Bob Hope
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
The Simpsons
Bob Hope (voice)
1989
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter
1944
Series
Great Performances
Self
1971
Series
Tony Awards
Self
1956
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
Self - Host
1963
Series
Get Smart
Room Service Attendant (uncredited)
1965
Series
The Dick Cavett Show
Self - Guest
1968
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Bob Hope
1951
Series
The Golden Girls
Bob Hope
1985
Series
The Lucy Show
Plumber's Assistant
1962
Series
I Love Lucy
Bob Hope
1951
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self (uncredited)
1967
Series
The Carol Burnett Show
Self - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
1967
Series
What's My Line?
Self
1950
Series
Highway to Heaven
Sycopomp
1984
Series
Late Night with David Letterman
Self
1982
Series
People's Choice Awards
Self - Presenter
1975
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
Series
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self - Host
1950
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
Self
1957
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
The Steve Allen Show
Self - Guest
1956
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self - Host
1950
Series
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
1948
Series
The Jack Benny Program
Bob Hope
1950
Series
The Jack Benny Program
Bob Hope / Clyde
1950
Series
Midi trente
Self
1972
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Pebble Mill
Self
1991
Series
The Muppet Show
Self - Special Guest Star
1976
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Self (uncredited)
1968
Series
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self
1978
Series
Kraft Music Hall
Self
1958
Series
Cinépanorama
Self
1956
Series
The Dick Clark Show
Self
1958
Series
The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
Self
1969
V.I.P. Schaukel
Self
1971
Series
Donny & Marie
Self
1976
Series
Screen Director's Playhouse
Bob Hope (uncredited)
1955
Series
The Hollywood Palace
Self
1964
Series
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self
1973
Series
The Thin Man
Self (uncredited)
1957
Series
The Jim Henson Hour
Self
1989
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Intermission Guest
1950
Lux Video Theatre
Self - Lux Video Theatre Guest
1950
Film
Spies Like Us
Self
1985
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1954
Series
Project XX
Narrator
1954
Film
The Muppet Movie
Ice Cream Vendor
1979
Series
The Johnny Cash Show
Self
1969
Series
The Captain and Tennille
Self - Guest
1976
Series
The Danny Thomas Hour
Makeup Man
1967
Series
The Pruitts of Southampton
Library Patron
1966
Film
The Oscar
Bob Hope
1966
Series
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage)
2016
Series
Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
Self
1980
Film
The Greatest Show on Earth
Spectator (uncredited)
1952
Film
Breakdown: 1975
Self - Co-Host, 47th Academy Awards (archive footage)
2025
Film
Breakdown: 1975
Self (archive footage)
2025
The Barbara McNair Show
Self
1969
Treffpunkte
Self
1970
Film
Let Poland Be Poland
Self
1982
Film
Mitzi & 100 Guys
Self
1975
Film
Hollywood Victory Caravan
Bob Hope
1945
Film
The Ghost Breakers
Larry Lawrence
1940
Film
That's Entertainment! III
(archive footage)
1994
Series
Frank Sinatra Show
Self
1957
Film
The Paleface
'Painless' Peter Potter
1948
Film
Howard
Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
2018
Film
Alias Jesse James
Milford Farnsworth
1959
Television: The First Fifty Years
Self (archive footage)
1999
Film
Rat Pack
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
The Princess and the Pirate
Sylvester the Great
1944
Film
My Favorite Brunette
Ronnie Jackson
1947
Film
Mickey's 50
Self
1978
Film
Scared Stiff
Skeleton (uncredited)
1953
Film
Liberation
Self (archive footage)
1994
Film
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
Film
Road to Singapore
Ace Lannigan
1940
Film
Joys
Self
1976
Film
Story of G.I. Joe
Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
1945
Series
The DuPont Show of the Week
Self
1961
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
Self - Host
1976
Film
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
The Fabulous Allan Carr
Self (archive)
2017
Film
Hearts and Minds
Self (archive footage)
1974
Film
I'll Take Sweden
Bob Holcomb
1965
Film
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
1968
Film
James Bond: The First 21 Years
Self
1983
Film
Sally
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Raquel!
Self
1970
Film
Road to Utopia
Chester Hooton
1946
Film
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
1975
Film
The Road to Hong Kong
Chester Babcock
1962
Film
Combat America
Self
1943
Film
Not With My Wife, You Don't!
Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
1966
Film
Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
Self (archive footage)
2015
Film
Bachelor in Paradise
Adam J. Niles
1961
Film
Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1983
Film
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Self (archive footage)
2014
Film
Casanova's Big Night
Pippo Popolino
1954
Film
The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
Self (archive footage)
1997
Film
Pioneers of Primetime
2005
Film
Richard
Self (archive)
1972
Film
My Favorite Spy
Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
1951
Film
Mansfield 66/67
2017
Film
The Lemon Drop Kid
Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
1951
Film
1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
Self (archive footage)
2009
Film
Vaudeville
Self (archive footage)
1997
Film
Road to Bali
Harold Gridley
1952
Film
Variety Girl
Bob Hope
1947
Film
Son of Paleface
Peter Potter Jr.
1952
Film
The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
Self (archive footage)
1995
Film
Shop Talk
Robert Hope Jr.
1936
Film
Critic's Choice
Parker Ballantine
1963
Film
Road to Rio
Hot Lips Barton
1947
Film
Call Me Bwana
Matt
1963
Film
Star Spangled Rhythm
Bob Hope
1942
Film
Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
1966
Film
Fancy Pants
Humphrey
1950
Film
The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
Self (archive footage)
1988
Film
Boulevard! A Hollywood Story
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
Off Limits
Wally Hogan
1952
Film
You Can Change The World
Self
1950
Film
This Is Bob Hope...
Self (archive footage)
2017
Film
Cancel My Reservation
Dan Bartlett
1972
Film
Judy Garland: By Myself
Self (archive footage)
2004
Film
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
Self (archive footage)
1985
Film
A Century of Cinema
Self
1994
Film
Rowan & Martin at the Movies
Self
1968
Film
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Self
1976
Film
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
Self (archive footage)
1972
Film
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
Self
1990
Film
Paris Holiday
Robert Leslie Hunter
1958
Film
The All-Star Christmas Show
Self
1958
Film
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
Self
1968
Film
Cavalcade of the Academy Awards
Self - Master of Ceremonies
1940
Film
My Favorite Blonde
Larry Haines
1942
Film
Road to Morocco
Orville Jackson
1942
A Masterpiece of Murder
Dan Dolan
1986
Film
The Cat and the Canary
Wally Campbell
1939
Film
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
Film
Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
Self
1988
Film
The Iron Petticoat
Captain Chuck Lockwood
1956
Film
NBC: The First Fifty Years
Self
1976
Film
Nothing but the Truth
Steve Bennett
1941
Film
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
Self
1971
Film
The Seven Little Foys
Eddie Foy
1955
Film
Leif
Self
1979
Film
Road to Zanzibar
Fearless
1941
Film
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood
Self
1960
Series
The Chevy Show
Self
1955
Film
College Swing
Bud Brady
1938
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
Self
1977
Film
Buñuel in Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2000
Just a Song and Dance
1987
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Self
1986
Film
Christmas in Hollywood
Self (archive footage)
2003
Film
Swing Out, Sweet Land
Self
1970
Film
The Great Lover
Freddie Hunter
1949
Film
How to Commit Marriage
Frank Benson
1969
Film
Some Like It Hot
Nicky Nelson
1939
Film
Eight on the Lam
Henry Dimsdale
1967
Film
That Certain Feeling
Francis X. Dignan
1956
Film
Sorrowful Jones
Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
1949
Film
A Global Affair
Frank Larrimore
1964
Film
Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
Self
1978
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
Self
1982
Film
Showbiz Goes to War
Self (archive footage)
1982
Film
Monsieur Beaucaire
Monsieur Beaucaire
1946
Film
Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer
Self (archive footage)
2006
Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972
Bob Hope
Film
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
Self
2008
Film
A Welcome to Britain
Self (uncredited)
1943
Film
Memo for Joe
Self
1944
Film
NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
Self
1978
Bob Hope Comedy Special
1967
Film
The Best of Johnny Carson
Self (archive footage)
2010
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
Self - Host
1989
Film
Strictly G.I.
