Film
Down Memory Lane
Bing Crosby
1949
Bob Hope Christmas Show
Self
1965
Film
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
Self
2007
Film
A Classic Christmas from The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1992
Film
'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
Bob Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
2000
Film
Two Plus Fours
Bing
1930
Film
Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove
Self
1934
Film
Christmas with Crosby & Kate
Himself
1966
Film
The Magic of Bing Crosby
Self (archive footage)
1991
Film
Cinerama's Russian Adventure
Narrator (voice)
1966
Film
The Grand Olympics
Himself
1961
Film
Top o' the Morning
Joe Mulqueen
1949
Film
The Bing Crosby Show
Self
1961
Film
America Applauds: An Evening for Richard Rodgers
1951
Film
Birth of the Blues
Jeff Lambert
1941
Film
The All-Star Bond Rally
Self
1945
Road to Home
Self
1945
Film
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Halloween Hall o' Fame
Narrator/Brom Bones
1977
Film
Bing Crosby: Cooling It
Self
1970
Film
Showbiz Ballyhoo
Self (archive footage)
1982
Film
The Shining Future
Self
1944
Film
The Bing Crosby Show
Self
1954
We've Got Another Bond to Buy
1945
Film
Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
Blue of the Night
Bing Crosby / Jack Smith
1931
Film
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
Self - (archive footage)
2006
Film
Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show
1973
Film
I Surrender Dear
Bing Crosby
1931
Film
Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years
Himself (archival footage)
1978
Film
Please
Howard Jones
1933
Film
Big Night Out: The Peggy Lee Show
1961
Film
The Edsel Show
Self
1957
Film
Bing Crosby: Live In Mysen, Norway
Himself
1977
Film
The Bing Crosby Show
Himself
1962
Film
Happy Holidays with Bing and Frank
Self
1957
Film
Bing Crosby: Legends in Concert
Self
2004
Film
Hollywood on Parade No. A-4
Self (uncredited)
1932
Film
Songs That Won the War
Himself (Archive)
1994
Film
The Best of Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Hollywood on Parade No. B-4
Self
1934
Swing with Bing
Himself
1940
Film
Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas
Himself
1971
Film
Sing, Bing, Sing
Bing
1933
Don't Hook Now
Self
1943