Bob Hope

Born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903, in Eltham, London, England, to Avis and William Henry Hope. He worked vaudeville as both a solo act and in partnerships, performing at the Palace Theater among other houses. He married nightclub singer Dolores Reade; together they adopted four children: Linda, Tony, Nora, and Kelly. Over the years he played countless United Service Organizations tours, entertaining millions of servicemen.

Film credits include "The Greatest Show on Earth," "Road to Morocco," "Spies Like Us," "The Muppet Movie," "The Oscar," "Fancy Pants," and "Story of G.I. Joe." Television credits include "The Golden Girls," "The Simpsons," "Roseanne," "I Love Lucy," "Get Smart," "The Carol Burnett Show," "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color," and "Highway to Heaven."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower awarded him the Medal of Merit. In 1963, John F. Kennedy presented him the Presidential Gold Medal for services to his country and the cause of world peace. He also received the National Medal of Arts in 1995, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Distinguished Service Medal from each branch of the armed forces. The Academy gave him Honorary Awards in 1941, 1945, 1953, and 1966, plus the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1960. His Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special came in 1966 for "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre," followed by a Governor's Award at the Primetime Emmys in 1984. He received a star on the Walk of Fame in 1960 and was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1985.

His amateur boxing name was Packy East. In 1998 he received the honorary title Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Early in his career he served as Eddie Dowling's understudy on the 1927 national tour of Honeymoon Lane. He wrote seven books: "I Never Left Home," "They Got Me Covered," "So This Is Peace," "Have Tux, Will Travel," "I Owe Russia $1,200," "The Road to Hollywood" with Bob Thomas, "Don't Shoot, It's Only Me" with Melville Shavelson, and "Dear Prez, I Wanna Tell Ya!" On July 29, 2003, Broadway theater marquees were dimmed in his honor.