Bob Hope

NAME Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Bob Hope was one of the most successful and enduring entertainers of the 20th century. He was famed as a comedian, film star, radio host, television personality, vaudeville performer, author, and tireless supporter of U.S. military troops through his USO tours. His rapid-fire one-liners, sharp topical humor, and long career across multiple entertainment platforms made him one of the defining figures of American popular culture.

BIRTH Leslie Townes Hope was born on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, then in Kent (now part of London), England.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Hope was the fifth of seven sons born to William Henry Hope, an English stonemason from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and Avis (née Townes) Hope, a Welsh-born light opera singer who later worked as a cleaner and took in boarders to help support the family. The family experienced recurring economic hardship both in Britain and after emigrating to the United States.

CHILDHOOD Hope spent his early years in England before his family emigrated aboard the SS Philadelphia, passing through Ellis Island on March 30, 1908 and settling in Cleveland, Ohio, when he was still under five. In Cleveland he grew up in a large, financially struggling household and worked various odd jobs, such as soda jerk and shoe salesman, to help relieve the family’s money problems. 

Young Leslie was an outgoing boy whom his mother taught to sing; from age 12, he earned pocket money singing, dancing, and performing comedy acts on the street and on the trolley to nearby Luna Park, and by entering amateur talent contests. He won a prize in 1915 for his impersonation of Charlie Chaplin.

He changed his name from Leslie to Bob after classmates shortened “Hope, Leslie” during school roll calls to “Hopeless,” which he disliked. (1)

Hope's childhood had a darker side. Just before his 15th birthday, he was admitted to the Boys' Industrial School in Lancaster, Ohio—a state reformatory for troubled boys—for unspecified "delinquent behaviour" after dropping out during his sophomore year of high school. He spent over a year and a half there between 1918 and 1921. As an adult, Hope rarely spoke publicly about his time at the school but donated sizable sums of money to the institution, claiming it had caused him to lead "a better and more honourable life". (2)

At 16, he had a brief career as a boxer under the name "Packy East", fighting at super featherweight (128 lb), and recorded at least three wins and one loss. In December 1920, 17-year-old Hope and his brothers became US citizens when their parents were naturalised.

His distinctive facial structure was partly the result of reconstructive surgery following the 1921 tree accident that severely injured his face, requiring weeks of hospitalisation during which staff refused to give him a mirror.

EDUCATION Hope attended Fairmount Grammar School in Cleveland but was not a scholar. He eventually dropped out of high school to pursue show business and boxing, though he later took dance lessons to refine his stage act.

He never attended university, but over the course of his career Hope was awarded 54 honorary doctorates from institutions across the United States, as well as an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Whittier College in 1965.

CAREER RECORD His career followed a legendary trajectory: Vaudeville dancer - Broadway star - Radio personality - Movie star - television pioneer. He signed with Paramount Pictures in 1937 and hosted the Pepsodent Show on radio for decades

APPEARANCE During his peak years, Hope was of medium height and slender build, with a long, expressive face, prominent hooked nose, and receding hairline that became a visual trademark in his films and television appearances. He often made self-deprecating jokes about his face, which became a staple of his comedic brand.

His distinctive facial structure was partly the result of reconstructive surgery following the 1921 tree accident that severely injured his face, requiring weeks of hospitalisation during which staff refused to give him a mirror.

Contemporary descriptions and film footage show him as agile and physically animated, using his body and facial expressions to punctuate punchlines.

Publicity photo of Bob Hope 

FASHION On stage and screen, Hope typically wore tailored suits or tuxedos, particularly when hosting the Oscars or appearing in formal comedy routines. In the “Road” pictures and some service shows he adopted more casual or themed costumes—tropical outfits, military khaki, or period get-ups—that matched the comic scenarios while still keeping him neatly dressed. On golf courses, however, he favored sporty, comfortable attire suited to his beloved pastime.

CHARACTER Publicly, Hope cultivated the persona of a quick-witted, self-deprecating, but fundamentally warm and patriotic entertainer whose humour poked fun at himself, his industry, and current events. 

Accounts of colleagues and audiences highlight his work ethic, relentless touring schedule, and commitment to performing for troops as defining elements of his character. At the same time, later biographical treatments point to a complicated private life marked by tightly controlled publicity and carefully managed image.

