---
name: "Bob Hope"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/bob-hope"
fi1m_id: "bob-hope"
imdb_id: "nm0001362"
tmdb_id: 82388
wikidata_id: "Q94081"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 May 1903"
died: "27 July 2003"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-25T04:23:44.018046+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Bob Hope

## Identity

Bob Hope

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bob-hope
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** bob-hope
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001362
- **TMDB ID:** 82388
- **Wikidata ID:** Q94081
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hope, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q94081, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001362/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/82388

Actor. Born 29 May 1903 in Eltham, London, England, UK. Died 27 July 2003.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 May 1903, Eltham, London, England, UK
- **Died:** 27 July 2003
- **Active:** 1948–1989
- **Also known as:** Leslie Townes Hope
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 4: 2 acting, 2 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 78, as actor, over 2 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1940s 68 (1), 1950s 56 (1), 1970s 82 (1), 1980s 88 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Hope, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q94081, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001362/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/82388

## Fi1m on Bob Hope

> Bob Hope makes bluster and cowardice funny through the speed of his wisecracks and a willingness to look foolish. We enjoy him most with a partner who slows him down; the constant supply of jokes can become tiring.

Bob Hope talks boldly until there is something to be frightened of, then keeps talking in the hope that nobody will notice. The cowardice is dependable; so is the speed with which he finds another joke. His characters do not need to be brave to hold our attention, but they do need someone else in the scene to resist the patter. He is pleasant company in *The Paleface* (1948), though the western comedy also makes clear how tiring that readiness can become.

*The Cat and the Canary* (1939) gave his comic coward a horror setting; *Road to Singapore* (1940) began the seven-film series with Bing Crosby that ran until 1962. Dorothy Lamour joined them in the first film and became a regular collaborator. The Road films also made room for Hope to address the audience directly, treating us as people who might appreciate a remark about the proceedings. His quick exchanges with Crosby gave the patter another performer to work against.

In *The Paleface*, Norman Z. McLeod gives that chatter useful resistance by pairing him with Jane Russell. Hope's ‘Painless’ Peter Potter combines wisecracks with slapstick. We laughed at the switches between the two, when the verbal cleverness gave way to physical foolishness. Russell's Calamity Jane answers with a drollness that does not compete for speed or attention. Her restraint gives the exchanges time to register, and we often prefer it to his busier efforts.

The limitation is already clear in *The Paleface*: its small stock of comic moves has to do too much work. Hope's constant readiness with a line can make the comedy feel pushed, even when the line itself is good. That repetition became a criticism of his later films, including *Cancel My Reservation* (1972), but it need not make us dismiss the earlier work. Start with *The Paleface* if western slapstick appeals, and leave room to enjoy Russell when Hope begins to wear.

## Biography

Bob Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope, was a British-born American comedian, actor and entertainer. He appeared in more than 70 films, starring in 54 of them, including the 1948 comedy Western *The Paleface* as 'Painless' Peter Potter.

Hope began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s and moved into radio, Broadway and films from the mid-1930s. He starred in a series of seven *Road to...* musical comedies with Bing Crosby and hosted the Academy Awards ceremony a record 19 times. Between 1941 and 1991 he made 57 USO tours entertaining US military personnel.

He was born on 29 May 1903 in Eltham, London, and died on 27 July 2003 in Toluca Lake, California.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, encyclopedia.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these

- *The Simpsons* (1989), Fi1m 88, as Bob Hope (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *The Paleface* (1948), Fi1m 68, as 'Painless' Peter Potter — [page](https://film.one/film/the-paleface.md)

### Also credited (2) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Hearts and Minds* (1974), Fi1m 82, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/hearts-and-minds.md)
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1952), Fi1m 56, as Spectator (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-show-on-earth.md)

