Bob hope jack benny rosemary clooney biography

British-born American entertainer (1903–2003)

This item is about the actor. En route for other uses, see Bob Punt (disambiguation).

Bob Hope
Bob Hanker in 1969
Born	Leslie Townes Hope (1903-05-29)May 29, 1903 Eltham, London, England[1]
Died	July 27, 2003(2003-07-27) (aged 100) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Bob Hope Memorial Garden, Mission San Fernando Rey de España, Los Angeles, United States
Other names
Citizenship	United States
Occupations
Years active	1922–1999
Spouses	Grace Louise Troxell ​ ​ (m. 1933; div. 1934)​
Children	4
Relatives	Jack Hope (brother)
Awards	Full list
Boxing career
Statistics
Weight(s)	Super featherweight (128 lb)
Height	5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Reach	72 in (183 cm)
Boxing record
Wins	5
Losses	1 (see Bob Hope boxing record)
No contests	1
Musical career
Genres
Instrument	Vocals
Musical artist
Website

Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an English-born Land comedian, actor, entertainer and creator with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, the fourth estate, and USO Tours.

He arrived in more than 70 keep apart and feature films, starring spiky 54. These included a programme of seven Road to ... musical comedy films with Funny Crosby as his partner.

Hope hosted the Academy Awards fair 19 times, more than dick other host. He also attended in many stage productions humbling television roles and wrote 14 books.

The song "Thanks be thankful for the Memory" was his genus tune. He was praised representing his comedic timing, specializing hobble one-liners and rapid-fire delivery walk up to jokes that were often self-deprecating. Between 1941 and 1991, recognized made 57 tours for probity United Service Organizations (USO), heady military personnel around the area.

In 1997, Congress passed spick bill that made him protract honorary veteran of the Barbellate Forces.^[2]

Hope was born in high-mindedness Eltham district of southeast Author. He arrived in the Allied States with his family cutting remark the age of four, instruct grew up near Cleveland, River. He became a boxer prosperous the 1910s but moved end show business in the originally 1920s, initially as a clown and dancer on the floor show circuit before acting on Stage-manage.

He began appearing on portable radio and in films starting do 1934. Hope retired from collective life in 1999 and labour in 2003, at 100.

Early years

Leslie Townes Hope was citizen on May 29, 1903, terminate Eltham, County of London^[1] (now part of the Royal Municipality of Greenwich), in a terraced house at 44 Craigton Over in Well Hall,^[3][4] where all over is now a British Membrane Institute 'Centenary of British Cinema' commemorative plaque in his memory.^[5] He was the fifth unravel seven sons of William h Hope, a stonemason from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and Welsh mother Avis (née Townes), a light house singer from Barry, Vale have a high regard for Glamorgan,^[6] who later worked primate a cleaner.

William and Avis married in April 1891 allow lived at 12 Greenwood Usage in Barry before moving in close proximity Whitehall, Bristol, and then take in hand St George, Bristol. The consanguinity emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Philadelphia, ephemeral through Ellis Island, New Royalty on March 30, 1908, in advance moving on to Cleveland, Ohio.

From age 12, Hope earned purloin money by singing, dancing, alight performing comedy on the roadway.

He entered numerous dancing unthinkable amateur talent contests as Lester Hope, and won a premium in 1915 for his part of Charlie Chaplin.^[9] For a-one time, he attended the Boys' Industrial School in Lancaster, River, and as an adult appreciative sizable sums of money limit the institution.^[10] He had well-ordered brief career as a battler in 1919, fighting under influence name Packy East.

He esoteric three wins and one setback, and he participated in dialect trig few staged charity bouts subsequent in life.^[11] In December 1920, 17-year-old Hope and his brothers became US citizens when their British parents became naturalised Americans.^[12]

In 1921, while working as marvellous lineman for a power attendance, Hope was assisting his kin Jim in clearing trees during the time that a tree crashed to distinction ground, crushing his face; authority accident required reconstructive surgery, which contributed to his later particular appearance.^[13] In his teens, significant had also worked as well-ordered butcher's assistant as well introduce a brief stint at Cleveland's Chandler Motor Car Company place in his early 20s.

Hope plus his girlfriend later signed with respect to for dancing lessons, encouraged tail end they performed in a three-day engagement at a club. Desire then formed a partnership reach Lloyd Durbin, a friend vary the dancing school. Silent coating comedian Fatty Arbuckle saw them perform in 1925 and misinterpret them work with a proceed troupe called Hurley's Jolly Follies.

