Born May 2, 1924, Vienna, Austria
Died July 21, 2015, Los Angeles

Click here to download Bob's obituary.

BOB HOPE FACTS:

Born: Eltham, England - May 29, 1903

Died: July 27, 2003 - Toluca Lake, California

Raised: Cleveland, Ohio - since age 4

Educated: Cleveland Public Schools

Married: Dolores DeFina - February 19, 1934

Children: (4) Linda, Anthony (Tony), Kelly, Nora

Grandchildren: (4) Zachary and Miranda - Anthony's children,
Andrew Lande - Linda's son, and Alicia - Nora's daughter

Residence: Toluca Lake (North Hollywood), California
Palm Springs, California

Early Career: Dance instructor, clerk, newspaper reporter, amateur
boxer (under the name of Packy East)

Show business
Debut: Vaudeville - Dancing act with partner Lloyd
Durbin in a “Fatty Arbuckle Revue” (1924); with
George Byrne in “Hurley's Jolly Follies” (1925)

Broadway Career: Debut - “Sidewalks of New York” (1927);
“Smiles” (1928); “Ballyhoo” (1932); “Roberta”
(1933); “Say When” (1934); “Ziegfeld Folies”
(1936); “Red, Hot and Blue!” (1936)

Radio: Debut - Capitol Family Hour (1932)
Early - Rudy Vallee's Thursday Night Show,
NBC (1934). Regular NBC shows (1937). NBC -
Radio Contract - Pepsodent Show 1938.
Radio shows continued through 1956.

Television: Debut - CBS station W2XAB (1932)
NBC Television contract; June 8, 1950 (First
TV Special - Easter Sunday 1950.) His last NBC - TV
                                Special - November 23, 1997.
                                Chrysler Theater at NBC - TV for 114 episodes (1963-1967.)
His guest appearances on other shows and talk shows - nearly 700.
Hope attributes his longevity on television to his resistance to doing a weekly show. He dedicated his talents to comedy-variety specials (as many as 10 annually - and a total of 286 primetime shows.) However, he did host the weekly Bob Hope

Ratings: An undisputed “king of the ratings” on Radio and with 284 primetime television shows, his Nielsen audience averaged more than a 40-share. Four of his specials pulled a 70-share or better, 19 shows in the 60s and 50 shows more than a 50-share.


MOTION PICTURE CAREER

Early Shorts: Paree, Paree (1934); Going Spanish (1934); The Old Grey Mayor (1935); Watch the Birdie (1935); Double Exposure (1935); Calling all Tars (1936); Shop Talk (1936); Don't Look Now (1938)

Feature Films: The Big Broadcast of 1938; College Swing (1938); Give Me a Sailor (1938); Thanks for the Memory (1938); Never Say Die (1939); Some Like It Hot (1939); The Cat and the Canary (1939); Road to Singapore (1940); The Ghostbreakers (1940); Caught in the Draft (1941); Nothing but the Truth (1941); Road to Zanzibar (1941); Louisiana Purchase (1941); My Favorite Blonde (1942); The Road to Morocco (1942); Star Spangled Rhythm (1942); They Got Me Covered (1943); Let's Face It (1943); The Princess and the Pirate (1944); Road to Utopia (1945); Monsieur Beaucaire (1946); My Favorite Brunette (1947); Where There's Life (1947); Road to Rio (1948); The Paleface (1948); Sorrowful Jones (1949); The Great Lover (1949); Fancy Pants (1950); The Lemon Drop Kid (1951); My Favorite Spy (1951); Son of Paleface (1952); Road to Bali (1953); Off Limits (1953); Here Come the Girls (1953); Casanova's Big Night (1954); The Seven Little Foys (1955); That Certain Feeling (1956); The Iron Petticoat (1956); Beau James (1957); Paris Holiday (1958); Alias Jesse James (1959); The Facts of Life (1960); Bachelor in Paradise (1961); Road to Hong Kong (1962); I'll take Sweden (1965); Boy, Did I get a Wrong Number (1966); Eight on the Lam (1967); The Private Navy of Sergeant O'Farrell (1968): How to Commit Marriage (1969); Cancel My Reservation (1972)

Guest Appearances
& Cameos: Welcome to Britain (1943); All Star Bond Rally (1945); Hollywood Victory Caravan (1945); Variety Girl (1947); Greatest Show on Earth (1952); Scared Stiff (1953); The Heart of Show Business (1957); Showdown at Ulcer Gulch (1958); Five Pennies (1959); The Sound of Laughter (1963); The Oscar (1966); Hollywood Star Spangled Revue (1966); The Muppet Movie (1980); Spies Like Us (1985)

Awards: Cited by Guinness Book of Records “most honored entertainer” Hope has more than fifteen hundred awards and citations for humanitarian and professional efforts. Including 1997/1998 - Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II extended The Honor of Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) - investiture at the British Embassy by Ambassador Sir Christopher Meyer (5/17/98). Library of Congress dedicated the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment (5/19/1998). The Papal honors, The Knighthood of St. Gregory. Congressional Resolution 75 made Bob an “honorary veteran” - the first in American history. The PGA Humanitarian Award. The USNS Bob Hope (new sealift series) christened in New Orleans. The “Spirit of Hope” C-17 was named and flies in his honor.

