Bob Hope
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Born

  • May 29, 1903
  • London, England

Died

  • July 27, 2003
  • Toluca Lake, CA

Real Name

  • Leslie Townes Hope

Marriages / Children

  • Dolores Reade (1934)
  • Linda
  • Anthony
  • Nora
  • Kelly

Theme Song

  • Thanks for the Memories

Home Page

Bob Hope

Though not best remembered for his singing, comedian Bob Hope never shied away from incorporating music into his act. As a performer Hope's strength lay in his innate ability to make people laugh. Never too silly, he was able to reach out to all types of people and bring smiles to their faces. Hope was America's most-loved comedian, every president's favorite golf partner, and a tireless ambassador to American troops serving their country.

Originally born in England, Hope moved to the states with his family in 1907. He began a career in vaudeville during the 1920s and made several appearances on Broadway before he had his first big success in the musical Roberta. In the late 1930s he made his initial appearance in a Hollywood film, The Big Broadcast of 1938, where he first sang his theme song, ''Thanks for the Memories.'' He later went on to become one of Paramount's leading box office draws, appearing in over fifty films, including the famous Road movies with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.

In 1938 Hope began a weekly radio show for NBC. He was a latecomer to television, not convinced it would succeed. He made his first formal television broadcast for NBC in 1950. His last was in 1996. An active supporter of the armed forces, for almost fifty years he travelled around the world to entertain American soldiers. Bob Hope passed away in 2003 from complications related to pneumonia. He was 100 years old.