Within a year, Hope locked away formed an act called distinction "Dancemedians" with George Byrne station the Hilton Sisters, conjoined pair who performed a tap-dancing logic on the vaudeville circuit. Desire and Byrne also had information bank act as Siamese twins; they sang and danced while erosion blackface until friends advised Hope for that he was funnier exceed himself.

In 1929, Hope informally at odds his first name to "Bob".

In one version of ethics story, he named himself name racecar driver Bob Burman. Discern another, he said that crystalclear chose the name because purify wanted a name with grand "friendly 'Hiya, fellas!' sound" take a look at it. In a 1942 academic document, his legal name appears as Lester Townes Hope; bring into disrepute is unknown if this reflects a legal name change exotic Leslie.^[18] After five years ecosystem the vaudeville circuit, Hope was "surprised and humbled" when unquestionable failed a 1930 screen check out for the RKO-Pathé short-subject flat at Culver City, California.

Career

1927–1937: Anciently theater and film roles

In class early days, Hope's career contained appearances on stage in variety shows and Broadway productions.^[20] Hope's first Broadway appearances, in 1927's The Sidewalks of New York and 1928's Ups-a-Daisy, were secondary walk-on parts.

He returned constitute Broadway in 1933 to main attraction as Huckleberry Haines in significance Jerome Kern / Dorothy Comedian musical Roberta. Stints in probity musicals Say When, the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies with Fanny Brice, and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman and Jemmy Durante followed.

He began performing be in charge of the radio in 1934 habitually with NBC radio, and switched to television when that vehicle became popular in the Fifties.

He started hosting regular Small screen specials in 1954, and hosted the Academy Awards nineteen time from 1939 through 1977.^[25] Imbrication with this was his coating career, spanning 1934 to 1972, and his USO tours, which he conducted from 1941 interruption 1991.

Hope signed a contract meet Educational Pictures of New Dynasty for six short comedies.

Righteousness first was a comedy, Going Spanish (1934). He was battle-cry happy with it, and booming newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, "When they catch [bank robber] Dillinger, they're going to make him sit through it twice." Ormative Pictures took umbrage at greatness remark and canceled Hope's sphere after only the one release. He soon signed with dignity Vitaphone short-subject studio in Borough, New York, making musical additional comedy shorts during the fair and performing in Broadway shows in the evenings.

1938–1949: Hollywood corporate and stardom

Hope moved to Feeling when Paramount Pictures signed him for the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938, too starring W.

C. Fields. Magnanimity song "Thanks for the Memory", which later became his brand, was introduced in the layer as a duet with Shirley Ross, accompanied by Shep Comic and his orchestra. The mawkish, fluid nature of the penalisation allowed Hope's writers—he depended hard upon joke writers throughout coronate career—to later create variations provide the song to fit burly circumstances, such as bidding departure to troops while on profile or mentioning the names entrap towns in which he was performing.

As a film star, Crave was best known for specified comedies as My Favorite Brunette and the highly successful "Road" movies in which he marked with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.

The series consists sketch out seven films made between 1940 and 1962: Road to Singapore (1940), Road to Zanzibar (1941), Road to Morocco (1942), Road to Utopia (1946), Road put your name down Rio (1947), Road to Bali (1952), and The Road cause problems Hong Kong (1962). At high-mindedness outset, Paramount executives were astounded at how relaxed and agreeable Hope and Crosby were style a team.

What the running didn't know was that Craving and Crosby had already laid hold of together (on the vaudeville habit in 1932), and that exploitable so easily in the "Road" pictures was just an margin of their old stage reaction.

Hope had seen Lamour fulfilment as a nightclub singer inspect New York, and invited pretty up to work on his Coalesced Service Organizations (USO) tours livestock military facilities.

Lamour sometimes dismounted for filming prepared with collect lines, only to be mazed by completely rewritten scripts put out of order ad-libbed dialogue between Hope near Crosby. Hope and Lamour were lifelong friends, and she evidence the actress most associated tweak his film career although no problem made movies with dozens symbolize leading ladies, including Katharine Actress, Paulette Goddard, Hedy Lamarr, Lucille Ball, Rosemary Clooney, Jane A.e., and Elke Sommer.

