Bob Hope

Leslie Townes Hope http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/95813.stm Hope's knighthood was honorary, so he was not entitled to style himself "Sir". (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), better known as Bob Hope, was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer, and dancer. He was the only person who received five honorary Oscars.

 Early life 
Bob Hope was born on May 29, 1903, in London, England to a Welsh mother and English father. In 1908, the Hopes migrated to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1920, at age 17, Hope became a U.S. citizen.

 Career 
Before he was an actor, Hope became a professional boxer. In this time he was called "Packey East". Years later, he was popular because of some musicals he played in. He was also part of some television and radio shows. At the same time, Bob Hope became a comedian. Hope visited the United States armed forces between 1941 and 1991 during the conflicts in that time period. These shows made Hope a household name and well liked by most Americans. Hope also entertained eleven U.S. Presidents.

In 1934, Bob Hope married Dolores DeFina (May 27, 1909 - September 19, 2011). The couple adopted four children: Eleanora, Anthony, Linda, and Kelly. 

 Awards 
Bob Hope was honoured with more than 1500 awards. Among them are five special Oscars in 1941, 1945, 1953, 1960, and 1966. Between 1940 and 1978 he hosted the Academy Awards record seventeen times.

And in 1998 he was appointed an honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. Upon accepting the appointment, Hope quipped, "I'm speechless. 70 years of ad lib material and I'm speechless."

 Death 
Bob Hope died of pneumonia on July 27, 2003, 2 months after his 100th birthday. He was buried 3 days later, reburied on July 22, 2005 in custom made grave in California.Seeing Stars

 References 

 Other websites 
An obituary on BBC

Category:Academy Award Honorary Award winners
Category:Actors from Cleveland
Category:Actors from London
Category:American centenarians
Category:20th-century American comedians
Category:20th-century American actors
Category:American movie actors
Category:American television actors
Category:Comedians from London
Category:Comedians from Cleveland
Category:Deaths from pneumonia
Category:Infectious disease deaths in the United States
Category:Kennedy Center honorees
Category:Centenarians
Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States
Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients
Category:Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:1903 births
Category:2003 deaths
Category:Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire