Bob Hope Biography

Leslie Townes Hope was the son of a stone mason in London, who took the family to Cleveland, Ohio, when Bob was three. He was given singing lessons by his mother.

Hope learned tap-dancing in high school, and then taught the classes for a time. At the age of ten, he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation contest, but he pursued a boxing career until he learned that acts were needed for a Cleveland theatre. With his partner, George Byrne, he worked out a dance routine. A tour followed as 'Two Diamonds in the Rough'.

After appearances on Broadway in 'The Sidewalks of New York' and 'Smiles', Hope decided to become a solo performer. He played vaudeville theatres, and then formed his own company.

Hope returned to Broadway, with 'Ballyhoo', a 1932 musical, and then the following year, in 'Roberta', during which he met his (soon to be) wife, Dolores Reade.

In 1935, he appeared in 'Ziegfeld Follies'. His own radio show was introduced in 1938. As a result of it, he was asked by Paramount Studios to appear in the film 'The Big Broadcast' in 1938. The producers assigned him to sing the song 'Thanks for the Memory', which went on to become his theme.

A new phase of his career began in 1940, when he set out on the 'Road to Singapore', the first of the seven blockbuster 'Road' pictures he was to appear in, with Bing Crosby.

Hope featured in many other hit comedy films, including 'Monsieur Beaucaire', 'My Favourite Blonde', 'My Favourite Brunette', and 'My Favourite Spy'.

The television show 'Star Spangled Revue', presented on Easter Sunday, 1950, marked the first of his myriad appearances on the new medium.

Among his innumerable awards are five special Oscars for humanitarian work. He also created the USO international headquarters, named after him.

Sadly, Bob Hope passed away on Sunday 27 July 2003, with his family at his bedside.