SPEAKING VOICE Hope’s speaking and performing voice was distinctive: brisk, slightly nasal, and perfectly suited to rapid-fire one-liners. His timing depended on crisp diction and quick, overlapping jokes, often delivered with a mock-complaining tone that heightened the humour.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Hope specialized in topical monologues, one-liners, and self-mockery, often joking about his own appearance, golf game, and supposed cowardice. 

In the “Road” films he played fast-talking cowards whose scheming selfishness inevitably gave way to reluctant heroism, a comic archetype he repeated across multiple movies. 

His humour relied heavily on current events, show business gossip, and political references, updated constantly for radio, television, and USO shows.

Examples of his wit include:

On his trip to the Soviet Union: "We had a very successful trip to Russia. We made it back".

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On President Eisenhower: "He gave up golf for painting. Fewer strokes, you know".

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On his own age at 100: "I'm so old, they've canceled my blood type".

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On his deathbed, when his wife asked where he wanted to be buried: "Surprise me".

On the Academy Awards: "Welcome to the Academy Awards, or, as it's known at my house, Passover"

RELATIONSHIPS Hope was briefly married to his vaudeville partner Grace Louise Troxell (1912–1992), a secretary from Chicago. They married on January 25, 1933 in Erie, Pennsylvania, and divorced in November 1934

Hope married singer Dolores Reade (Dolores Hope) on February 19, 1934 in Erie, Pennsylvania after first meeting when they both appeared in the Broadway musical Roberta.  The couple remained married until his death nearly seven decades later. 

The couple adopted four children—Linda, Anthony, Kelly, and Nora—and maintained a family life that, in public, was presented as stable and long-lasting. 

The Hope family; Back, from left: Tony, Dolores, and Linda; Front, from left: Kelly, Bob, and Nora

Later biographical accounts and investigative pieces allege that Hope engaged in numerous extramarital affairs, some of which became the subject of retrospective scandal narratives. His wife Dolores was aware of his behaviour; asked in a 1978 interview whether Hope was "100% true-blue," she answered, "I doubt it. I think he's perfectly human and average and all that. (3)

MONEY AND FAME By the mid-20th century, Hope was one of the highest-paid entertainers in America, earning substantial income from films, radio and television contracts, personal appearances, and real estate investments. He was a savvy businessman and an early pioneer of brand extension—hosting golf tournaments, writing books, and building his own production company, which owned the footage from his lucrative USO-tour television specials.

Hope collected real estate extensively and at one point was one of California's largest individual property owners, holding some 10,000 acres in the San Fernando Valley. He also had a small stake in the Cleveland Indians baseball team from 1946 (he was technically a 1948 World Series champion as a part-owner) and co-owned the Los Angeles Rams with Bing Crosby from 1947 to 1962. He was a co-owner of the Riverside International Raceway in 1960. Yet he was also reputed to be, in biographer Richard Zoglin's phrase, "tight with a buck".

FOOD AND DRINK Hope was notably disciplined about his diet. In a 1984 profile, he said he seldom varied from two meals a day of simple food, avoiding sweets and snacks—though he occasionally caved in to his two weaknesses: vanilla ice cream and lemon meringue pie. 

He did not drink alcohol and did not smoke. He took the same vitamins every day for 30 years (Surbex T, a B-complex vitamin supplement). (4)

ENTERTAINMENT CAREER Bob Hope’s journey through 20th-century entertainment resembles one of those improbably long rail journeys Bill Bryson might take—beginning in modest, slightly threadbare surroundings and somehow ending in a gleaming terminal packed with movie cameras, radio microphones, and American presidents laughing politely at jokes they suspect may be about them.

Hope’s professional career began in vaudeville, which was less a career ladder and more a form of cheerful, relentless athletic endurance. He started as half of a two-man dancing act performing in what were known as “small time” theatres—venues where tickets cost about ten cents and audiences were treated to as many as six performances a day, presumably because five simply wasn’t exhausting enough for everyone involved.

His fortunes improved in 1925 when silent film comedian Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle spotted him performing and helped him land a spot with a touring troupe called Hurley’s Jolly Follies. From there, Hope experimented with various novelty acts, including one charmingly peculiar ensemble called the Dancemedians, which paired him with George Byrne and the Hilton Sisters—conjoined twins who performed tap routines with an efficiency that must have made choreographers both impressed and faintly nervous.

Within five years, Hope had vaulted from the theatrical equivalent of the minor leagues to the grand stage of New York’s Palace Theatre, vaudeville’s most prestigious venue, where he performed in 1931 and 1932. This was rather like being promoted from performing in the lobby of a railway station to being given the keys to the station itself.

