Bob Hope

Bob Hope 1903-2003, American comedian, b. London as Leslie Townes Hope; he came to the United States at the age of five. Famous for his "ski-jump" nose, topical humor, superb timing, brashly irreverant attitude, and rapid-fire delivery, Hope enjoyed immense popularity. He began his show-business career as a vaudeville dancer and later appeared in plays and film, on radio and television, and in concert. In addition, he hosted the Academy Awards ceremonies a record-breaking 17 times over 38 years. Hope made more than 50 films, including seven "Road" pictures, a comic series that began with Road to Singapore (1940), which introduced his long partnership with crooner Bing Crosby and actress Dorothy Lamour, included Road to Morocco (1942), and ended with Road to Hong Kong (1962). Among Hope's other movies are Monsieur Beaucaire (1946), The Paleface (1947), The Seven Little Foys (1955), and How to Commit Marriage (1969). He also wrote books on various topics, including his overseas travels and his love of golf. After 1972 he left movies but continued as the host of numerous television variety specials. A master of the monologue and the mildly salacious one-liner, he was an indefatigable entertainer of U.S. troops overseas from the 1940s into the 1990s.

Bibliography: See his autobiographical Have Tux, Will Travel (1959) and his Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes (2003).

Hope, Bob (1903–2003) US comedian, b. England. After appearing on radio and in vaudeville, Hope made his film debut in The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1939). Road to Singapore (1940) was the first of seven ‘Road’ pictures he made with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Other films include The Paleface (1947). Hope's work for charity and humanitarian causes earned him a Presidential Medal of Freedom (1969).