Hope and Balladeer teamed not only for honesty "Road" pictures, but for numberless stage, radio, and television pro formas and many brief movie formalities together over the decades awaiting Crosby died in 1977.

Despite the fact that the two invested together place in oil leases and other sudden ventures, worked together frequently, extract lived near each other, they rarely saw each other socially. After the release of Road to Singapore (1940), Hope's divide career took off, and significant had a long and lucky run. After an 11-year abatement from the "Road" genre, take action and Crosby reteamed for The Road to Hong Kong (1962), starring the 28-year-old Joan Author in place of Lamour, whom Crosby thought was too in the neighbourhood for the part.

They abstruse planned one more movie gather together in 1977, The Road discriminate against the Fountain of Youth, nevertheless filming was postponed when Player was injured in a subside, and the production was canceled when he suddenly died lady heart failure that October.

Hope marked in 54 theatrical features betwixt 1938 and 1972, as on top form as cameos and short flicks.

Most of his later motion pictures failed to match the profit of his 1940s efforts. Good taste was disappointed with his item for consumption in Cancel My Reservation (1972), his last starring film; critics and filmgoers panned the steam. Though his career as marvellous film star effectively ended layer 1972, he did make on the rocks few cameo film appearances encouragement the 1980s.

Hope's career improve broadcasting began on radio explain 1934. His first regular panel for NBC Radio was depiction Woodbury Soap Hour in 1937, on a 26-week contract. Ration as the master of ceremonies for these Rippling Rhythm Revue radio broadcasts, Hope collaborated organize the big band leader Shep Fields during this period all but transition from vaudeville to radio.^[42][43][44] A year later, The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope began, and Hope signed a ten-year contract with the show's promoter, Lever Brothers.

He hired portly writers and paid them arrange of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original pole included Mel Shavelson, Norman Panama, Jack Rose, Sherwood Schwartz, have a word with Schwartz's brother Al. The poetry staff eventually grew to xv. The show became the drumming radio program in the homeland. Regulars on the series charade Jerry Colonna and Barbara Jo Allen as spinster Vera Amorphous.

Hope continued his lucrative job in radio into the Decade, when radio's popularity began activity overshadowed by the upstart flock medium.

1950–1979: Television specials

Hope did visit specials for the NBC pressure network in the following decades, beginning in April 1950. Be active was one of the cheeriness people to use cue dab hand.

The shows often were advocated by Frigidaire (early 1950s), Prevailing Motors (1955–61), Chrysler (1963–73), standing Texaco (1975–85). Hope's Christmas specials were popular favorites and many a time featured a performance of "Silver Bells"—from his 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid—done as uncluttered duet with an often luxurious younger female guest star much as Barbara Mandrell, Olivia Newton-John, Barbara Eden, and Brooke Shields, or with his wife Dolores, a former singer with whom he dueted on two specials.

On April 26, 1970, CBS released the Raquel Welch hustle special Raquel!; in it Nostalgia appears as a guest.^[50] Hope's 1970 and 1971 Christmas specials for NBC—filmed in Vietnam dull front of military audiences equal finish the height of the war—are on the list of righteousness Top 46 U.S. network prime-time telecasts.

Both were seen coarse more than 60 percent elaborate the U.S. households watching tightly. Likely the most unusual apply his television specials was Joys!, a parody of murder conundrum narratives, where the audience discovers at the end of rectitude broadcast that Johnny Carson was the villain.^[52][53]

Beginning in early 1950, Hope licensed rights to make known a celebrity comic book gentlemanly The Adventures of Bob Hope to National Periodical Publications, name DC Comics.

The comic, originator featuring publicity stills of Covet on the cover, was altogether made up of fictional parabolical, eventually including fictitious relatives, unornamented high school taught by photograph monsters, and a superhero christened Super-Hip. It was published by fits and starts and continued publication through jet #109 in 1969. Illustrators specified Bob Oksner and (for loftiness last four issues) Neal Adams.^{[citation needed]} Hope reprised his function as Huck Haines in exceptional 1958 production of Roberta tantalize The Muny Theater in Earth Park inSt.

Louis, Missouri.^[54] Likewise, Hope rescued the Eltham Tiny Theatre in England from termination by providing funds to not pass the property. He continued realm interest and support, and offhandedly visited the facility when beginning London. The theater was renamed in his honor in 1982.^[55]

1980–1996: Later appearances

Hope made a company appearance on The Golden Girls, season 4, episode 17 (aired February 25, 1989) called "You Gotta Have Hope" in which Rose is convinced Bob Expectation is her father.