Broadway followed, though initially with the sort of roles designed mainly to confirm that the performer was, in fact, alive and capable of crossing a stage without incident. He appeared briefly in The Sidewalks of New York (1927) and Ups-a-Daisy (1928). By 1933, however, he had ascended to leading man territory, starring as Huckleberry Haines in Jerome Kern’s musical Roberta. He then appeared in Say When, the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies alongside Fanny Brice, and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante, thereby completing what appears to have been a deliberate effort to share stages with as many titans of American entertainment as possible.

Hope moved into radio in 1934, which at the time was the closest thing the modern world had to a national campfire—except sponsored, loudly, by soap manufacturers. His first regular series arrived in 1937 with the Woodbury Soap Hour, a programme that demonstrated the curious historical truth that America’s comedic golden age was financed largely by products designed to make listeners smell agreeable.

In 1938, The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope debuted, and Hope signed a ten-year contract with sponsor Lever Brothers. He assembled a formidable writing staff—eventually numbering 15—and paid them from his weekly salary of $2,500, an amount that would have caused most Americans of the era to sit down quietly and reconsider their life choices.

The show became the most popular radio programme in the United States, largely because Hope delivered topical jokes with a speed and sharpness suggesting he had discovered a previously unknown comedic fuel source.

Hollywood beckoned when Paramount Pictures signed Hope for The Big Broadcast of 1938. The film introduced his signature tune, “Thanks for the Memory,” performed as a duet with Shirley Ross. The song followed Hope throughout his career like a musical business card that never needed updating.

Hope went on to star in 54 theatrical films, including such favourites as The Cat and the Canary (1939), The Ghost Breakers (1940), My Favorite Brunette (1947), and The Paleface (1948). He achieved perhaps his most enduring cinematic success through the seven Road to… films with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, released between 1940 and 1962. These films combined travel, romance, music, and the cheerful dismantling of the fourth wall, often within the same scene.

His final starring role came in Cancel My Reservation (1972), a film that was received with the kind of polite disappointment normally reserved for overcooked holiday poultry.

Hope entered television in April 1950 with NBC’s Star-Spangled Review and soon made televised specials his personal domain. Over the following decades, he starred in an astonishing 296 specials, sponsored in succession by Frigidaire, General Motors, Chrysler, and Texaco, thereby proving that Hope could remain culturally relevant while simultaneously selling household appliances and motor vehicles.

His 1970 Christmas special, filmed in Vietnam, was watched by more than 60 percent of U.S. television households, making it one of the most widely viewed broadcasts in American history. His final television special, Laughing with the Presidents, aired in November 1996, by which point Hope had been entertaining audiences for so long that he was practically considered a historical monument with punchlines.

Between 1941 and 1991, Hope completed 57 USO tours, entertaining American troops across World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, the Iran-Iraq conflict, and the Persian Gulf War. His dedication was legendary. Novelist John Steinbeck, observing Hope during World War II, wrote in 1943:

“This man drives himself and is driven. It is impossible to see how he can do so much, can cover so much ground, can work so hard, and can be so effective.”

Hope’s tours became an essential morale-boosting tradition, featuring comedy, music, and Hollywood glamour delivered in locations where glamour was typically in short supply.

Hope hosted the Academy Awards 19 times between 1940 and 1977, making him the ceremony’s most frequent master of ceremonies. He turned his perpetual lack of a competitive Oscar into one of his most reliable jokes, greeting audiences with lines such as:

“Welcome to the Academy Awards, or, as it’s known at my house, Passover.”

It was a remark that neatly captured Hope’s enduring appeal: self-mocking, impeccably timed, and delivered with the air of a man who had mastered the rare art of being both enormously successful and perfectly willing to pretend he wasn’t.

MUSIC AND ARTS Hope's mother Avis was a light opera singer and amateur musician who taught her son to sing from an early age, nurturing his love of performance. He started his career as a dancer before transitioning primarily to comedy, and he remained comfortable incorporating music and dance into his acts throughout his life. He introduced several songs in his films, most famously "Thanks for the Memory" (1938), which won the Oscar for Best Original Song and became his lifelong signature tune, and "Buttons and Bows" (1948), another Oscar-winning song, as well as "Silver Bells" from The Lemon Drop Kid (1951), which he duetted on his Christmas specials with various female guest stars or with Dolores.

