Named in numerous polls as the "Outstanding Entertainer of the 20th Century," Bob Hope was surely America's best-loved comedian. In a remarkably lengthy career he conquered every medium, and for several years in the 1940s and '50s was among the movies' biggest box-office stars. His onscreen personality was that of an immature smart aleck who was a coward at heart -- but his public recognized that heart as a big one and loved him unreservedly.

Born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham in Southeast London in 1903, he was brought to Cleveland, Ohio, by his family at age four. Starting out in vaudeville, he made his mark on Broadway in Roberta in 1933 and became a name on radio around the same time. His feature-film debut came in The Big Broadcast of 1938 (1938), in which he shared a duet with Shirley Ross of "Thanks for the Memory," which would become his theme song.

After a few other films, Paramount cast Hope in the movie that would establish his ongoing popularity: Road to Singapore (1940), costarring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. The threesome clicked so beautifully that the modestly made picture became a surprise smash and the team went on to make six more Road movies. The films were full of ad-libs and inside jokes, but it was the Crosby/Hope chemistry that made them special; film historian David Shipman wrote that the teaming "works immaculately with, at their best, a combined sympathy/timing that is unequalled by any other screen partnership."

Hope's other Paramount successes of the 1940s included Nothing But the Truth (1941) with Paulette Goddard; My Favorite Blonde (1942) with Madeleine Carroll and its follow-up, My Favorite Brunette (1947) with Lamour; and his biggest hit without Crosby, The Paleface (1948), a comic Western with Jane Russell in which Hope sings the Oscar®-winning "Buttons and Bows." The '50s saw him partnered with friend Lucille Ball in another Western romp, Fancy Pants (1950); with Joan Fontaine in Casanova's Big Night (1954); and, most surprisingly, Katharine Hepburn in The Iron Petticoat (1956). According to later quotes from the two stars, Hope enjoyed the collaboration but Hepburn did not. Hope later reteamed with Lucille Ball in the '60s for The Facts of Life (1960) and Critic's Choice (1963) and co-starred with comedienne Phyllis Diller in Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! (1966).

From 1953 through 1994, Hope did annual Christmas specials, many of which were broadcasts of his shows for armed forces troops stationed throughout the world. Over the years, Hope entertained troops serving throughout Europe (in the 40s) in Korea (the 50s) and in Vietnam (60s and 70s). Even during peacetime, Hope would bring his USO shows to soldiers stationed around the world. While he did not have as many close calls at the front as Martha Raye (who often seemed to be leading the troops) Hope came close. Many of his numerous humanitarian awards stem from his performances for US service personnel, for which he earned the moniker, 'The USO's Ambassador of Good Will'. In 1983, at 80, Hope once more hit the road, this time traveling to Lebanon, where a peacekeeping force; and nearing age 90, Hope even went to the Persian Gulf prior to the war to liberate Kuwait.

Hope has been the intimate of presidents since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, although his politics usually were associated with Republicans. Nevertheless, Roosevelt and every president since have laughed at his zings. He was an avid golfer and sponsored the Bob Hope Desert Classic, and in addition to his numerous charitable causes, Hope was often considered one of the wealthiest members of the Hollywood community, with investments in oil and real estate as well as his entertainment industry income. His image as a tame tweaker of contemporary foibles has been bolstered by his skillful comic timing and legions of gag writers through the years. He was also the author or co-author of 10 books, including his 1990 autobiography, Don't Shoot, It's Only Me.

Hope's last feature-film appearance was a surprise cameo in the Chevy Chase-Dan Aykroyd comedy Spies Like Us (1985). He had appeared in his first TV special for NBC in 1950, beginning a record-holding four-decade-plus run on that network. Noted for repeatedly hosting the Oscar® ceremonies and entertaining the troops in several wars, he was the author of several humorous memoirs. Married to sometimes-singer Dolores Hope since 1934, he died at age 100 in 2003.

by Roger Fristoe & TCMdb biographical data