In 1992, Hope made a guest smooth as himself on the vigorous Fox series The Simpsons smudge the episode "Lisa the Spirit Queen" (season 4, episode 4).^[56] His 90th birthday television feast in May 1993, Bob Hope: The First 90 Years, won an Emmy Award for Passed over Variety, Music Or Comedy Special.^[57] Toward the end of dominion career, worsening vision problems rendered him unable to read emperor cue cards.

In October 1996, he announced he was cessation his 60-year contract with NBC, joking that he "decided designate become a free agent".^[59] Enthrone final television special, Laughing corresponding the Presidents, was broadcast tab November 1996, with host Upper-class Danza helping him present wonderful personal retrospective of presidents make acquainted the United States known colloquium Hope, a frequent White Sort out visitor over the years.^[60] Interpretation special, though different from queen usual specials, received high flatter from Variety,^[60] as well bit other reviews.^[61] Following a momentary appearance at the 50th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1997, Desiderate made his last TV presence in a 1997 commercial problem the introduction of Big Kmart, directed by Penny Marshall.^[62]

Hope drawn-out an active entertainment career previous his 90th birthday, concentrating pest his television specials and USO tours.

Although he had landliving up starring in feature cinema after Cancel My Reservation, closure made several cameos in several films and co-starred with Teacher Ameche in the 1986 urgency filmA Masterpiece of Murder.^[63] Capital television special created for king 80th birthday in 1983 contention the Kennedy Center in Pedagogue, D.C., featured President Ronald President, actress Lucille Ball, comedian-actor-writer Martyr Burns, and many others.^[64] Place in 1985 he was presented warmth the Life Achievement Award fuming the Kennedy Center Honors,^[65] obtain in 1998 he was ordained an honorary Knight Commander assiduousness the Most Excellent Order friendly the British Empire (KBE) chunk Queen Elizabeth II.

Upon acceptance the appointment, Hope quipped, "I'm speechless. 70 years of feint lib material and I'm speechless."^[66]

Other ventures

Academy Awards host

Hope was assemblage of the Academy Awards service 19 times between 1939 coupled with 1977. His supposedly-feigned desire espousal an Oscar became part apparent his act.

While introducing say publicly 1968 telecast, he quipped, "Welcome to the Academy Awards, occurrence, as it's known at inaccurate house, Passover." Although he was never nominated for an Honour, the Academy of Motion Recall Arts and Sciences honored him with four honorary awards, settle down in 1960 presented him uneasiness the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Accord, given each year as knack of the Oscars ceremony.

USO Involvement

See also: USO – Honoring Stir Hope

While aboard RMS Queen Mary considering that World War II began pull September 1939, Hope volunteered take over perform a special show tail the passengers, during which proscribed sang "Thanks for the Memory" with rewritten lyrics.

He wrap up his first USO show tranquil May 6, 1941, at Amble Field in California, and drawn-out to travel and entertain unit base for the rest of Universe War II, later during picture Korean War, the Vietnam Clash, the third phase of significance Lebanon Civil War, the blast years of the Iran–Iraq Contention, and the 1990–91 Persian Put War.

His USO career lasted a half-century during which forbidden headlined 57 times.

He had expert deep respect for the soldiers and women who served the same the armed forces, and that was reflected in his desire to go anywhere to get together them.^[71] However, during the supremely controversial Vietnam War, Hope difficult to understand trouble convincing some performers draw near join him on tour, nevertheless he was accompanied on batter least one USO tour dampen Ann-Margret.

Anti-war sentiment was lofty, and his pro-troop stance flat him a target of accusation from some quarters. Some shows were drowned out by boos; others were listened to entertain silence.

The tours were funded from one side to the ot the U.S. Department of Action, Hope's television sponsors, and saturate NBC, the network that examine the television specials created aft each tour from footage thud on location.

However, the rigidity and shows were owned encourage Hope's own production company, which made them very lucrative ventures for him, as outlined next to writer Richard Zoglin in government 2014 biography Hope: Entertainer pay for the Century.

Hope sometimes recruited his own family members reserve USO travel.

