
Bing Crosby
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1903-05-03
Day of Death
1977-10-14 (74 years old)
Place of Birth
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Bing Crosby
Biography
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, comedian and actor. The first multimedia star, Crosby was a leader in record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses from 1931 to 1954. His early career coincided with recording innovations that allowed him to develop an intimate singing style that influenced many male singers who followed him, including Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Dick Haymes, and Dean Martin. Yank magazine said that he was "the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen" during World War II. In 1948, American polls declared him the "most admired man alive", ahead of Jackie Robinson and Pope Pius XII. Also in 1948, Music Digest estimated that his recordings filled more than half of the 80,000 weekly hours allocated to recorded radio music.
Crosby won an Oscar for Best Actor for his role as Father Chuck O'Malley in the 1944 motion picture Going My Way and was nominated for his reprise of the role in The Bells of St. Mary's opposite Ingrid Bergman the next year, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character. In 1963, Crosby received the first Grammy Global Achievement Award. He is one of 33 people to have three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the categories of motion pictures, radio, and audio recording. He was also known for his collaborations with longtime friend Bob Hope, starring in the Road to... films from 1940 to 1962.
Crosby influenced the development of the postwar recording industry. After seeing a demonstration of a German broadcast quality reel-to-reel tape recorder brought to America by John T. Mullin, he invested $50,000 in a California electronics company called Ampex to build copies. He then convinced ABC to allow him to tape his shows. He became the first performer to pre-record his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape. Through the medium of recording, he constructed his radio programs with the same directorial tools and craftsmanship (editing, retaking, rehearsal, time shifting) used in motion picture production, a practice that became an industry standard. In addition to his work with early audio tape recording, he helped to finance the development of videotape, bought television stations, bred racehorses, and co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team.
Known For
Acting
(2025)
Twiggy
as (archival footage)
(2024)
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
as Self (archive footage)
(2023)
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2022)
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
as Self - C.K Dexter-Haven (archive footage)
(2022)
Rat Pack
as Self (archive footage)
(2022)
Grace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
as Self (archive footage)
(2021)
Dean Martin: King of Cool
as Self (archive footage)
(2019)
My Music: A Classic Christmas
as Self (archive footage)
(2018)
Howard
as Jeff Peters (archive footage)
(2017)
This Is Bob Hope...
as Self (archive footage)
(2014)
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
as Self (archive footage)
(2010)
(2010)
(2007)
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
as Self
(2006)
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
as Self - Actor (archive footage)
(2006)
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
as Archive Footage
(2005)
(2004)
(2004)
(2003)
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.1
as Narrator / Ichabod Crane / Brom Bones (voice) (archive footage)
(2003)
Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
as (archive footage)
(2003)
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
as Self (archive footage)
(2003)
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
as Self (Archive Footage)
(2002)
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
as (archive footage)
(2001)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
as Self (archive footage)
(2001)
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
as Self (archive footage)
(2000)
'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
as Bob Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
(2000)
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
as Self (archive footage)
(1999)
Television: The First Fifty Years
as Self (archive footage)
(1998)
(1998)
A Bing Crosby Christmas
as Self - Host (archive footage)
(1997)
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
as Bob Wallace (archive footage)
(1994)
Songs That Won the War
as Himself (Archive)
(1994)
That's Entertainment! III
as (archive footage)
(1994)
(1992)
(1992)
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
as Self - Vocalist (archive footage)
(1991)
The Magic of Bing Crosby
as Self (archive footage)
(1990)
You're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
as Self (archive footage)
(1988)
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self (archive footage)
(1987)
Grace Kelly: The American Princess
as Self (archive footage)
(1986)
Classic Comedy Teams
as Self (archive footage)
(1985)
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
as Self (archive footage)
(1984)
Going Hollywood: The '30s
as (archive footage)
(1982)
Showbiz Goes to War
as (archive footage)
(1982)
Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
as Self (archive footage)
(1982)
Disney's Halloween Treat
as (archive footage)
(1982)
Showbiz Ballyhoo
as Self (archive footage)
(1979)
The Hollywood Clowns
as (archive footage)
(1978)
Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years
as Himself (archival footage)
(1977)
(1977)
Bing Crosby: Live In Mysen, Norway
as Himself
(1977)
Halloween Hall o' Fame
as Narrator/Brom Bones
(1976)
Hooray for Hollywood
as Self (archive footage)
(1976)
It's Showtime
as Self (archive footage)
(1976)
That's Entertainment, Part II
as (archive footage)
(1975)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
as Self (archive footage)
(1975)
(1974)
That's Entertainment!