Hope supported the arts throughout his life. He rescued the Eltham Little Theatre in England from closure by providing funds to buy the property; it was renamed in his honour in 1982. He donated $1 million to the Television Academy Foundation's Archive of American Television. 

Filmmaker Woody Allen wrote and narrated a documentary honouring him, My Favorite Comedian, shown at Lincoln Center, and called Hope the comedian who influenced him "more than anyone else".

LITERATURE Hope "authored" (usually with ghostwriters) several books, mostly humorous memoirs about his travels and golf, such as They Got Me Covered and Have Tux, Will Travel: Bob Hope's Own Story.​

He also wrote a newspaper column and published dictated accounts of his wartime experiences, relying heavily on ghostwriters.

NATURE Hope's engagement with the natural world was largely incidental to his twin passions of golf and real estate. He spent considerable time outdoors on golf courses and at his Palm Springs hilltop home, which was deliberately designed by architect John Lautner to blend into the surrounding rocky desert landscape, with a "natural theme carried throughout" including a greenhouse wall in the master bath and walls built around existing boulders. He owned extensive California acreage, though this reflected commercial real-estate ambition rather than environmental advocacy. (5)

PETS Photographic evidence from circa 1945 shows Bob Hope with two dogs, with cocker spaniel types often appearing in the background of his family life during that decade

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Golf was Hope's consuming passion and became integral to his public identity. He was introduced to the game in the 1930s while performing in Winnipeg, Canada, and eventually played to a four handicap. He played in as many as 150 charity golf tournaments a year and used a golf club as a signature prop during his standup routines. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1983.

Hope putting a golf ball into an ashtray held by President Richard Nixon in the Oval Office

He founded the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1960, which made history in 1995 when Presidents Gerald Ford, George H. W. Bush, and Bill Clinton played in the same foursome—the only time three US presidents played golf together. 

Hope built a one-hole, three-par golf course on his Toluca Lake estate and would drive his golf cart through the neighbourhood to the nearby Lakeside Golf Club.

As a teenager, Hope fought as a boxer under the name "Packy East" at super featherweight (128 lb), recording at least three wins and one loss, and participated in some staged charity bouts later in life.

Bob Hope was a part-owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team (1946 onward), a co-owner of the Los Angeles Rams football team (1947–1962), and briefly co-owned the Riverside International Raceway in 1960. He used his television specials annually to introduce the AP All-American Football Team, and his favourite NFL team was the San Diego Chargers.

SCIENCE AND MATHS  Bob Hope was not formally trained in science or mathematics, but his career intersected with technological innovation in broadcasting and entertainment. Hope rose to prominence during the rapid expansion of radio, film, and television, becoming one of the first performers to master the art of multimedia entertainment. He embraced advancements in communication technology, using radio networks and later television broadcasts to reach vast audiences worldwide.

Hope also demonstrated a meticulous, almost mathematical approach to comedy writing. Over his lifetime, he amassed an astonishing 88,000 pages of comedy material, carefully catalogued and organised. Hope relied heavily on structured systems to maintain and refine his jokes. He famously employed more than 100 writers to help craft material for his trademark monologues. These jokes were carefully categorised by subject and stored in a fireproof vault. In 1998, he donated his entire joke archive to the United States Library of Congress, preserving a significant cultural and comedic record. His long-serving secretary once remarked that she had typed around seven million jokes for Hope across three decades and never laughed once, illustrating the industrial-scale precision behind his comedic output. (1)

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Hope was not known for formal philosophical statements, but his worldview was defined by patriotic optimism, relentless work ethic, and belief in the therapeutic power of laughter. He once said: "I have seen what a laugh can do. It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful".

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Hope was raised without a prominent denominational identity but married the lifelong Catholic Dolores Reade. For decades, when urged by Cardinal Roger Mahony to join the Church, Hope would joke: "My wife does enough praying to take care of both of us". 

At the age of 93, in 1996, Hope converted to Roman Catholicism—his wife's faith—and was baptised into the Church. Dolores Hope attended daily Mass at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood, where the couple were longstanding parishioners. In 1998, he and Dolores were invested as Knight and Dame Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by the Catholic Church. 

The Hopes donated toward the building of chapels and altars across the United States, including Our Lady of Hope Chapel at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., named in memory of his mother, Avis Townes Hope, and toward the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. 