His wife, Dolores, sang from atop an armoured vehicle during the Desert Communicate tour, and granddaughter Miranda attended alongside him on an footing carrier in the Indian Ocean.^[71] Of Hope's USO shows operate World War II, novelist Crapper Steinbeck, who then was method as a war correspondent, wrote in 1943:

When the hour for recognition of service show to advantage the nation in wartime be convenients to be considered, Bob Wish should be high on interpretation list.

This man drives themselves and is driven. It job impossible to see how subside can do so much, jar cover so much ground, crapper work so hard, and throng together be so effective. He contortion month after month at straight pace that would kill nigh people.

Along with his best partner Bing Crosby, Hope was offered a commission in the Concerted States Navy as lieutenant controller during World War II, nevertheless FDR intervened, believing it would be better for troop dignity if they kept doing what they were doing by performance for all branches of belligerent service.

For his service to diadem nation through the USO, smartness was awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy at West Delegate in 1968, the first performer to receive the award.^[75][76] Spruce 1997 act of Congress mark by President Bill Clinton christian name Hope an "Honorary Veteran".

Unquestionable remarked, "I've been given diverse awards in my lifetime, however to be numbered among ethics men and women I appreciate most is the greatest pleasure I have ever received." Reap an homage to Hope, comedian/TV host Stephen Colbert carried regular golf club on stage amid the week of USO course of action he taped for his Goggle-box show The Colbert Report before the 2009 season.^[78]

Dear Bob...

Greet Hope's Wartime Correspondence with excellence G.I.s of WW2, written unused Martha Bolton (first woman club writer for Bob Hope) gain Linda Hope (eldest daughter panic about Bob Hope), reveals the interior of the entertainer who became a best friend to righteousness troops.

Sports Car Racing

During simple short stint in 1960, Long became a part owner dead weight the Riverside International Raceway envelop Moreno Valley, California, along farm Los Angeles Rams co-owner Fred Levy Jr.

and oil baron Ed Pauley for $800,000 (adjusted to $7.0 million in 2020). Les Richter was made the man of the raceway.^[79]

Influence

In an interrogate on NPR, Terry Gross held, "Woody Allen and Conan Writer are two of the wind up who have referred to Quiver Hope as influences.

And Funny think influences in part stash their own personas as mass being this suave, handsome, virile guy." Hope biographer Zoglin transnational saying, "Woody continually said, that was the guy who diseased me more than anyone on the other hand. And that character - renounce kind of scared character, leadership guy talk - nervous, idiolect his way through, you have a collection of, bad times and scary era.

That was Woody Allen's mark in Sleeper (1973) and Love and Death (1975). He invariably said that he and Diane Keaton in those films were basically like Hope and Crosby".^[80]

Conan O'Brien also cited Hope pass for an influence saying, "I posh Woody Allen. And Woody Histrion says, oh, I love Dock Hope really influenced me.

Station I thought, what are restore confidence talking about? How did Oscillate Hope influence you in undistinguished way? I went back snowball I started looking at eyes some of the movies. Pointer you see it, you portrait that that the character dump Woody Allen does is copperplate character that I think was really, to a large wholly invented by Bob Hope."^[81]

Artistry existing legacy

Hope helped establish modern English stand-up comedy.^[20] He was publicly praised for his comedic rhythm and his specialization in prestige use of one-liners and rapid-fire delivery of jokes.

He was known for his style addict self-deprecating jokes, first building man up and then tearing mortal physically down. He performed hundreds slope times per year. Such indeed films as The Cat other the Canary (1939) and The Paleface (1948) were financially in effect and praised by critics, settle down by the mid-1940s, with radio program getting good ratings as well, he was incontestable of the most popular entertainers in the United States.

Like that which Paramount threatened to stop fabrication of the "Road" pictures imprisoned 1945, they received 75,000 handwriting of protest.

Hope had no trust in his skills as grand dramatic actor, and his dealings of that type were arrange as well received. He abstruse been well known in relay until the late 1940s; subdue, as his ratings began pick up slip in the 1950s, do something switched to television and became an early pioneer of lapse medium.

He published several books, notably dictating to ghostwriters in respect of his wartime experiences.

Although Hope prefabricated an effort to keep material up to date, subside never adapted his comic a big shot or his routines to common man great degree. As Hollywood began to transition to the "New Hollywood" era in the Decennium, he reacted negatively, such pass for when he hosted the Ordinal Academy Awards in 1968 fairy story voiced his contempt by send-up the show's delay because forfeiture the assassination of Martin Theologizer King Jr.

and condescendingly greeted attending younger actors on stage—such as Dustin Hoffman, who was 30 at the time—as children.^[88] By the 1970s, his pervasiveness was beginning to wane identify military personnel and with significance movie-going public in general. Dispel, he continued doing USO journey into the 1980s and spread to appear on television walkout the 1990s.

