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.

Filmography

• 2025Breakdown: 1975 — Self - Co-Host, 47th Academy Awards (archive footage), Self (archive footage)
• 2018Howard — Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
• 2017Mansfield 66/67
• 2006The Best of Carson, Volume 1
• 2005Pioneers of Primetime
• 1999Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults — (archive footage)
• 1994Shanks for the Memory
• 1994That Little Monster — Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
• 1994That's Entertainment! III — (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1992Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio — Self, Executive Producer
• 1992Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files — (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1991Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia — Self, Executive Producer
• 1990Dors: The Other Diana
• 1989Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy — Self - Host, Executive Producer
• The Simpsons — Bob Hope (voice)
• 1988Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show — Self, Executive Producer
• 1987Just a Song and Dance
• 1986A Masterpiece of Murder — Dan Dolan
• The Golden Girls — Bob Hope
• Highway to Heaven — Sycopomp
• 1979The Muppet Movie — Ice Cream Vendor
• 1977The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special — Host / Barf Vader
• 1976Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special
• 1976Bob Hope's World of Comedy — Self - Host, Executive Producer
• 1976Joys — Self, Executive Producer
• 1973Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective) — Commentator
• 1972Cancel My Reservation — Dan Bartlett, Executive Producer
• 1969How to Commit Marriage — Frank Benson
• 1969Roberta — Huck Haines, Executive Producer
• 1968The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell — Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
• 1967Bob Hope Comedy Special
• 1967Eight on the Lam — Henry Dimsdale
• The Danny Thomas Hour — Makeup Man
• 1966Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! — Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
• 1966Murder at N.B.C.
• 1966The Oscar — Bob Hope
• The Pruitts of Southampton — Library Patron
• 1965Bob Hope Christmas Show — Self, Associate Producer
• Get Smart — Room Service Attendant (uncredited)
• 1965I'll Take Sweden — Bob Holcomb
• 1965The Jack Benny Hour — Bob Hope / Marcello
• 1964A Global Affair — Frank Larrimore
• 1964The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour — Bill Blakely
• Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre — Self - Host, Executive Producer
• 1963Call Me Bwana — Matt
• 1963Critic's Choice — Parker Ballantine
• 1963The Sound of Laughter — Bing Fawcett - Plumber
• The Lucy Show — Plumber's Assistant
• 1962The Road to Hong Kong — Chester Babcock
• 1961Bachelor in Paradise — Adam J. Niles
• 1960The Facts of Life — Larry Gilbert
• 1959Alias Jesse James — Milford Farnsworth, Executive Producer
• 1959Some of Manie's Friends
• 1958Paris Holiday — Robert Leslie Hunter, Story, Producer
• 1957Beau James — Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
• The Thin Man — Bob Hope (uncredited)
• 1956Showdown at Ulcer Gulch — Influential Man
• 1956That Certain Feeling — Francis X. Dignan
• 1956The Awful Truth — Jerry Warner
• 1956The Bob Hope Chevy Show — Himself/Ricky Ricardo
• 1956The Iron Petticoat — Captain Chuck Lockwood
• Screen Director's Playhouse — Bob Hope (uncredited)
• 1955The Seven Little Foys — Eddie Foy
• 1954Casanova's Big Night — Pippo Popolino
• Project XX — Narrator
• 1953Here Come the Girls — Stanley Snodgrass
• 1953Scared Stiff — Skeleton (uncredited)
• 1952Off Limits — Wally Hogan
• 1952Road to Bali — Harold Gridley
• 1952Son of Paleface — Peter Potter Jr.
• 1952The Greatest Show on Earth — Spectator (uncredited)
• I Love Lucy — Bob Hope
• 1951My Favorite Spy — Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
• 1951The Lemon Drop Kid — Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
• The Red Skelton Show — Bob Hope
• 1950Fancy Pants — Humphrey
• The Jack Benny Program — Bob Hope, Bob Hope / Clyde
• 1949Sorrowful Jones — Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
• 1949The Great Lover — Freddie Hunter
• 1948The Paleface — 'Painless' Peter Potter
• 1947Is Everybody Listening? — Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
• 1947My Favorite Brunette — Ronnie Jackson, Writer, Producer
• 1947Road to Rio — Hot Lips Barton
• 1947Variety Girl — Bob Hope
• 1947Where There's Life — Michael Joseph Valentine
• 1946Monsieur Beaucaire — Monsieur Beaucaire
• 1946Road to Utopia — Chester Hooton
• 1945Hollywood Victory Caravan — Bob Hope
• 1945Story of G.I. Joe — Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
• 1944The Princess and the Pirate — Sylvester the Great
• 1943Let's Face It — Jerry Walker
• 1943They Got Me Covered — Robert Kittredge
• 1942Bob's Busy Day — Bob
• 1942My Favorite Blonde — Larry Haines
• 1942Road to Morocco — Orville Jackson
• 1942Star Spangled Rhythm — Bob Hope
• 1941Caught in the Draft — Don Bolton
• 1941Louisiana Purchase — Jim Taylor
• 1941Nothing but the Truth — Steve Bennett
• 1941Road to Zanzibar — Fearless
• 1940Road to Singapore — Ace Lannigan
• 1940The Ghost Breakers — Larry Lawrence
• 1939Never Say Die — John Kidley
• 1939Some Like It Hot — Nicky Nelson
• 1939The Cat and the Canary — Wally Campbell
• 1938College Swing — Bud Brady
• 1938Give Me a Sailor — Jim Brewster
• 1938Thanks for the Memory — Steve Merrick
• 1938The Big Broadcast of 1938 — Buzz Fielding
• 1936Calling All Tars — Bobby
• 1936Shop Talk — Robert Hope Jr.
