Bob Hope
Leslie Townes Hope [1] (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), better known as Bob Hope, was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer, and dancer. He was the only person who received five honorary Oscars.
Bob Hope | |
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.JPEG) Hope in 1984 | |
| Born | Leslie Townes Hope May 29, 1903 |
| Died | July 27, 2003 (aged 100) |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
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Early life
Bob Hope was born on May 29, 1903, in London, England to a Welsh mother and English father. In 1908, the Hopes migrated to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1920, at age 17, Hope became a U.S. citizen.[2]
Career
Before he was an actor, Hope became a professional boxer. In this time he was called "Packey East". Years later, he was popular because of some musicals he played in. He was also part of some television and radio shows. At the same time, Bob Hope became a comedian. Hope visited the United States armed forces between 1941 and 1991 during the conflicts in that time period. These shows made Hope a household name and well liked by most Americans. Hope also entertained eleven U.S. Presidents.
In 1939, Bob Hope married Dolores DeFina (May 27, 1909 - September 19, 2011). The couple adopted four children: Eleanora, Anthony, Linda, and Kelly.[3]
Awards
Bob Hope was honored with more than 1500 awards. Among them are five special Oscars in 1941, 1945, 1953, 1960, and 1966. Between 1940 and 1978 he hosted the Academy Awards record seventeen times.
And in 1998 he was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. Upon accepting the appointment, Hope quipped, "I'm speechless. 70 years of ad lib material and I'm speechless."
Death
Bob Hope died of pneumonia on July 27, 2003, 2 months after his 100th birthday. He was buried 3 days later, reburied on July 22, 2005 in custom made grave in California.[4]
Bob Hope Media
Writer Hal Block (far left), Hope (second from left), writer/actor Barney Dean, General George Patton, singer Frances Langford, and musician Tony Romano in Sicily on August 21, 1943
Bob Hope in The Ghost Breakers trailer (1940)
Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour in Road to Bali (1952)
Hope and Bing Crosby sing and dance during the number "Chicago Style" in Road to Bali (1952)
Hope (right) with his brother Jack (seated), who produced his early 1950s show, with comedian Jack Benny
Hope with James Garner (1961)
Hope at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas in 1990
Hope and actress Ann Jillian perform in the USO Christmas Tour during Operation Desert Shield, 1990
With Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and David Niven in the 1950s
References
- ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/95813.stm Hope's knighthood was honorary, so he was not entitled to style himself "Sir".
- ↑ Gayle Pohl. "Hope, Bob". The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
- ↑ Quirk, Lawrence J. (2001). Bob Hope : the road well-traveled. New York: Applause. pp. 86–87. ISBN 1557834504.
- ↑ Seeing Stars