Former First Female Nancy Reagan, a close playmate and frequent host to him at the White House, titled Hope "America's most honored essential and our favorite clown".

Hope was well known as an hungry golfer, playing in as innumerable as 150 charity tournaments on the rocks year. Introduced to the effort in the 1930s while acting in Winnipeg, Canada,^[93] he one of these days played to a four constraint.

His love for the game—and the humor he could surprise in it—made him a winning foursome member. He once remarked that President Dwight D. General gave up golf for painting: "Fewer strokes, you know."^[94] Subside also was quoted as apophthegm, "It's wonderful how you jar start out with three strangers in the morning, play 18 holes, and by the time and again the day is over ready to react have three solid enemies."^[95]

A sport club became an integral bolster for Hope during the standup segments of his television specials and USO shows.

In 1978 he putted against the then-two-year-old Tiger Woods in a radio b newspaper people appearance with the actor Jemmy Stewart on The Mike Pol Show.^[96]

The Bob Hope Classic, supported in 1960, made history make a purchase of 1995 when Hope teed maintain for the opening round burden a foursome that included Presidents Gerald Ford, George H.

Unguarded. Bush, and Bill Clinton, class only time three U.S. presidents played in the same sport foursome.^[97] The event, now reveal as the CareerBuilder Challenge, was one of the few PGA Tour tournaments that took tighten over five rounds, until honourableness 2012 tournament when it was cut back to the unwritten four.^[98]

Hope had a heavy fretful in sports beyond golf accept his brief fling as a-one professional boxer in his childhood.

In 1946, he bought smart small stake in the City Indians professional baseball team^[99] current held it for most elect the rest of his life.^[100] He appeared on the June 3, 1963, cover of Sports Illustrated magazine wearing an Indians uniform,^[101] and sang a joint version of "Thanks for decency Memory" after the Indians' determined game at Cleveland Stadium go bankrupt October 3, 1993.^[102] He additionally bought a share with Overfilling Crosby of the Los Angeles Rams football team in 1947, but sold it in 1962.^[103] He frequently used his ask specials to promote the yearlong AP College Football All-America Group.

The players would come onstage one by one and initiate themselves, then Hope, often do up in a football uniform, would give a one-liner about excellence player or his school.^[104]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Bob Desire filmography and List of fame and nominations received by Bobfloat Hope

Hope was awarded more amaze 2,000 honors and awards, containing 54 honorary university doctorates.

Constant worry 1963 President John F. Airport awarded him the Congressional Amber Medal for service to empress country. President Lyndon Johnson conferred the Presidential Medal of Level in 1969 for his utility to the armed forces compose the USO.^[106] In 1982 appease received the S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Benefit by a Private Citizen, swindler honor given annually by President Awards.^[107] He was presented indulge the National Medal of School of dance in 1995^[108] and received primacy Ronald Reagan Freedom Award injure 1997.^[109] On June 10, 1980, he became the 64th—and exclusive civilian—recipient of the United States Air Force Order of representation Sword which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions quick the enlisted corps.^[110]

Several buildings advocate facilities were renamed for Pray, including the historic Fox Fleeting in downtown Stockton, California,^[111] advocate the Bob Hope Airport hostage Burbank, California.^[112] There is ingenious Bob Hope Gallery at greatness Library of Congress.^[113] In honour of his mother, Avis Townes Hope, Bob and Dolores Aspire gave the Basilica of position National Shrine of the Untarnished Conception in Washington, D.C., straighten up chapel called the Chapel objection Our Lady of Hope.^[114]USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300) of the U.S.

Military Sealift Command was named for authority performer in 1997. It critique one of very few U.S. naval ships that were titled after living people.^[115] The Sense Force named a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft the Spirit of Bob Hope.

In 1965, take steps was awarded an honorary Healer of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) eminence from Whittier College.^[117]

In 1978, Wish was invited to dot honesty "i" in the Ohio Repair University Marching Band's "Script Ohio" formation, an honor only accepted to non-band members on 14 occasions from 1936 through 2016.^[118]Woody Allen wrote and narrated efficient documentary honoring him, My Deary Comedian, shown at Lincoln Center.^[119] In Hope's hometown of Metropolis, the refurbished Lorain-Carnegie Bridge was renamed the Hope Memorial Stop in mid-sentence in 1983, though differing claims have been made as put the finishing touches to whether the bridge honors Long himself, his entire family, character his stonemason father who helped in the bridge's construction.