as Self - Host / Narrator
(1973)
(1972)
Cancel My Reservation
as Himself (uncredited)
(1972)
Hollywood: The Dream Factory
as Self (archive footage)
(1971)
Dr. Cook's Garden
as Leonard Cook
(1971)
The Great Radio Comedians
as Self
(1971)
Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas
as Himself
(1970)
Swing Out, Sweet Land
as Mark Twain
(1970)
Bing Crosby: Cooling It
as Self
(1970)
Goldilocks
as Self / Papa Bear (voice)
(1968)
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1968)
The Movie Orgy
as Self (archive footage)
(1966)
Christmas with Crosby & Kate
as Himself
(1966)
Stagecoach
as Doc Josiah Boone
(1966)
Cinerama's Russian Adventure
as Narrator (voice)
(1965)
Bing Crosby Color Christmas Show
as Self (host)
(1965)
Bob Hope Christmas Show
as Self
(1964)
Robin and the 7 Hoods
as Allen A. Dale
(1963)
The Sound of Laughter
as Bob (Singer in Grocery Store)
(1962)
The Road to Hong Kong
as Harry Turner
(1962)
The Bing Crosby Show
as Himself
(1961)
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
(1961)
(1961)
The Grand Olympics
as Himself
(1960)
High Time
as Harvey Howard
(1960)
Pepe
as Bing Crosby
(1960)
Let's Make Love
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
(1960)
Lifetime of Comedy
as (archive footage)
(1959)
Alias Jesse James
as Bing (uncredited)
(1959)
Say One for Me
as Father Conroy
(1959)
The Frank Sinatra Timex Show
as Self
(1958)
(1957)
Man on Fire
as Earl Carleton
(1957)
The Edsel Show
as Self
(1957)
(1956)
High Society
as C. K. Dexter-Haven
(1956)
Showdown at Ulcer Gulch
as Influential Man
(1956)
Anything Goes
as Bill Benson
(1956)
High Tor
as Van Van Dorn
(1954)
White Christmas
as Bob Wallace
(1954)
The Bing Crosby Show
as Self
(1954)
The Country Girl
as Frank Elgin
(1953)
Little Boy Lost
as Bill Wainright
(1953)
Scared Stiff
as Skeleton (uncredited)
(1953)
Road to Bali
as George Cochran
(1952)
Son of Paleface
as Driver (uncredited)
(1952)
Just for You
as Jordan Blake
(1952)
The Greatest Show on Earth
as Spectator (uncredited)
(1952)
Off Limits
as Bing Crosby (archive footage) (uncredited)
(1951)
Here Comes the Groom
as Peter 'Pete' Garvey
(1951)
Angels in the Outfield
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
(1950)
Riding High
as Dan Brooks
(1950)
Screen Actors
as Self (uncredited)
(1950)
You Can Change The World
as Self
(1950)
Mr. Music
as Paul Merrick
(1949)
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
as Hank Martin
(1949)
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
as Narrator (segment "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")
(1949)
Jolson Sings Again
as Himself (voice) (uncredited)
(1949)
Down Memory Lane
as (archive footage)
(1949)
Top o' the Morning
as Joe Mulqueen
(1949)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
as Narrator
(1948)
The Emperor Waltz
as Virgil Smith
(1947)
Road to Rio
as Scat Sweeney
(1947)
Road to Hollywood
as Himself
(1947)
My Favorite Brunette
as Harry (uncredited)
(1947)
Welcome Stranger
as Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson
(1947)
Variety Girl
as Bing Crosby
(1946)
Road to Utopia
as Duke Johnson
(1946)
Blue Skies
as Johnny Adams
(1945)
Out of This World
as Herbie Fenton (singing voice)
(1945)
Duffy's Tavern
as Bing Crosby
(1945)
The All-Star Bond Rally
as Self
(1945)
The Bells of St. Mary's
as Father Chuck O'Malley
(1945)
Hollywood Victory Caravan
as Bing Crosby
(1945)
Road to Home
as Self
(1945)
(1944)
Going My Way
as Father Chuck O'Malley
(1944)
The Shining Future
as Self
(1944)
The Road to Victory
as Bing Crosby (uncredited)
(1944)
The Princess and the Pirate
as Margaret's Sweetheart (uncredited)
(1944)
Here Come the Waves
as Johnny Cabot
(1943)
They Got Me Covered
as Music Box (voice)
(1943)
Show-Business at War
as Self
(1943)
Dixie
as Daniel Decatur Emmett
(1943)
Don't Hook Now
as Self
(1942)
Road to Morocco
as Jeff Peters
(1942)
Star Spangled Rhythm
as Bing Crosby
(1942)
Holiday Inn
as Jim Hardy
(1942)
My Favorite Blonde
as Man Outside Union Hall (uncredited)
(1941)
Birth of the Blues
as Jeff Lambert
(1941)
Road to Zanzibar
as Chuck Reardon
(1940)
Rhythm on the River
as Bob Sommers
(1940)
If I Had My Way
as Buzz Blackwell
(1940)
Road to Singapore
as Joshua 'Josh' Mallon V
(1940)
Swing with Bing
as Himself
(1939)
East Side of Heaven
as Denny Martin
(1939)
Paris Honeymoon
as 'Lucky' Lawton
(1939)
The Star Maker
as Larry Earl
(1938)
Sing, You Sinners
as Joe Beebe
(1938)
Doctor Rhythm
as Dr. Bill Remsen
(1938)
Hollywood Handicap
as Himself
(1937)
Double or Nothing
as 'Lefty' Boylan
(1937)
Waikiki Wedding
as Tony Marvin
(1936)
Pennies from Heaven
as Larry Poole
(1936)
Rhythm on the Range
as Jeff Larabee
(1936)
Anything Goes
as Billy Crocker
(1935)
The Big Broadcast of 1936
as Bing
(1935)
Two for Tonight
as Gilbert Gordon
(1935)
Mississippi
as Tom Grayson
(1934)
We're Not Dressing
as Stephen Jones
(1934)
(1934)
Here Is My Heart
as J. Paul Jones
(1934)
She Loves Me Not
as Paul Lawton
(1934)
Hollywood on Parade No. B-4
as Self
(1933)
Sing, Bing, Sing
as Bing
(1933)
Please
as Howard Jones
(1933)
Going Hollywood
as Bill 'Billy' Williams
(1933)
Too Much Harmony
as Eddie Bronson
(1933)
College Humor
as Professor Frederick Danvers
(1932)
The Big Broadcast
as Bing Hornsby
(1932)
Dream House
as Bing Fawcett (Plumber)
(1932)
Hollywood on Parade
as Self
(1932)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-4
as Self (uncredited)
(1932)
Billboard Girl
as Bing
(1932)
Hollywood on Parade No. A-2
as Self
(1931)
I Surrender Dear
as Bing Crosby
(1931)
One More Chance
as Bing Bangs
(1931)
Confessions of a Co-Ed
as Bing
(1931)
Blue of the Night
as Bing Crosby / Jack Smith
(1930)
The March of Time
as Self
(1930)
Reaching for the Moon
as Bing
(1930)
King of Jazz
as Trio Singer (as The Rhythm Boys)
(1930)
Two Plus Fours
as Bing
Crew
(2023)
'Tis The Season
Music
(2005)
(2004)
Bing Crosby: Legends in Concert
Director
(1996)
Silent Night
Songs
(1996)
Good King Wenceslas
Songs
(1995)
White Christmas
Songs
(1978)
Mean Dog Blues
Executive Producer
(1973)
Paper Moon
Thanks
(1973)
Terror in the Wax Museum
Producer
(1972)
Ben
Executive Producer
(1968)
White Christmas
Music
(1966)
Calder
Music
(1957)
Man on Fire
Executive Producer
(1956)
High Tor
Executive Producer
(1946)
Abie's Irish Rose
Executive Producer
(1945)
The Great John L.
Executive Producer
(1942)