• 1935Double Exposure — Photographer / Robert
• 1935The Old Grey Mayor — Bob
• 1935Watch the Birdie — Bob
• 1934Going Spanish — Bob
• 1934Paree, Paree — Peter
• 1934Soup for Nuts — Master of Ceremonies
• Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972 — Bob Hope
• Talking Comedy

Appearances as themselves (172)

• 2025Miles, Morale and Memories: Bob Hope and WWII — Self - Host (archive footage)
• 2025Sally — Self (archive footage)
• 2022Kids' TV: The Surprising Story — Self (archive footage)
• 2022Rat Pack — Self (archive footage)
• 2021Boulevard! A Hollywood Story — Self (archive footage)
• 2017The Fabulous Allan Carr — Self (archive footage)
• 2017This Is Bob Hope... — Self (archive footage)
• 2016Bob Hope: Entertaining the Troops — Self
• O.J.: Made in America — Self (archive footage)
• 2015Jayne Mansfield: The Tragedy of a Blonde — Self (archive footage)
• 2014Bing Crosby: Rediscovered — Self (archive footage)
• 2010Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials — Self
• 2010Dalí & Disney: A Date with Destino — Self (archive footage)
• 2010The Best of Johnny Carson — Self (archive footage)
• 20091939: Hollywood's Greatest Year — Self (archive footage)
• 2008Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas — Self
• 2006Frankie Laine: An American Dreamer — Self (archive footage)
• 2005Legendary Christmas Entertainers — Self
• 2004Elf: Christmas in Tinseltown — Self (archive)
• 2004Judy Garland: By Myself — Self (archive footage)
• 2003100 Years of Hope and Humor — Self
• 2003Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer — Self
• 2003Bob Hope: The Road to Laughter — Self (archive footage)
• 2003Christmas from Hollywood — Self (archive footage)
• 2002Bob Hope and the Road to Success — Self (archive footage)
• 2002Edith Head: The Paramount Years — Self (archive footage)
• 2002Entertaining the Troops: Bob Hope & the USO — Self (archive footage)
• 2001The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1 — Self (archive footage)
• 2001The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2 — Self (archive footage)
• 2000Buñuel in Hollywood — Self (archive footage)
• 2000Hollywood Musicals of the 40's — Self (archive footage)
• 1999Behind The Music: The Day The Music Died — Self (archive footage)
• 1999Television: The First Fifty Years — Self (archive footage)
• 1998The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts — Self - Roastee (archive footage)
• 1997The Silver Screen: Color Me Lavender — Self (archive footage)
• 1997Vaudeville — Self (archive footage)
• 1996Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents — Self - Co-Host
• 1995Radio Star - Die AFN-Story — Self
• 1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies — Self (archive footage)
• 1994A Century of Cinema — Self
• 1994Liberation — Self (archive footage)
• 1993Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories — Self
• 1993Bob Hope: The First 90 Years — Self
• 1993Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie — Self
• Pebble Mill — Self
• 1991Stars and Stripes: Hollywood and World War II — Self
• 1990Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration — Self
• 1990The Wonderful Wizard of Oz: 50 Years of Magic — Self (archive footage)
• 1990You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story — Self
• 1989Bob Hope's Super Bowl Party! — Self
• 1989Miss Piggy's Hollywood — Self
• The Jim Henson Hour — Self
• 1988Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC — Self
• 1988Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration — Self
• 1988The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind — Self (archive footage)
• 1987Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood — Self
• 1986All Star Party for Clint Eastwood — Self
• 1986Classic Comedy Teams — Self (archive footage)
• 1986Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special — Self
• 1986TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines — Self
• 1985Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers — Self (archive footage)
• 1985Spies Like Us — Self
• 1984Bob Hope's USO Christmas in Beirut — Self
• 1984It's Ho-Ho Hope's Jolly Christmas Hour — Self - Host
• 1984The Stars Salute the U.S. Olympic Team — Self
• 1983George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business — Self
• 1983Happy Birthday, Bob! — Self
• 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1983James Bond: The First 21 Years — Self
• Late Night with David Letterman — Self
• 1982Let Poland Be Poland — Self
