Acting · Eltham, London, England, UK · Born May 29, 1903
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.
MovieBreakdown: 1975
2025
as Self - Co-Host, 47th Academy Awards (archive footage)
MovieSally
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MovieKids' TV: The Surprising Story
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MovieRat Pack
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBoulevard! A Hollywood Story
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHoward
2018
as Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
MovieThis Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Fabulous Allan Carr
2017
as Self (archive)
MovieMansfield 66/67
2017
TVO.J.: Made in America
2016
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBob Hope: Entertaining the Troops
2016
as Self
MovieJayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBing Crosby: Rediscovered
2014
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
2010
as Self
MovieDalí & Disney: A Date with Destino
2010
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Best of Johnny Carson
2010
as Self (archive footage)
Movie1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year
2009
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJohnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
2008
as Self
MovieThe Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
MovieFrankie Laine: An American Dreamer
2006
as Self (archive footage)
MoviePioneers of Primetime
2005
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
2005
as Self
MovieElf: Christmas in Tinseltown
2004
as Self (archive)
MovieJudy Garland: By Myself
2004
as Self (archive footage)
MovieChristmas in Hollywood
2003
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter
2003
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBiography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
2003
as Self
100 Years of Hope and Humor
2003
as Self
MovieEdith Head: The Paramount Years
2002
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBob Hope and the Road to Success
2002
as Self (archive footage)
Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO
2002
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHollywood Musicals of the 40's
2000
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBuñuel in Hollywood
2000
as Self (archive footage)
MovieHidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults
1999
as (archive footage)
Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died
1999
as Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1998
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
MovieVaudeville
1997
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThe Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender
1997
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
1996
as Self - Co-Host
Radio Star - Die AFN-Story
1995
as Self
MovieThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
as Self (archive footage)
MovieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
as (archive footage)
MovieShanks for the Memory
1994
MovieThat Little Monster
1994
as Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
MovieA Century of Cinema
1994
as Self
MovieLiberation
1994
as Self (archive footage)
Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories
1993
as Self
Bob Hope: The First 90 Years
1993
as Self
MovieBob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio
1992
as Self
Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files
1992
as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II
1991
as Self
Pebble Mill
1991
as Self
MovieBob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia
1991
as Self
MovieYou're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
1990
as Self
MovieDors: The Other Diana
1990
MovieThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic
1990
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration
1990
as Self
TVThe Simpsons
1989
as Bob Hope (voice)
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
1989
as Self - Host
MovieMiss Piggy's Hollywood
1989
as Self
TVThe Jim Henson Hour
1989
as Self
Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party!
1989
as Self
MovieBob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show
1988
as Self
MovieThe Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind
1988
as Self (archive footage)
MovieIrving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988
as Self
MovieHappy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
as Self
Just a Song and Dance
1987
MovieHappy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987
as Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986
as Self
MovieTV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986
as Self
A Masterpiece of Murder
1986
as Dan Dolan
MovieKraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986
as Self
MovieClassic Comedy Teams
1986
as Self (archive footage)
MovieSpies Like Us
1985
as Self
TVThe Golden Girls
1985
as Bob Hope
MovieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour
1984
as Self - Host
TVHighway to Heaven
1984
as Sycopomp
MovieThe Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team
1984
as Self
Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut
1984
as Self
MovieGeorge Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
1983
as Self
MovieJames Bond: The First 21 Years
1983
as Self
MovieHappy Birthday, Bob!