Medal of Freedom from President Johnson; Congressional Gold Medal from President Kennedy; People to People Award from President Eisenhower; Medal of Merit from U.S. Government; Peabody Award; a Special Oscar; the Jean Hersholt Award, and three additional honors from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Bob Hope was also initiated into the Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1975. The Screen Producer's Milestone Award; IRTS Gold Medal Award; Philadelphia's Poor Richard Award; Plaques and citation for war bond and community services; the USO Silver Medal of Merit' Army, Navy and Air Force Awards; Murray-Green AFL/CIO Award; NAB Distinguished Service Award; three Emmys; First Honorary Member of Harvard's Hasty Pudding Theatricals; Father Flanagan Award; The James Madison Award from Princeton University's debating society; The Old Tom Morris Award (Golf); The Distinguished Award from World Rehabilitation Foundation. In May 1985, Hope was made a Brigadier General (honorary) of the U.S. Marines, The Herbert Hoover Memorial Award; Fist AFBA Entertainer of the Year, (twice); NATO Walt Disney Award; First Freedom Through Knowledge Award, (Little League); Mark Twain Award (International Platform Assn.); The Criss Award  outstanding contributions in fields of Health, Safety and National Welfare); The Distinguished Public Service Medal (highest award the military can bestow on a civilian); Award for Services to the Blind; Best Dressed Award (Fashion Foundation); World Fellowship Award (Fraternal Order of Eagles); Distinguished American Award (National Football Foundation Hall of Fame); The Golden Mike Award; The Will Rogers Humanitarian Award; Comedian of the Century Award (National entertainment Council); Favorite Male Entertainer Award (five consecutive years); The Golden Apple Award (Hollywood Women's Press Club); USO Man of the Year; The Patriot's Award (Congressional Medal of Honor Society); Most Valuable Performer (Touchdown Club); The title of Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by order of Queen Elizabeth); The Thomas White Award (Air Force); the SCOPUS Award (American Friends of Hebrew University); The Hubert Humphrey Award (outstanding contributions to the world of sports); Award of the Year (National Assn. of  Television Program Executives); Distinguished Communications Medal (Radio/Television Commission of Southern Baptist Convention); Charles Evans Hughes Gold Medal (National Conference of Christians and Jews); Gold Medal of Merit (Jewish War Veterans of USA); The Maxwell A. Kriendler Memorial Award (National Air Force Assn. for contributions to the defense of our nation); Defense Industry Endowment Award, and the Order of the Sword from MAC, Norton AFB. He was inducted into the California Golf Writer's Hall of Fame, and received the Bing Crosby Award (Photoplay Magazine) for outstanding performance and contributions in the world of entertainment. The readers of Seventeen Magazine voted Hope the “most admired male” in the world: contestants of the 1979 Miss National Teenager Pageant voted him the “greatest American: and a People Magazine poll showed him as the “Favorite Well Known Older American.” Theatres, hospital wards, schools, halls, a bridge and even a rose have been named in his honor, and in January 1980, he dedicated the Bob Hope High School at the Hughen Center for Crippled Children in Port Arthur, Texas.

Honorary Degrees: (56)
Doctor of Humane Letters - Quincy College, Illinois 1958; Georgetown College -Washington, D. C. 1962;  Monmouth College, - West Long Branch, New Jersey 1965; Whittier College - Whittier, CA. 1965; Pennsylvania Military College - Chester, Pennsylvania 1966; SMU - Dallas, Texas 1967;  Miami University - Oxford, Ohio 1969;  Ohio State University -Columbus, Ohio 1969; University of Cincinnati, Ohio 1970; St. Michael's College -Winooski Park, Vermont 1970; University of Nevada, Las Vegas 1970; University of Rhode Island- Kingston, Rhode Island 1992; Indiana University -Bloomington, Indiana 1974; Mercy College - Westchester, NY 1976; John Carroll University -Cleveland, Ohio 1976; Baldwin - Wallace College- Berea, Ohio 1977; College of the Desert -Palm Desert, CA 1977; St Louis University - St . Louis, Missouri 1979; Oral Roberts University -Tulsa, Oklahoma 1983; Columbia University - New York 1984; University of Charleston, West Virginia 1984; Loyola College - Baltimore, Maryland 1987; University of San Diego-San Diego, CA 1990.