• 1982Showbiz Goes to War — Self (archive footage)
• 1982Women I Love: Beautiful But Funny — Self
• 1981A Love Letter to Jack Benny — Himself
• 1981The George Burns (Early) Early, Early Christmas Special — Himself
• 1980A Tribute to Dr. Shock — Self (archive footage)
• Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters — Self
• 1980Lucy Moves to NBC — Self
• 1979Bob Hope on the Road to China — Self - Host
• 1979Derby Fever USA — Self
• 1979Leif — Self
• 1979The Hollywood Clowns — Self (archive footage)
• 1978Mickey's 50 — Self
• 1978NBC Salutes the 25th Anniversary of the Wonderful World of Disney — Self
• 1978Pat Boone and Family: A Thanksgiving Special — Self
• 1978Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy — Self
• The Kennedy Center Honors — Self
• 1977Ann-Margret: Rhinestone Cowgirl — Self
• 1977The George Burns One-Man Show — Self
• 1977The Royal Variety Performance 1977 — Self
• 1977The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here? — Self
• 1976Bob Hope's Bicentennial Star Spangled Spectacular — Self
• 1976CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years — Self
• Donny & Marie — Self
• 1976NBC: The First Fifty Years — Self
• The Captain and Tennille — Self - Guest
• The Muppet Show — Self - Special Guest Star
• 1975Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? — Self (archive footage)
• 1975Mitzi & 100 Guys — Self
• People's Choice Awards — Self - Presenter
• 1975Texaco Presents: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television — Self
• Dinah! — Self
• 1974Hearts and Minds — Self (archive footage)
• 1974The 1974 Annual Las Vegas Entertainment Awards — Self - Host
• 1973Ann-Margret: When You're Smiling — Self
• 1973The Bob Hope Mardi Gras Special — Self - Host
• The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts — Self
• 1972Hollywood: The Dream Factory — Self (archive footage)
• Midi trente — Self
• 1972Richard — Self (archive)
• 1971Festival at Ford's — Self
• Great Performances — Self
• 1971The Bob Hope Christmas Special — Self
• 1971The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World — Self
• 1971The Great Radio Comedians — Self (archive footage)
• V.I.P. Schaukel — Self
• 1970Honor America Day — Self
• 1970Jack Benny's 20th Anniversary TV Special — Self
• 1970Raquel! — Self
• 1970Swing Out, Sweet Land — Self
• Treffpunkte — Self
• The Barbara McNair Show — Self
• The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour — Self
• The Johnny Cash Show — Self
• 1968Carnival Nights — Self
• 1968Rowan & Martin at the Movies — Self
• Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In — Self (uncredited)
• 1968The Bob Hope Christmas Special: Around the World with the USO — Self
• 1968The Dean Martin Christmas Show — Self
• The Dick Cavett Show — Self - Guest
• The Carol Burnett Show — Self (uncredited), Self - Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
• 1966Not With My Wife, You Don't! — Self - USO Christmas Show (archive footage) (uncredited)
• The Hollywood Palace — Self
• 1963A Bob Hope Comedy Special — Self
• The Merv Griffin Show — Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Self
• 1961Project XX: The Story of Will Rogers — Self - Narrator
• 1961The Bing Crosby Show — Self
• The DuPont Show of the Week — Self
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self - Co-Host
• 1960Hedda Hopper's Hollywood — Self
• Kraft Music Hall — Self
• 1958The All-Star Christmas Show — Self
• The Dick Clark Show — Self
• Frank Sinatra Show — Self
• Tonight Starring Jack Paar — Self
• Cinépanorama — Self
• 1956Lucy's Really Lost Moments — Self
• The Steve Allen Show — Self
• Tony Awards — Self
• 1955Playing Fields Association: Cricket — Self
• The Chevy Show — Self
• The Wonderful World of Disney — Self
• The Oscars — Self
• Lux Video Theatre — Self - Intermission Guest, Self - Lux Video Theatre Guest
• 1950Screen Actors — Self (uncredited)
• The Bob Hope Show — Self - Host
• The Colgate Comedy Hour — Self, Self - Host
• What's My Line? — Self
• 1950You Can Change The World — Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show — Self
• 1945Road to Home — Self
• 1945The All-Star Bond Rally — Self - Host
• Golden Globe Awards — Self - Presenter
• 1944Memo for Joe — Self
• 1943A Welcome to Britain — Self (uncredited)
• 1943Combat America — Self
• 1943Don't Hook Now — Self
• 1943Show-Business at War — Self
• 1943Strictly G.I. — Self - Master of Ceremonies
• 1942Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 4 — Self
• 1940Cavalcade of the Academy Awards — Self - Master of Ceremonies