POLITICS Hope cultivated close relationships with every US president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton, often making topical political jokes about them while remaining broadly supportive of the political establishment. He hosted the White House Correspondents Dinner three times, in 1944, 1953, and 1976. He was generally identified with mainstream American conservatism and was a particular supporter of Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Hope (left) with Nancy Reagan and President Ronald Reagan in 1981

During the Vietnam War, Hope was firmly pro-troop and pro-war, which aligned him with the establishment but brought him criticism from anti-war protesters and younger, hipper comics. By the late 1960s, some GI audiences were booing him, most notably in 1969 when he told troops that President Nixon had assured him he had "a plan to end the war".

After the 1981 shootings of President Reagan and Pope John Paul II, Hope surprised many by advocating for gun control: "I'm for gun registration. I don't think any jerk that's coked up should be allowed to walk in a store and buy a gun and turn around and shoot 19 people" he told The Washington Post. The backlash was swift: Vice President George H. W. Bush declined to meet him, and Nancy Reagan cancelled a luncheon seating with him.

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SCANDAL Accounts of Hope's serial womanising have been documented in multiple biographies, most notably by Arthur Marx (1993) and Richard Zoglin (2014). Allegations range from one-night stands with chorus girls and beauty queens to long-running affairs with Barbara Payton, Marilyn Maxwell, Rosemarie Frankland, and others. 

When he used a homophobic slur on a 1988 Tonight Show appearance, GLAAD requested an apology, and Hope agreed to tape a public service announcement opposing bigotry.

MILITARY RECORD Hope never served in the armed forces. Along with Bing Crosby, he was offered a commission as lieutenant commander in the US Navy during World War II, but President Roosevelt intervened, believing it would be better for troop morale if they continued performing for all branches of the military.

Hope performed his first USO show on May 6, 1941, at March Field in California. He continued entertaining troops throughout World War II, often travelling to dangerous and remote locations. His commitment extended well beyond that conflict, as he later performed during the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the third phase of the Lebanon Civil War, the closing years of the Iran–Iraq War, and the 1990–91 Persian Gulf War. 

His 57 USO tours between 1941 and 1991 effectively constituted a half-century of voluntary service to the military. Hope's tireless efforts earned him honorary military titles and widespread recognition from the U.S. Armed Forces. Hope became synonymous with wartime entertainment and national morale support.

In 1997 he received the designation Honorary Veteran of the US Armed Forces by Act of Congress signed by President Clinton. Hope said: "I've been given many awards in my lifetime, but to be numbered among the men and women I admire most is the greatest honour I have ever received".

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Hope maintained a remarkably disciplined health regimen throughout his life. In a 1984 profile, when he was 81 years old, friends and golfing partners reportedly said he “moves like 41, thinks like 21,” highlighting his youthful energy and mental sharpness. 

He followed a consistent exercise routine that included walking a brisk one to two miles every day, regardless of where he was travelling. Golf was another key part of his fitness routine, and he often ensured there were courses nearby so he could always fit in at least nine holes.

Hope also prioritised recovery and flexibility. Each evening he received a massage and performed stretching exercises, including hanging from rings for about 90 seconds at a time. He was similarly consistent with his health supplements, taking the same daily vitamins, Surbex T, for three decades.

His lifestyle choices were notably restrained. He avoided alcohol and smoking entirely and typically ate two simple meals a day. Hope was also proactive about medical care, reportedly visiting a doctor at the first sign of any potential health issue.

Alongside physical care, Hope believed strongly in the emotional benefits of humour. He famously described his personal wellness philosophy as: “Four solid laughs a day is great therapy.” (4)

Hope suffered from vision problems for much of his adult life and served as honorary chairman of Fight for Sight, a nonprofit funding eye research, donating $100,000 to establish the Bob Hope Fight for Sight Fund. In his later years, worsening vision rendered him unable to read his cue cards.

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In June 2000, aged 97, he was hospitalised for nearly a week for gastrointestinal bleeding. In August 2001, aged 98, he spent close to two weeks in hospital recovering from pneumonia. He was increasingly frail in his final years, and his public appearances diminished through the late 1990s.

HOMES In 1939, Bob and Dolores Hope built their primary residence at 10346 Moorpark Street in the Toluca Lake neighbourhood of Los Angeles. Designed in an English traditional style by architect Richard Finkelhor (who also built homes for Barbara Stanwyck and Zeppo and Harpo Marx), the house eventually grew to nearly 15,000 square feet on a 5.2-acre gated estate. It featured a one-hole, three-par golf course with bunkers, two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), a wood-panelled office, a joke storage vault, and a 4,000-square-foot guest suite that doubled as production office space. The Hopes' neighbours included Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, W. C. Fields, and Greta Garbo. 

