Bob Hope

Bob Hope
Bob Hope
	File:Bob Hope, 1940s (cropped).jpg Hope in the 1940s
Born	Leslie Townes Hope; 29 May 1903; Eltham, London, England
Died	27 July 2003 (aged 100); Toluca Lake, California, U.S.
Resting place	San Fernando Mission Cemetery
Occupation	Comedian, actor, singer, dancer, author, athlete
Years active	1924–1997
Spouse(s)	Page Template:Marriage/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "wikitext"). Grace Louise Troxell (m. 1933; div. 1934)Script error: No such module "Parameter validation". Page Template:Marriage/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "wikitext"). Dolores Hope (m. 1934; "his death" is deprecated; use "died" instead. 2003)Script error: No such module "Parameter validation".
Children	4
Signature
	150px

Bob Hope 1969 Publicity Photo

HopewithGroupMeetsPattonWW2

Bob Hope

Bob Hope in The Ghost Breakers trailer

Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in Road to Bali

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in Road to Bali

Bob Hope (born Leslie Townes Hope; May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, actor, singer, dancer, author, and athlete. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in over 70 short and feature films, including a series of "Road" movies co-starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. He was known for his rapid-fire delivery of jokes and his ability to entertain troops during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Hope was born in Eltham, London, England, to William Henry Hope, a stonemason, and Avis Townes, a light opera singer. The family emigrated to the United States in 1908, settling in Cleveland, Ohio. Hope became a naturalized American citizen in 1920.

Career[edit | edit source]

Vaudeville and Broadway[edit | edit source]

Hope began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s, performing in various acts and honing his comedic skills. He transitioned to Broadway in the 1930s, where he gained recognition for his performances in shows such as Roberta and Ziegfeld Follies.

Film and Radio[edit | edit source]

Hope's film career took off with the release of The Big Broadcast of 1938, in which he introduced the song "Thanks for the Memory", which became his signature tune. He starred in a series of successful films, including the "Road" series with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Hope also had a successful radio career, hosting The Pepsodent Show from 1938 to 1948.

Television[edit | edit source]

Hope was a pioneer in early television, hosting numerous specials and variety shows. His annual Bob Hope Christmas Specials were a staple of American television for decades.

USO Tours[edit | edit source]

Hope is perhaps best known for his work with the United Service Organizations (USO), entertaining American troops overseas. He made 57 tours for the USO between 1941 and 1991, earning him the nickname "America's No. 1 Soldier in Greasepaint."

Personal Life[edit | edit source]

Hope married singer Dolores Reade in 1934, and they remained together until his death. The couple adopted four children. Hope was an avid golfer and owned several properties, including a home in Palm Springs, California.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Hope received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including five honorary Academy Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Congressional Gold Medal. He was also inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame and the Television Hall of Fame.

Related Pages[edit | edit source]

Categories[edit | edit source]

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Bob Hope
File:Bob Hope, 1940s (cropped).jpg Hope in the 1940s
Born	Leslie Townes Hope (1903-05-29)29 May 1903 Eltham, London, England
Died	27 July 2003(2003-07-27) (aged 100) Toluca Lake, California, U.S.
Resting place	San Fernando Mission Cemetery
Occupation	Comedian, actor, singer, dancer, author, athlete
Years active	1924–1997
Spouse(s)	Page Template:Marriage/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "wikitext"). Grace Louise Troxell (m. 1933; div. 1934) Script error: No such module "Parameter validation". Page Template:Marriage/styles.css must have content model "Sanitized CSS" for TemplateStyles (current model is "wikitext"). Dolores Hope (m. 1934; "his death" is deprecated; use "died" instead. 2003) Script error: No such module "Parameter validation".
Children	4
Signature
150px