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Bob Hope

Comedy history · 12 facts, each from at least two of 13 independent sources · last reviewed 2026-10-17

Bob Hope (1903–2003) was a world-famous comedian.1,2,3,4,5 For roughly fifty years, he toured the globe to perform for U.S. military personnel.6,7

Early life

Hope was born Leslie Towns Hope in England on May 29, 1903.1,8,9,10 His parents were Avis Townes and William Henry Hope, who worked as a stonemason.8,10,11,12,13 For a short time, he fought as an amateur boxer using the ring name Packy East, also spelled Packie East.8,11

Film and television

In the film Road to Singapore, Hope shared the screen with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.5,10 His television specials started in 1950.14,15 His daughter, Linda Hope, served as his producer.6,7

Honors and death

Hope received the National Medal of Arts from President Clinton.8,16 He died on July 27, 2003.8,9

Sources

  1. Desert Dreamers 6: The Megawatts | Palm Springs Life (palmspringslife.com)
  2. British-born American comedian Bob Hope , master of ceremonies on NBC... News Photo - Getty Images (gettyimages.ie)
  3. Boys' Industrial School - Ohio History Central - A product of the Ohio Historical Society (ohiohistorycentral.org) · archived copy
  4. Last Go-Round Recalls Legends of Famed Track : And Now, Riverside Roars Into History - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com)
  5. BBC News | UK | Bob Hope birthplace for sale (bbc.co.uk)
  6. Dear Bob | University Press of Mississippi (ms.us)
  7. Bob Hope Liberated from NBC After 60 Years (eonline.com)
  8. HOPE, LESLIE TOWNES (BOB) | Encyclopedia of Cleveland History | Case Western Reserve University (case.edu)
  9. This is Bob Hope... | Biography | American Masters | PBS (pbs.org) · archived copy
  10. CBC News - Indepth Backgrounder: Bob Hope (cbc.ca) · archived copy
  11. Bob Hope Reflects on the Road Not Taken - Rolling Stone (rollingstone.com) · archived copy
  12. Early Life: Bob Hope and American Variety (Library of Congress) (loc.gov) · archived copy
  13. Bob Hope Reflects on the Road Not Taken (rollingstone.com)
  14. Bob Hope Laughing with the Presidents (variety.com)
  15. This is Bob Hope... | Bob Hope Biography: Did Bob Hope "Stick Around Too Long?" | American Masters | PBS (pbs.org)
  16. Committee Reports Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress) (loc.gov) · archived copy

Updated November 12, 2026.

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