Self - Master of Ceremonies
1943
Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files
(archive footage) (uncredited)
1992
Film
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
Self - Roastee (archive footage)
1998
Film
They Got Me Covered
Robert Kittredge
1943
Film
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
Self (archive footage)
1990
Film
Honor America Day
Self
1970
Film
Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
Self (archive footage)
2010
Film
Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl
Self
1977
Film
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self
1988
Film
The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
Self
1984
Film
Show-Business at War
Self
1943
Film
The Facts of Life
Larry Gilbert
1960
Film
Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown
Self (archive)
2004
Film
Miss Piggy's Hollywood
Self
1989
Film
Paree, Paree
Peter
1934
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
Self
1975
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
Self - Co-Host
1996
Film
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
Self
1986
Film
Never Say Die
John Kidley
1939
Film
Give Me a Sailor
Jim Brewster
1938
Film
Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling
Self
1973
Talking Comedy
Film
Where There's Life
Michael Joseph Valentine
1947
Film
The Hollywood Clowns
Self (archive footage)
1979
Film
Caught in the Draft
Don Bolton
1941
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
Host / Barf Vader
1977
Film
Kids' TV: The Surprising Story
Self (archive footage)
2022
Film
Lucy Moves to NBC
Self
1980
Film
Classic Comedy Teams
Self (archive footage)
1986
Film
Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
Self
1990
Film
Here Come the Girls
Stanley Snodgrass
1953
Film
The Sound of Laughter
Bing Fawcett - Plumber
1963
Film
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Self
2010
Film
Carnival Nights
Self
1968
Film
Let's Face It
Jerry Walker
1943
Film
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
Self
1983
Film
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
1988
Film
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
Influential Man
1956
Film
Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
(archive footage)
1999
Film
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Self
1956
Film
Soup for Nuts
Master of Ceremonies
1934
Film
The Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special
Self - Host
1973
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
Self
1989
Film
Thanks for the Memory
Steve Merrick
1938
Film
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Self (archive footage)
2000
Film
Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers
Self - Narrator
1961
Is Everybody Listening?
Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
1947
Film
The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
Bill Blakely
1964
Film
Louisiana Purchase
Jim Taylor
1941
Film
The George Burns One-Man Show
Self
1977
Festival at Ford's
Self
1971
Film
A Bob Hope Comedy Special
Self
1963
Film
Beau James
Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
1957
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
Self (archive footage)
1999
Roberta
Huck Haines
1969
Watch the Birdie
Bob
1935
Film
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Self (archive footage)
2001
Film
Dors: The Other Diana
1990
Film
The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
Self
1968
Some of Manie's Friends
1959
Don't Hook Now
Self
1943
Film
Happy Birthday, Bob!
Self
1983
The Great Radio Comedians
Self (archive footage)
1971
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
Self (archive footage)
2003
Bob Hope Christmas Show
Self
1965
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
Self
1995
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
Self
1991
Film
The Awful Truth
Jerry Warner
1956
Film
Calling All Tars
Bobby
1936
Screen Actors
Self (uncredited)
1950
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
Self
1970
Film
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Self
2003
Film
Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
Self
1942
Murder at N.B.C.
1966
Film
Shanks for the Memory
1994
Film
The Big Broadcast of 1938
Buzz Fielding
1938
Film
The Bing Crosby Show
Self
1961
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
Self
1993
100 Years of Hope and Humor
Self
2003
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years
Self
1993
Film
Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
Self
2016
Film
Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
Self
1991
Film
Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
1976
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
Self - Host
1984
Film
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
Self
1986
Bob Hope on the Road to China
Self - Host
1979
Film
A Tribute to Dr. Shock
Self (archive footage)
1980
Film
The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
Himself
1981
Film
Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
Self
1992
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
Self
2005
Film
The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
Self
1977
Film
The Jack Benny Hour
Bob Hope / Marcello
1965
Film
The Bob Hope Chevy Show
Himself/Ricky Ricardo
1956
Film
Double Exposure
Photographer / Robert
1935
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
Self
1984
Road to Home
Self
1945
The Bob Hope Christmas Special
Self
1971
Film
That Little Monster
Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
1994
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
Self - Host
1974
Film
The All-Star Bond Rally
Self - Host
1945
Film
Bob's Busy Day
Bob
1942
Film
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
Himself
1981
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
Commentator
1973
Film
The Old Grey Mayor
Bob
1935
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
Self (archive footage)
2002
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
Self
1976
Film
Going Spanish
Bob
1934
Film
Bob Hope and the Road to Success
Self (archive footage)
2002
Film
Playing Fields Association: Cricket
Self
1955
Derby Fever USA
Self
1979
Film
Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
Self
1978