After Dolores's death in 2011, the home was sold to billionaire Ron Burkle for $15 million in 2018 and then resold in 2023 for $26 million—the highest residential sale ever in Toluca Lake.

 

The Hopes' other major residence was at 2466 Southridge Drive in Palm Springs, designed by celebrated architect John Lautner. Commissioned in 1973 and completed around 1980, the striking Modernist structure—often compared to a volcano, a spaceship, or a mushroom—featured a sweeping copper roof rising to a crater-like circular skylight, panoramic glass walls overlooking the Coachella Valley and San Jacinto Mountains, and 23,366 square feet on six acres. When Hope first saw Lautner's model, he quipped: "Well, at least when they come down from Mars they'll know where to go". It sold in 2016 to Ron Burkle for $13 million. (10)

At one point, Hope was one of California's largest individual property owners, holding approximately 10,000 acres in the San Fernando Valley. His real-estate portfolio contributed significantly to his considerable wealth.

TRAVEL Hope was one of the most widely travelled entertainers in history, logging millions of miles over his career. His 57 USO tours alone took him to Europe, North Africa, the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and numerous other locations where American troops were stationed. 

Beyond the military shows, his film career, personal appearances, and golf engagements kept him constantly on the road—he quipped on his 50th wedding anniversary: "I've only been home for three weeks in 50 years". 

He once joked that the only place he could walk around unrecognised was the People's Republic of China—until someone recognised him even there.

DEATH Bob Hope died of pneumonia at 9:28 p.m. on Sunday, July 27, 2003, at his home in Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, at the age of 100. His wife Dolores and other family members were at his bedside. He had celebrated his 100th birthday on May 29, 2003, 59 days before his death, with the intersection of Hollywood and Vine renamed "Bob Hope Square" and his centennial declared "Bob Hope Day" in 35 states.

According to his wife, Dolores Hope, his final words were “Surprise me,” spoken in response to her question about where he wished to be buried. The remark reflected the spontaneous humour that defined his career. (1)

President George W. Bush led the nation in mourning, saying "The nation has lost a great citizen," and ordered all US flags on government buildings lowered to half-staff on the day of Hope's funeral. The Department of Defense issued a rare public statement upon the death of a civilian, declaring that Hope "holds a special place in the national security pantheon".

His remains were placed at the Bob Hope Memorial Garden at the San Fernando Mission in Mission Hills, Los Angeles. Dolores Hope died in 2011, aged 102, and was buried beside him.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Bob Hope enjoyed one of the longest and most diverse media careers in entertainment history. He rose to fame through vaudeville before becoming a dominant figure in radio, film, and television.

He starred in numerous films, most famously the popular “Road to…” comedy series alongside Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Hope became a staple of American broadcasting, hosting radio and television programmes for decades.

Hope also achieved legendary status as an awards host. He hosted the Academy Awards ceremony 19 times, making him one of the most recognisable figures associated with the Oscars. A famous 1978 appearance showcased his enduring popularity and stage presence late into his career.

 DC Comics published The Adventures of Bob Hope from 1950 to 1969 (109 issues)

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Hope voiced himself on The Simpsons ("Lisa the Beauty Queen," 1992)

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Greg Kinnear portrayed him in the 2020 film Misbehaviour. 

PBS aired American Masters: This is Bob Hope… in 2024.

ACHIEVEMENTS Bob Hope's contributions to entertainment, military morale, and American popular culture established him as one of the most influential performers of the twentieth century

He holds two entries in The Guinness Book of World Records. One recognises him as the entertainer with the longest-running contract with a single network, lasting 61 years. The second acknowledges him as the most honoured entertainer, having received over 1,500 awards during his lifetime. (1) They include:

5 Honorary Academy Awards.

Presidential Medal of Freedom (1969).

Congressional Gold Medal.

Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great.

A US Naval ship (USNS Bob Hope) named in his honor

Sources: (1) Encyclopaedia of Trivia (2) Ohio Memory (3) New York Post (4) UPI (5) Toptenrealestatedeals (6) Corygalbraith.com (7) Angelus (8) Bookforum (9) Newspapers.com (10) Los Angeles Times