Bob Hope Trivia

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Wrote several books about his experiences over the years, including "I Owe Russia $1200", about his Soviet tour in early 1962; "Confessions of a Hooker", about his lifelong passion for golf; and "Don't Shoot, It's Only Me!", about his many overseas trips to entertain U.S. troops over the years. (imdb.com)

Received 58 honorary degrees. (imdb.com)

Has a ship named after him: USNS Bob Hope. (imdb.com)

His grandfather lived to age of 99 years, 11 months, and 25 days (imdb.com)

He and best friend Bing Crosby were planning to make one last "road" picture in early 1977, but Bing died before filming. Bob was so broken up about Bing's death that he couldn't sleep for days on end. He stated that it was one of the worst times of his life and that his wife was his rock who got him through the tough time. (imdb.com)

1957: Golden Globe: Ambassador of Good Will Award (imdb.com)

1984: Emmy: Governor's Award (imdb.com)

In the 1950s, a part-owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. His guest appearance in "I Love Lucy" (1951) centered around his attending a Yankees-Indians game at Yankee Stadium. (imdb.com)

In 1997, the U.S. Air Force honored Hope by naming a cargo plane "The Spirit of Bob Hope" after the legendary entertainer. (imdb.com)

He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1990. (imdb.com)

He bought several acres of prime real estate in Rancho Mirage, CA, to build a racetrack. He later decided a medical center was needed in the area instead, so he donated the land to build Eisenhower Medical Center, which is now rated as among the top 100 hospitals in America today. A medical building on the campus is named for him and contains statues of he and wife Dolores Hope in the lobby. Another medical building next door is called "Hope Square". (imdb.com)

In 1969, he was worth in excess of $150 million, largely as a result of shrewd business and real estate investments. (imdb.com)

First show business job was as a dancer in the 'Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle' vaudeville revue in Cleveland in 1924. (imdb.com)

He is among the select few non-band members who have had the honor of dotting the "i" during The Ohio State University Marching Band's 'Script Ohio' routine. This is considered the greatest honor the band can bestow to any non-band person and is an extremely special (and rare) event. (imdb.com)

1995: National Medal of Arts: presented by President Bill Clinton. (imdb.com)

In November of 1948, when President Harry S. Truman scored his upset presidential re-election victory, Hope sent him a one-word telegram: "Unpack". Truman was so amused by it he kept it in his desk in the Oval Office. (imdb.com)

Served as United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO) Entertainment Coordinator from 1941 - 2001. Retired his post at age 98 in favor of Wayne Newton. (imdb.com)

On his wartime USO tours he had one ironclad rule that he insisted his fellow performers follow: under no circumstances were they allowed to cry when visiting wounded soldiers in military hospitals. This was often difficult given the amount of suffering they saw, but he told his performers that it was their duty to always smile and provide laughs and good cheer for the troops. According to Hope, he broke his own rule only once. While visiting an army hospital in Italy in 1943, he stopped at the bedside of a wounded soldier who had been in a coma for two months. The soldier suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Hey, Bob Hope! When did you get here?" He had to leave the hospital room to keep the troops from seeing his tears, but he returned a few hours later to present the soldier with his Purple Heart medal. (imdb.com)

Played his first big part in the Broadway version of "Roberta" in 1933. (imdb.com)

According to Hope's biographer Arthur Marx, son of comedian Groucho Marx, Hope married his vaudeville partner of five years, Grace Louise Troxell, on 25 January 1933, although they divorced soon afterwards. Hope denied that they had actually married. (imdb.com)

Brother Jack Hope sometimes served as producer of Bob's shows; his memoir 'I Owe Russia $1200' is dedicated to Jack's memory. (imdb.com)

1985: Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award (imdb.com)

Awarded a Congressional Gold Medal by President John F. Kennedy at the White House. (September 11th 1963). (imdb.com)

Appointed an honorary CBE in 1976. (imdb.com)

1962: Hollywood Foreign Press Association: Cecil B. DeMille Award. (imdb.com)

Attended the funeral of his friend of more than forty years, former President Richard Nixon. (27 April 1994). (imdb.com)

