|
 |
(Rocky's opponent, wrestling champion Thunderlips, enters the arena.) |
 |
Bob Hope (1903 - 2003) (born "Leslie Townes Hope", known as "Robert Leslie Hope" throughout his career), British-born American comedian, actor, singer, dancer, athlete, and author who appeared in Vaudeville, films, television and radio. Hosted the Academy Awards 18 times. Toured for the USO in multiple wars, from World War II to the Gulf War, and in 1996 was declared the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces" by Congress. He was also the recipient of three knighthoods: the Order of the British Empire, the Order of St. Gregory the Great and the Order of St. Sylvester.
His best-known films are the Film Noir parody My Favorite Brunette and the Road to ... series, in which he co-starred with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. He also starred in 1939 version of The Cat and the Canary. For many years his stand-up material was written by his good friend Bob Monkhouse, a stand-up comedian in his own right.
- Fake American: Technically. Born in Britain and emigrated to the United States when he was five. He lost his British accent well before he entered show business.
- Glamorous Wartime Singer: Hope himself couldn't honestly be counted as one, but he certainly associated with them.
- Lovable Coward: His persona in many of his films like The Paleface and The Princess and the Pirate.
- Rapid-Fire Comedy
- Running Gag: Hosted several Academy Award ceremonies, but never won one. This became fodder for his routines about his movie career and Hollywood politics after Bing Crosby won for Going My Way. (See "Self-Deprecation" below.)
- The cover of the book Inside Oscar by Damien Bona and Mason Wiley has a gag photo of Marlon Brando trying to wrest his Oscar for On the Waterfront away from Hope.
- Self-Deprecation: "Welcome once again to the Academy Awards... or as we call it in my family, Passover..."
- Theme Tune: Thanks for the Memories.
- Those Two Actors: More accurately Those Three Actors, with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.