1983
as Self
MovieHollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
1983
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MovieShowbiz Goes to War
1982
as Self (archive footage)
Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny
1982
as Self
TVLate Night with David Letterman
1982
as Self
MovieLet Poland Be Poland
1982
as Self
MovieThe George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special
1981
as Himself
MovieA Love Letter to Jack Benny
1981
as Himself
TVBarbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters
1980
as Self
MovieA Tribute to Dr. Shock
1980
as Self (archive footage)
MovieLucy Moves to NBC
1980
as Self
Bob Hope on the Road to China
1979
as Self - Host
MovieThe Muppet Movie
1979
as Ice Cream Vendor
MovieLeif
1979
as Self
MovieThe Hollywood Clowns
1979
as Self (archive footage)
Derby Fever USA
1979
as Self
TVThe Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
MovieSteve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy
1978
as Self
MovieMickey's 50
1978
as Self
MoviePat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special
1978
as Self
MovieNBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney
1978
as Self
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
1977
as Host / Barf Vader
The Royal Variety Performance 1977
1977
as Self
MovieThe George Burns One-Man Show
1977
as Self
MovieAnn-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl
1977
as Self
MovieThe Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
1977
as Self
MovieBob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
1976
MovieCBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976
as Self
MovieNBC: The First Fifty Years
1976
as Self
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self - Host
TVThe Captain and Tennille
1976
as Self - Guest
TVThe Muppet Show
1976
as Self - Special Guest Star
Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular
1976
as Self
MovieJoys
1976
as Self
TVDonny & Marie
1976
as Self
Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television
1975
as Self
MovieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
MovieMitzi & 100 Guys
1975
as Self
TVPeople's Choice Awards
1975
as Self - Presenter
MovieHearts and Minds
1974
as Self (archive footage)
The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards
1974
as Self - Host
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
TVThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
MovieAnn-Margret: When You're Smiling
1973
as Self
MovieThe Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special
1973
as Self - Host
Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)
1973
as Commentator
MovieCancel My Reservation
1972
as Dan Bartlett
MovieRichard
1972
as Self (archive)
TVMidi trente
1972
as Self
MovieHollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
as Self (archive footage)
Festival at Ford's
1971
as Self
MovieThe Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
1971
as Self
The Great Radio Comedians
1971
as Self (archive footage)
V.I.P. Schaukel
1971
as Self
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Self
The Bob Hope Christmas Special
1971
as Self
Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special
1970
as Self
MovieHonor America Day
1970
as Self
Treffpunkte
1970
as Self
MovieRaquel!
1970
as Self
MovieSwing Out, Sweet Land
1970
as Self
Roberta
1969
as Huck Haines
The Barbara McNair Show
1969
as Self
MovieHow to Commit Marriage
1969
as Frank Benson
TVThe Johnny Cash Show
1969
as Self
TVThe Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour
1969
as Self
MovieThe Dean Martin Christmas Show
1968
as Self
TVThe Dick Cavett Show
1968
as Self - Guest
MovieThe Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
1968
as Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
MovieCarnival Nights
1968
as Self
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self (uncredited)
MovieThe Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO
1968
as Self
MovieRowan & Martin at the Movies
1968
as Self
TVThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
as Self (uncredited)
TVThe Danny Thomas Hour
1967
as Makeup Man
MovieEight on the Lam
1967
as Henry Dimsdale
Bob Hope Comedy Special
1967
MovieNot With My Wife, You Don't!
1966
as Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
Murder at N.B.C.
1966
TVThe Pruitts of Southampton
1966
as Library Patron
MovieBoy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!
1966
as Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
MovieThe Oscar
1966
as Bob Hope
Bob Hope Christmas Show
1965
as Self
MovieThe Jack Benny Hour
1965
as Bob Hope / Marcello
TVGet Smart
1965
as Room Service Attendant (uncredited)
MovieI'll Take Sweden
1965
as Bob Holcomb
MovieThe Lucille Ball Comedy Hour
1964
as Bill Blakely
MovieA Global Affair
1964
as Frank Larrimore
TVThe Hollywood Palace
1964
as Self
MovieThe Sound of Laughter
1963
as Bing Fawcett - Plumber
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
as Self - Host
MovieA Bob Hope Comedy Special
1963
as Self
MovieCall Me Bwana
1963
as Matt
MovieCritic's Choice
1963
as Parker Ballantine
TVThe Lucy Show
1962
as Plumber's Assistant
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
MovieThe Road to Hong Kong
1962
as Chester Babcock
MovieThe Bing Crosby Show
1961
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
MovieBachelor in Paradise
1961
as Adam J. Niles
TVThe DuPont Show of the Week
1961
as Self
MovieProject XX: The Story of Will Rogers
1961
as Self - Narrator
MovieThe Facts of Life
1960
as Larry Gilbert
MovieHedda Hopper's Hollywood
1960
as Self
MovieAlias Jesse James
1959
as Milford Farnsworth
Some of Manie's Friends
1959
MovieThe All-Star Christmas Show
1958
as Self
TVKraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
MovieParis Holiday
1958
as Robert Leslie Hunter
TVThe Dick Clark Show
1958
as Self
TVFrank Sinatra Show
1957
as Self
TVThe Thin Man
1957
as Self (uncredited)
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957
as Self
MovieBeau James
1957
as Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
MovieThe Bob Hope Chevy Show
1956
as Himself/Ricky Ricardo
MovieThe Iron Petticoat
1956
as Captain Chuck Lockwood
TVThe Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self - Guest
MovieThat Certain Feeling
1956
as Francis X. Dignan
TVTony Awards
1956
as Self
MovieThe Awful Truth
1956
as Jerry Warner
TVCinépanorama
1956
as Self
MovieShowdown at Ulcer Gulch
1956
as Influential Man
MovieLucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
as Self
TVScreen Director's Playhouse
1955
as Bob Hope (uncredited)
TVThe Chevy Show
1955
as Self
MovieThe Seven Little Foys
1955
as Eddie Foy
MoviePlaying Fields Association: Cricket
1955
as Self
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Self
TVProject XX
1954
as Narrator
MovieCasanova's Big Night
1954
as Pippo Popolino
MovieHere Come the Girls
1953
as Stanley Snodgrass
MovieScared Stiff
1953
as Skeleton (uncredited)
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
MovieOff Limits
1952
as Wally Hogan
MovieRoad to Bali
1952
as Harold Gridley
MovieSon of Paleface
1952
as Peter Potter Jr.