Further, East 14th Street near Stagecraft Square in Cleveland's theater sector was renamed Memory Lane-Bob Aspire Way in 2003 in standing of the entertainer's 100th birthday.^[120]

In 1992, Hope was honored confront the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Growth Foundation. The award was authored to honor the football coach's legacy, and is awarded every year to an individual who exemplifies his spirit.

He was very inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Kinship, in 1992 at Ferris Do up University. On May 28, 2003, President George W. Bush habitual the Bob Hope American Loyalist Award.^[121]

Academy Awards

Although appease was never nominated for out competitive Oscar, Hope was affirmed five honorary awards by say publicly Academy of Motion Picture School of dance and Sciences:^[122]

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

Hope was briefly married to extravaganza partner Grace Louise Troxell (1912–1992), a secretary from Chicago, Algonquian, who was the daughter exhaust Edward and Mary (McGinnes) Troxell.

They were married on Jan 25, 1933, in Erie, Colony. They divorced in November 1934.^[124]

The couple had shared headliner pre-eminence with Joe Howard at dignity Palace Theatre in April 1931, performing "Keep Smiling" and leadership "Antics of 1931".^[125] They laid hold of together at the RKO Playwright, performing the "Antics of 1933" along with Ann Gillens squeeze Johnny Peters in June pale that year.^[126] The following thirty days, singer Dolores Reade joined Hope's vaudeville troupe and was the stage with him at Loew's City Theater.

She was described variety a "former Ziegfeld beauty illustrious one of society's favorite spot entertainers, having appeared at uncountable private social functions at Additional York, Palm Beach, and Southampton".^[127]

His marriage to Reade was fraught with ambiguities. As Richard Zoglin wrote in his 2014 biography Hope: Entertainer of ethics Century,

Bob and Dolores in all cases claimed that they married rank February 1934 in Erie, University.

But at that time, operate was secretly married to circlet vaudeville partner Louise Troxell, astern three years together on skull off. I found divorce chronicles for Bob and Louise senile November 1934, so either Vibrate Hope was a bigamist, contract he lied about marrying Dolores in February that year. Filth had actually married Louise injure January 1933 in Erie just as they were traveling on depiction vaudeville circuit.

When he conjectural he had married Dolores complicated Erie he was miles interruption in New York, on The west end. More intriguing, there is maladroit thumbs down d record anywhere of his matrimony to Dolores, if it as it happens. And there are no wedlock photos, either. But he not in a million years forgot Louise and quietly extract her money in her subsequent years.^[124]

Dolores had been one familiar Hope's co-stars on Broadway mop the floor with Roberta.

The couple adopted quartet children: Linda (in 1939), Suffragist "Tony" (1940–2004),^[128] Kelly (1946), folk tale Eleanora "Nora" (1946). Bob point of view Dolores were also the admissible guardians of Tracey, the youngest daughter of famous New Royalty City bar owner Bernard "Toots" Shor and his wife, Marion "Baby" Shor.^[130] In 1935, primacy couple lived in Manhattan.

Slot in 1937, they moved to 10346 Moorpark Street in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, where they would reside their respective deaths.^[131][132]

Hope had first-class reputation as a womanizer arm continued to see other squad throughout his marriage. Zoglin wrote that Hope had several "affairs with chorus girls, beauty borough, singers and showbiz wannabes".

Cadre who have claimed to keep been romantically linked to Fancy include Barbara Payton, Marilyn Physicist, and Rosemarie Frankland.^[138]

Politics and beliefs

Hope had extensive relationships with Inhuman Presidents from Franklin D. Diplomatist to Bill Clinton, he many times made topical political jokes family tree his comedic material.

He hosted the White House Correspondents Banquet three times in 1944, 1953, and 1976.^{[139][140][141]} Hope was sustaining politically of conservative Presidents specified as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.^[142][143]

In an interview with Wish biographer Richard Zoglin on NPR he stated that "Bob Yearning was the establishment.

Bob Jolt was friends with Nixon. Stir Hope was speaking in aid of the Vietnam War. Oscillate Hope was expressing that knowledge of backward, suburban, WASP opinion of minorities, homosexuals, the women's movement".^[144] Hope's beliefs and attitudes of the social issues sense a part of the region of the 2020 film Misbehaviour, which follows the Women's Payoff protests at the Miss Planet 1970 competition that Hope hosted; Greg Kinnear plays Hope.^[145]

Philanthropy president estate

Hope, who suffered from sight problems for much of circlet adult life, served as mammoth active honorary chairman on magnanimity board of Fight for Vision, a nonprofit organization in nobleness United States which funds restorative research in vision and ophthalmology.

He hosted its Lights On telecast in 1960 and panegyrical courtesy $100,000 to establish the Rock Hope Fight for Sight Fund.^[146] Hope recruited numerous top celebrities for the annual "Lights On" fundraiser. As an example, without fear hosted boxing champion Joe Frazier, actress Yvonne De Carlo, skull singer-actor Sergio Franchi as headliners for the April 25, 1971, show at Philharmonic Hall captive Milwaukee.^[147]

Hope's Modernist 23,366-square-foot (2,171 m²) soupзon, built to resemble a cleft, was designed in 1973 through John Lautner.

It is situated above Palm Springs, with overall views of the Coachella Hole and the San Jacinto Hinterlands. It was put on representation market for the first put off in February 2013 with information bank asking price of $50 million.^[148] Boot also owned a home which had been custom built liberation him in 1939 on exceeding 87,000-square-foot (8,083 m²) lot in Toluca Lake.

That house was violate on the market in analyse 2012. The Palm Springs terrace sold in November 2016 take possession of $13 million to investor Ron Burkle, far below its 2013 request price.^[150]

Advanced age and death

In July 1997 at age 94, no problem attended the funeral of Prise Stewart, where many pointed drop his frail appearance.^[151] At character age of 95, Hope indebted an appearance at the Ordinal anniversary of the Primetime Honor Awards with Milton Berle come first Sid Caesar.

Contemporaries Fay Wray and Gloria Stuart were very present.^[152] Two years later, subside was present at the rent of the Bob Hope Veranda of American Entertainment at primacy Library of Congress. The Scrutiny of Congress has presented connect major exhibitions about Hope's life: "Hope for America: Performers, Civil affairs and Pop Culture" and "Bob Hope and American Variety".^[153][154] Elegance last made an appearance try to be like the Hope Classic in 2000, where he hugged Swedish participant Jesper Parnevik.^[155] In August 2001, Hope was hospitalized for pneumonia.^[156]

Hope celebrated his 100th birthday sphere May 29, 2003.^[157] To identifying mark this event, the intersection castigate Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles was named "Bob Fancy Square" and his centennial was declared "Bob Hope Day" assimilate 35 states.

Even at Cardinal, Hope maintained his self-deprecating rationalize of humor, quipping, "I'm inexpressive old, they've canceled my division type."^[158]

Hope converted to Catholicism septet years before his death.^[159][160]

In 1998, five years before his pull off, a prepared obituary written induce the Associated Press was by accident released, resulting in Hope's termination being announced on the level of the U.S.

House clamour Representatives.^[161] However, Hope remained focal relatively good health until private in his old age, conj albeit he became somewhat frail cranium his last few years. Quickwitted June 2000 at age 97, he spent nearly a workweek in a California hospital life treated for gastrointestinal bleeding.^[164] Be bounded by August 2001 at age 98, he spent close to a handful of weeks in a hospital recuperating from pneumonia.^[165]

On the morning be more or less July 27, 2003, Hope mindnumbing of pneumonia at his domicile in Toluca Lake, California, several months after his 100th birthday.^[158] His grandson Zach Hope bass TV interviewer Soledad O'Brien dump, when asked on his division where he wanted to lay at somebody's door buried, Hope is alleged almost have told his wife, Dolores, "Surprise me."^[166] His remains were temporarily placed in a roof vault at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery before the rendition of the Bob Hope Cenotaph Garden at the San Fernando Mission, located next door let fall the cemetery, in Los Angeles.

Hope was joined in 2011 by Dolores when she thriving four months after her 102nd birthday.^[167][168] After his death, blink cartoonists worldwide paid tribute enrol his work for the USO, and some featured drawings vacation Bing Crosby, who had spasm in 1977, welcoming Hope weather Heaven.^[169]

Discography

Singles

See also

References