Person
Bing Crosby
Tacoma, Washington, USA
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 r…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Twiggy
Movie (archival footage)
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2024
I Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2023
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
Movie Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
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2022
Grace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2022
Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
Movie Self - C.K Dexter-Haven (archive footage)
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2022
Rat Pack
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2021
Dean Martin: King of Cool
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2019
My Music: A Classic Christmas
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2018
Howard
Movie Jeff Peters (archive footage)
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2017
This Is Bob Hope...
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2014
Bing Crosby: Rediscovered
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2012
Michael Bublé: Home For The Holidays
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2010
Bing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2010
The Best of Johnny Carson
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2007
Tim Conway: Timeless Comedy
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2006
Legends
TV show Self (archive footage)
More credits
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2006
"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
Movie Self - (archive footage)
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2006
Grace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
Movie Self - Actor (archive footage)
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2005
Legendary Christmas Entertainers
Movie Self
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2005
Stan Ridgway's Holiday In Dirt
Movie Thanks
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2004
'Twas the Night - A Holiday Celebration
Movie Self
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2004
Parkinson
TV show Self - Guest / Performer (archive footage)
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2004
Bing Crosby: Legends in Concert
Movie Self
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2003
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
Movie Self (Archive Footage)
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2003
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2003
Hollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2003
Walt Disney's Fables - Vol.1
Movie Narrator / Ichabod Crane / Brom Bones (voice) (archive footage)
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2002
Edith Head: The Paramount Years
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2001
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2001
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2000
'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
Movie Bob Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
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2000
Hollywood Musicals of the 40's
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1999
Television: The First Fifty Years
Movie Self (archive footage)
- 1998
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1998
A Bing Crosby Christmas
Movie Self - Host (archive footage)
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1997
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
Movie Bob Wallace (archive footage)
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1996
Silent Night
Movie Songs
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1996
Good King Wenceslas
Movie Songs
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1995
White Christmas
Movie Songs