## Complete filmography (115)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Howard* (2018), as Orville 'Turkey' Jackson (archive footage)
- *Mansfield 66/67* (2017), Actor
- *The Best of Carson, Volume 1* (2006), Actor
- *Pioneers of Primetime* (2005), Actor
- *Hidden Hollywood II: More Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Vaults* (1999), as (archive footage)
- *That's Entertainment! III* (1994), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Shanks for the Memory* (1994), Actor
- *That Little Monster* (1994), as Bob Hope / Bob (uncredited)
- *Bob Hope's Four-Star Christmas Fiesta from San Antonio* (1992), Executive Producer
- *Murderers, Mobsters, & Madmen: Volume 6: Hollywood Police Files* (1992), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Bob Hope's Christmas Cheer from Saudi Arabia* (1991), Executive Producer
- *Dors: The Other Diana* (1990), Actor
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Bob Hope (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy* (1989), Executive Producer
- *Bob Hope's Jolly Christmas Show* (1988), Executive Producer
- *Just a Song and Dance* (1987), Actor
- *A Masterpiece of Murder* (1986), as Dan Dolan
- *The Golden Girls* (1985), series, as Bob Hope — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-golden-girls.md)
- *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, as Sycopomp
- *The Muppet Movie* (1979), as Ice Cream Vendor
- *The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special* (1977), as Host / Barf Vader
- *Bob Hope's Comedy Christmas Special* (1976), Actor
- *Bob Hope's World of Comedy* (1976), Executive Producer
- *Joys* (1976), Executive Producer
- *Today: While You Were Away (1964-1973 Retrospective)* (1973), as Commentator
- *Cancel My Reservation* (1972), as Dan Bartlett · Executive Producer
- *Roberta* (1969), as Huck Haines · Executive Producer
- *How to Commit Marriage* (1969), as Frank Benson
- *The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell* (1968), as Sgt. Dan O'Farrell
- *The Danny Thomas Hour* (1967), series, as Makeup Man
- *Eight on the Lam* (1967), as Henry Dimsdale
- *Bob Hope Comedy Special* (1967), Actor
- *Murder at N.B.C.* (1966), Actor
- *The Pruitts of Southampton* (1966), series, as Library Patron
- *Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!* (1966), as Thomas J. 'Tom' Meade
- *The Oscar* (1966), as Bob Hope
- *Bob Hope Christmas Show* (1965), Associate Producer
- *The Jack Benny Hour* (1965), as Bob Hope / Marcello
- *Get Smart* (1965), series, as Room Service Attendant (uncredited)
- *I'll Take Sweden* (1965), as Bob Holcomb
- *The Lucille Ball Comedy Hour* (1964), as Bill Blakely
- *A Global Affair* (1964), as Frank Larrimore
- *The Sound of Laughter* (1963), as Bing Fawcett - Plumber
- *Call Me Bwana* (1963), as Matt
- *Critic's Choice* (1963), as Parker Ballantine
- *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Plumber's Assistant
- *The Road to Hong Kong* (1962), as Chester Babcock
- *Bachelor in Paradise* (1961), as Adam J. Niles
- *The Facts of Life* (1960), as Larry Gilbert
- *Alias Jesse James* (1959), as Milford Farnsworth · Executive Producer
- *Some of Manie's Friends* (1959), Actor
- *Paris Holiday* (1958), as Robert Leslie Hunter · Story, Producer
- *The Thin Man* (1957), series, as Bob Hope (uncredited)
- *Beau James* (1957), as Mayor James J. 'Jimmy' Walker
- *The Iron Petticoat* (1956), as Captain Chuck Lockwood
- *That Certain Feeling* (1956), as Francis X. Dignan
- *The Awful Truth* (1956), as Jerry Warner
- *Showdown at Ulcer Gulch* (1956), as Influential Man
- *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Bob Hope (uncredited)
- *The Seven Little Foys* (1955), as Eddie Foy
- *Project XX* (1954), series, as Narrator
- *Casanova's Big Night* (1954), as Pippo Popolino
- *Here Come the Girls* (1953), as Stanley Snodgrass
- *Scared Stiff* (1953), as Skeleton (uncredited)
- *Off Limits* (1952), as Wally Hogan
- *Road to Bali* (1952), as Harold Gridley
- *Son of Paleface* (1952), as Peter Potter Jr.
- *The Greatest Show on Earth* (1952), as Spectator (uncredited) — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/the-greatest-show-on-earth.md)
- *My Favorite Spy* (1951), as Peanuts White / Eric Augustine
- *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Bob Hope
- *The Lemon Drop Kid* (1951), as Sidney Melbourne (The Lemon Drop Kid)
- *The Jack Benny Program* (1950), series, as Bob Hope, Bob Hope / Clyde
- *Fancy Pants* (1950), as Humphrey
- *The Great Lover* (1949), as Freddie Hunter
- *Sorrowful Jones* (1949), as Humphrey "Sorrowful" Jones
- *The Paleface* (1948), as 'Painless' Peter Potter — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-paleface.md)
- *Road to Rio* (1947), as Hot Lips Barton
- *Where There's Life* (1947), as Michael Joseph Valentine
- *Is Everybody Listening?* (1947), as Bob Hope - Bob Hope Radio Program
- *Variety Girl* (1947), as Bob Hope
- *My Favorite Brunette* (1947), as Ronnie Jackson · Writer, Producer
- *Monsieur Beaucaire* (1946), as Monsieur Beaucaire
- *Road to Utopia* (1946), as Chester Hooton
- *Hollywood Victory Caravan* (1945), as Bob Hope
- *Story of G.I. Joe* (1945), as Bob Hope (Voice on Radio Program) (voice) (uncredited)
- *The Princess and the Pirate* (1944), as Sylvester the Great
- *Let's Face It* (1943), as Jerry Walker
- *They Got Me Covered* (1943), as Robert Kittredge
- *Road to Morocco* (1942), as Orville Jackson
- *Bob's Busy Day* (1942), as Bob
- *My Favorite Blonde* (1942), as Larry Haines
- *Star Spangled Rhythm* (1942), as Bob Hope
- *Louisiana Purchase* (1941), as Jim Taylor
- *Nothing but the Truth* (1941), as Steve Bennett
- *Caught in the Draft* (1941), as Don Bolton
- *Road to Zanzibar* (1941), as Fearless
- *The Ghost Breakers* (1940), as Larry Lawrence
- *Road to Singapore* (1940), as Ace Lannigan
- *The Cat and the Canary* (1939), as Wally Campbell
- *Some Like It Hot* (1939), as Nicky Nelson
- *Never Say Die* (1939), as John Kidley
- *Thanks for the Memory* (1938), as Steve Merrick
- *Give Me a Sailor* (1938), as Jim Brewster
- *College Swing* (1938), as Bud Brady
- *The Big Broadcast of 1938* (1938), as Buzz Fielding
- *Calling All Tars* (1936), as Bobby
- *Shop Talk* (1936), as Robert Hope Jr.
- *Double Exposure* (1935), as Photographer / Robert
- *Watch the Birdie* (1935), as Bob
- *The Old Grey Mayor* (1935), as Bob
- *Paree, Paree* (1934), as Peter
- *Soup for Nuts* (1934), as Master of Ceremonies
- *Going Spanish* (1934), as Bob
- *Talking Comedy*, series, Actor
- *Bob Hope: The Vietnam Years 1964-1972*, as Bob Hope

