Leslie Townes "
Bob"
Hope,
KBE,
KC*SG,
KSS (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), was an American
comedian,
vaudevillian,
actor,
singer,
dancer,
athlete, and
author. With a career spanning nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in
over 70 films and shorts, including a series of "
Road" movies also starring
Bing Crosby and
Dorothy Lamour. In addition to hosting the
Academy Awards fourteen times (more than any other host), he appeared in many stage productions and television roles and was the author of fourteen books. The song "
Thanks for the Memory" is widely regarded as Hope's signature tune.