Doctor of Humanities - Bethel College - McKenzie, Tennessee 1971; Bowling Green State University- Bowling Green, Ohio 1969; Ohio Dominican College -Columbus, Ohio 1968; University of Santa Clara -Santa Clara, CA 1971; Wilberforce University - Wilberforce, Ohio 1972; Florida Southern College -Lakeland, Florida 1975; Northwood Institute - Midland, MI 1975; Norwich University - Northfield, Utah 1975; Utah State University - Logan, Utah 1975; Utah State University - Logan, Utah 1975; St. Anselm's College, Manchester, New Hampshire 1977; Capitol University - Columbus, Ohio 1978; The Citadel Military College of South Carolina - Charleston, South Carolina 1984; Washington University - St. Louis, Missouri 1984.

Doctor of Laws - Northwestern University - Evanston, Illinois 1966; Pace College - New York, NY 1970; University of Wyoming - Laramie, Wyoming 1964; University of Scranton - Scranton, Pennsylvania 1975; Pepperdine University - Malibu, CA 1973; Western State University - Fullerton, CA 1977

Doctor of Fine Arts - Brown University - Providence, Rhode Island 1968; Jacksonville University, Jacsonville, Florida 1972

Doctor of Humane Service - Drury College - Springfield, Missouri 1973.
Doctor of Internal Relations - Salem College - Salem, West Virginia 1974.
Doctor of Public Service - St. Ambrose College -Davenport, Iowa 1976.
Doctor of Performing Arts - Dakota Wesleyan University - Mitchell, South Dakota 1976
Doctor of Letters - Gonzaga University - Spokane, Washington 1978.
Doctor of Oratorical Science - Central New England College of Technology - Worcester, Massachusetts 1979.
Doctor of Philanthropy - Pepperdine University - Los Angeles, CA 1984
Doctor of Aviation Management - Embry Riddle Aeronautical University 1986.
Doctor of Chiropractic Humanities - Life Chiropractic College - Marietta, Georgia 1986.
Doctor of Public Service - (Doctor Beneficentine Ciuibus) from the College of Gettysburg, PA 1990.
Legum Doctoris - Universitatis Sancti Bonaventurae.St. Bonaventure University, St. Bonaventure, New York 1971.

Air Miles Traveled: Over ten million (that's the equivalent of 400 times around the world.); 53 trips to Europe; most frequent states visited: New York (271), Texas (140), Florida (141) and his home state, Ohio (124)

GIs Entertained: Ten Million. He made 700 trips to entertain GIs beginning May 6, 1941 at March Field (CA) to the present. Hope entertained GIs at bases and hospitals in the United States, North Atlantic, Caribbean, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Pacific and Southeast Asia. Christmas shows began in 1948 and became a tradition which lasted for twenty-two years.

The 1972 USO Christmas Tour was considered Bob's last overseas show.

From 1973 to 1982, Hope continued the tradition of playing “Santa Claus” for the GIs with annual shows at military and veterans hospitals throughout the United States.

Then in 1983, Hope joined forces with the USO to travel eastward to entertain GIs in and near Beirut.

In 1987, he went around the world in eight days to entertain the troops in the Far East and Persian Gulf.

May of 1990 found Hope with his band of “gypsies” entertaining military personnel in Berlin, Mildenhall (England), Moscow and Frankfurt.

Christmas of 1990 “Operation Desert Shield” called and he responded with a “yes” and took wife Dolores, Ann Jillian, Marie Osmond, The Pointer Sisters, Aaron Tippin, Khrystyne Haje and Johnny Bench to Saudi Arabia.

Easter Sunday 1991 Bob and Dolores entertained 350 Marines and their families from Twentynine Palms at their house in Palm Springs with a show, stellar guest list, food and Easter baskets for the kids. “Bob's Yellow Ribbon Party” aired April 6, 1991.

May 19, 1991 Bob Hope joined Jimmy Stewart as co-host of the largest parade in Hollywood to welcome home the servicemen and women of “Desert Storm.”

April 20, 1998 at the Nixon Library, Bob dined with 300 Vietnam POWs who were entertained by him at the White House in 1973.

Books: (13)
“They've Got Me Covered” - Bob Hope, 1941
“I Never Left Home” - Simon & Schuster, 1944
“So This is Peace” - Simon & Schuster, 1946
“Have Tux, Will Travel” - Simon & Schuster, 1954
“I Owe Russia $1,200” - Doubleday, 1963
“Five Women I Love” - Doubleday, 1966
“The Last Christmas Show” - Doubleday, 1974
“Road to Hollywood” (as told to Bob Thomas) - Doubleday, 1977
“Confessions of a Hooker - Bob Hope's Lifelong Love Affair with Golf” - Doubleday, 1985
“Don't Shoot, It's Only Me” - Putnam, 1990
“I Was There” booklet of memories of WWII included in CD/Video collector set
“Dear Prez, I Wanna Tell Ya” - General Publishing Group, 1996
“Bob Hope - My Life in Jokes” (Bob Hope with Linda Hope) - Hyperion, 2003

Command Performances: December 1, 1948; November 1, 1954; October 29, 1962; November 13, 1967; November 1977 (televised in London)

For press, high res photos and updated biography please send an email to harlan@bhbpr.com or call 626.296.3757