Hosted the Academy Awards in 1940, 1943, 1945 (alongside John Cromwell), 1946 (alongside James Stewart), 1953 (alongside Conrad Nagel), 1955 (alongside Thelma Ritter), 1958 (alongside James Stewart, David Niven, Jack Lemmon, Rosalind Russell and "Donald Duck"), 1959 (alongside Jerry Lewis, David Niven, Laurence Olivier, Mort Sahl and Tony Randall), 1960, 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1975 (alongside Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra) and finally in 1978. (imdb.com)

Wife Dolores Hope was born 27th May 1909. She and Bob celebrated their birthdays on 28th May every year - splitting the difference between their respective real birthdays. (imdb.com)

Once remarked the only place where he could walk unrecognized was in the People's Republic of China. But even then a Chinese man still recognized him from one of his movies from before the Chinese Revolution. (imdb.com)

Has three theaters named after him, located in London, California, and on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. (imdb.com)

1965: Screen Actors Guild: Life Achievement Award (imdb.com)

He change his name from Leslie to Bob, because in school they would call the roll as 'Hope, Leslie' and classmates shortened it to hopeless. (imdb.com)

Holds two entries in "The Guinness Book of World Records". One is for having the distinction of being the entertainer with "the longest running contract with a single network - spanning sixty-one years". The second is for being the "most honored entertainer", with over 1500 awards. (imdb.com)

At the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003, Hope released a statement saying he wished he could go to the country to entertain the troops, but that his doctors would not allow him. (imdb.com)

He was one of the richest movie stars.... he ranked in the top ten highest salaried stars continuously from 1941-1953 [except for 1948] (imdb.com)

Retired from show business at the age of 93 after filming Bob Hope's Bag Full of Christmas Memories (1993). (imdb.com)

Was honored on the "'Dean Martin' Celebrity Roasts" in 1974. (imdb.com)

Has 4 adopted children: Eleanora Avis "Nora", Anthony, Linda Hope and Kelly Hope. (imdb.com)

Was a supporter of Valley Forge Military Academy & Junior College in Wayne, Pennsylvania. He has the "Bob Hope Five-Star Award for Distinguished Service to the United States of America" named in his honor. (imdb.com)

Awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Lyndon Johnson on his last day in office. (January 20th 1969) (imdb.com)

There is a major street in Rancho Mirage, CA, named after him. Bob Hope Drive crosses Frank Sinatra, Gerald Ford, Ginger Rogers and Dinah Shore Drives. (imdb.com)

His last appearance with Lucille Ball on television was March 28, 1989 on the The 61st Annual Academy Awards (1989) (TV) show. Hope and Ball introduced a musical number featuring "The Stars of Tomorrow," (which included Johnny Depp, Christian Slater, and Ricki Lake). They both received a standing ovation upon arriving on stage. Lucille Ball died 28 days later on April 26. 1989. (imdb.com)

Hospitalized with gastro-intestinal bleeding in June 2000. Although he received a blood transfusion after the bleeding in his colon was stopped, no surgery was performed. (imdb.com)

Hosted the Oscars 18 times, including the ceremonies in 1939, 1954, 1962 and 1968. (imdb.com)

Hospitalized with pneumonia and respiratory problems in August 2001. A week after he left hospital on 4 September, Hope and his wife released a joint statement expressing their horror at the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center. (imdb.com)

Spent his 99th birthday--29 May 2002--at home in Toluca Lake, CA. Wife Dolores Hope's 93rd birthday was just two days before. Los Angeles National Cemetery dedicated veterans' chapel in his name to salute his lifetime of service entertaining U.S. troops. (imdb.com)

Entertained U.S. troops starting 6th May 1941, and became the first 'honorary veteran' by Congress. (imdb.com)

He entertained 11 different Presidents, beginning with Franklin Delano Roosevelt and ending with Bill Clinton. (imdb.com)

Despite a well documented reputation for frugality, Hope is believed to have donated an estimated $1 billion to charity. (imdb.com)

Awarded an honorary knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II. (1998) (imdb.com)