## Gallery

- ![Bob Hope](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-a8006c1651dc.jpg) Bob Hope — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Bob_Hope_1969_Publicity_Photo.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Tom Breneman and Bob Hope in 1945](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-1ea03bdf9ff0.jpg) Tom Breneman and Bob Hope in 1945 — Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/1945_Tom_Breneman_and_Bob_Hope_A.jpg/1280px-1945_Tom_Breneman_and_Bob_Hope_A.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Naval Station, Rota Country: Spain (ESP) Scene Camera Operator: JOC Glenna L. Houston Release Statu](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-11c5499eadf1.jpg) The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Naval Station, Rota Country: Spain (ESP) Scene Camera Operator: JOC Glenna L. Houston Release Statu — Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service. Defense Visual Information Center. 1994, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Bob_Hope_jokes_with_a_serviceman_on_stage_at_a_United_Service_Organizations_%28USO%29_show_in_the_base_theater_-_DPLA_-_f0ebcc8afb60a09309bbffd509eb8e95.jpg/1280px-Bob_Hope_jokes_with_a_serviceman_on_stage_at_a_United_Service_Organizations_%28USO%29_show_in_the_base_theater_-_DPLA_-_f0ebcc8afb60a09309bbffd509eb8e95.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![A view of actor and comedian Bob Hope standing near a golf cart during the 1977 Memorial Tournament pro-am at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. Hope played in a ](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-440096d416b1.jpg) A view of actor and comedian Bob Hope standing near a golf cart during the 1977 Memorial Tournament pro-am at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. Hope played in a  — David E. Lucas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/30/Bob_Hope_at_1977_Memorial_Tournament_pro-am_-_DPLA_-_cf02d809d5b4e2bd83e7b57c5686b6e4.jpg/1280px-Bob_Hope_at_1977_Memorial_Tournament_pro-am_-_DPLA_-_cf02d809d5b4e2bd83e7b57c5686b6e4.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Bob Hope](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-4ff3e5d407c6.jpg) Bob Hope — Image via TMDB
- ![Bob Hope](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-d795d9d3e7cb.jpg) Bob Hope — Image via TMDB
- ![A view of actor and comedian Bob Hope putting a ball during the 1977 Memorial Tournament pro-am at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. A caddie stands off the gree](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-3fd97b445259.jpg) A view of actor and comedian Bob Hope putting a ball during the 1977 Memorial Tournament pro-am at the Muirfield Village Golf Club. A caddie stands off the gree — David E. Lucas, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Bob_Hope_at_1977_Memorial_Tournament_pro-am_-_DPLA_-_e44874a18304bfce2c464b75d8f4ddfa.jpg/1280px-Bob_Hope_at_1977_Memorial_Tournament_pro-am_-_DPLA_-_e44874a18304bfce2c464b75d8f4ddfa.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![w:Bob Hope at USO Show (Vietnam?)](https://film.one/media/person/390897/gallery-9b31c8f2cd57.jpg) w:Bob Hope at USO Show (Vietnam?) — w:US Army, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/BobHopeUSO.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

## Awards

### Other awards — 9 won

- Knight Grand Officer of the Order of St. Gregory the Great 1998: Knight Grand Officer of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (won)
- Presidential Medal of Freedom 1969: Presidential Medal of Freedom (won)
- Academy Honorary Award 1966: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Golden Plate Award 1961: Golden Plate Award (won)
- Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award 1960: Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (won)
- Trustees Award 1959: Trustees Award (won)
- Academy Honorary Award 1953: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Academy Honorary Award 1945: Academy Honorary Award (won)
- Academy Honorary Award 1941: Academy Honorary Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/bob-hope