MovieThe Greatest Show on Earth
1952
as Spectator (uncredited)
MovieMy Favorite Spy
1951
as Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
TVI Love Lucy
1951
as Bob Hope
TVThe Red Skelton Show
1951
as Bob Hope
MovieThe Lemon Drop Kid
1951
as Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
TVThe Jack Benny Program
1950
as Bob Hope
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Self - Lux Video Theatre Guest
TVThe Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
MovieFancy Pants
1950
as Humphrey
Screen Actors
1950
as Self (uncredited)
TVThe Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self - Host
MovieYou Can Change The World
1950
as Self
TVWhat's My Line?
1950
as Self
MovieThe Great Lover
1949
as Freddie Hunter
MovieSorrowful Jones
1949
as Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
MovieThe Paleface
1948
as 'Painless' Peter Potter
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
MovieRoad to Rio
1947
as Hot Lips Barton
MovieWhere There's Life
1947
as Michael Joseph Valentine
Is Everybody Listening?
1947
as Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
MovieVariety Girl
1947
as Bob Hope
MovieMy Favorite Brunette
1947
as Ronnie Jackson
MovieMonsieur Beaucaire
1946
as Monsieur Beaucaire
MovieRoad to Utopia
1946
as Chester Hooton
MovieHollywood Victory Caravan
1945
as Bob Hope
MovieStory of G.I. Joe
1945
as Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
Road to Home
1945
as Self
MovieThe All-Star Bond Rally
1945
as Self - Host
MovieThe Princess and the Pirate
1944
as Sylvester the Great
MovieMemo for Joe
1944
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Presenter
MovieLet's Face It
1943
as Jerry Walker
MovieShow-Business at War
1943
as Self
Don't Hook Now
1943
as Self
MovieThey Got Me Covered
1943
as Robert Kittredge
MovieStrictly G.I.
1943
as Self - Master of Ceremonies
MovieA Welcome to Britain
1943
as Self (uncredited)
MovieCombat America
1943
as Self
MovieRoad to Morocco
1942
as Orville Jackson
MovieBob's Busy Day
1942
as Bob
MovieMy Favorite Blonde
1942
as Larry Haines
MovieStar Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Bob Hope
MovieHedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4
1942
as Self
MovieLouisiana Purchase
1941
as Jim Taylor
MovieNothing but the Truth
1941
as Steve Bennett
MovieCaught in the Draft
1941
as Don Bolton
MovieRoad to Zanzibar
1941
as Fearless
MovieCavalcade of the Academy Awards
1940
as Self - Master of Ceremonies
MovieThe Ghost Breakers
1940
as Larry Lawrence
MovieRoad to Singapore
1940
as Ace Lannigan
MovieThe Cat and the Canary
1939
as Wally Campbell
MovieSome Like It Hot
1939
as Nicky Nelson
MovieNever Say Die
1939
as John Kidley
MovieThanks for the Memory
1938
as Steve Merrick
MovieGive Me a Sailor
1938
as Jim Brewster
MovieCollege Swing
1938
as Bud Brady
MovieThe Big Broadcast of 1938
1938
as Buzz Fielding
MovieCalling All Tars
1936
as Bobby
MovieShop Talk
1936
as Robert Hope Jr.
MovieDouble Exposure
1935
as Photographer / Robert
Watch the Birdie
1935
as Bob
MovieThe Old Grey Mayor
1935
as Bob
MovieParee, Paree
1934
as Peter
MovieSoup for Nuts
1934
as Master of Ceremonies
MovieGoing Spanish
1934
as Bob
Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972
as Bob Hope
Talking Comedy
