Bob Hope

Bob Hope (1903 - 2003), British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in Vaudeville, films, television and radio. Hosted the Academy Awards 18 times. Toured for the USO in multiple wars, from World War II to the Gulf War, and in 1996 was declared the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces" by Congress.

(Rocky's opponent, wrestling champion Thunderlips, enters the arena.)

Mickey: Let's get out of here.

Rocky: Aw c'mon Mick, it's for charity.

Mickey: You're wearing your anatomy out for charity! Nobody else does this much for charity!

Rocky: Bob Hope would.

Mickey: That's true.

—Rocky III

His best-known films are the Film Noir parody My Favorite Brunette and the Road To ... series, in which he co-starred with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. He also starred in 1939 version of The Cat and The Canary. For many years his stand-up material was written by his good friend Bob Monkhouse, a stand-up comedian in his own right.

Tropes associated with Bob Hope include:

Glamorous Wartime Singer: Hope himself couldn't honestly be counted as one, but he certainly associated with them.
Lovable Coward: His persona in many of his films like Pale Face and The Princess And The Pirate.
Rapid-Fire Comedy
Running Gag: Hosted several Academy Award ceremonies, but never won one. This became fodder for his routines about his movie career and Hollywood politics after Bing Crosby won for Going My Way. (See "Self Deprecation" below.)
- The cover of the book Inside Oscar by Damien Bona and Mason Wiley has a gag photo of Marlon Brando trying to wrest his Oscar for On the Waterfront away from Hope.
Self-Deprecation: "Welcome once again to the Academy Awards... or as we call it in my family, Passover..."
Theme Tune: Thanks for the Memories.
Those Two Actors: with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour