Bob Hope: 15 years in memoriam (33 images)

Comedian Bob Hope died 15 years ago, on July 27, 2003, at 100 years old. Hope was born as Leslie Townes in Eltham, England, and moved to the United States as a child. Hope is known for his seven road films with co-stars Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour and his countless USO tours to entertain U.S. troops. Hope's famous signature tune "Thanks for the Memory" was introduced by him in the 1938 film "Big Broadcast of 1938." Here are some highlights of his career and service through the years.

Bob Hope, seen here as a 16-year old "hoofing" in Vaudeville, left his native England at age 4 when his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. He turned to comedy in the late 1920s. UPI File Photo

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Hope in 1938, age 35, as he was starting a 12-year stint at NBC's radio network. UPI File Photo

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Hope (R), who had a brief amateur boxing career, ready to take on former heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey for a television skit in 1951. UPI File Photo

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From 1942 through 1972, Hope made scores of overseas trips to entertain American troops. Here in 1967 he shares the stage with Joey Heatherton in Korat, Thailand. UPI File Photo

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