Bing Crosby
Acting
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
Acting219
movieTwiggy
2025
(archival footage)
movieI Can't Give You Anything But Love: The Jimmy McHugh Story
2024
Self (archive footage)
movieCarol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
2023
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieGrace Kelly – Hollywoods tragische Prinzessin
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieLouis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
Self - C.K Dexter-Haven (archive footage)
movieRat Pack
2022
Self (archive footage)
movieDean Martin: King of Cool
2021
Self (archive footage)
movieMy Music: A Classic Christmas
2019
Self (archive footage)
movieHoward
2018
Jeff Peters (archive footage)
movieThis Is Bob Hope...
2017
Self (archive footage)
movieBing Crosby: Rediscovered
2014
Self (archive footage)
movieMichael Bublé: Home For The Holidays
2012
Self (archive footage)
movieBing Crosby: The Television Specials Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials
2010
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Johnny Carson
2010
Self (archive footage)
movieTim Conway: Timeless Comedy
2007
Self (archive footage)
tvLegends
2006
Self (archive footage)
movie"All -Singing All-Dancing" Before And After
2006
Self - (archive footage)
movieGrace Kelly: Destiny of a Princess
2006
Self - Actor (archive footage)
Cole Porter in Hollywood: True Love
2003
Self (Archive Footage)
movieBiography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
2003
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood Ghosts & Gravesites
2003
Self (archive footage)
movieWalt Disney's Fables - Vol.1
2003
Narrator / Ichabod Crane / Brom Bones (voice) (archive footage)
movieEdith Head: The Paramount Years
2002
Self (archive footage)
Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
Self (archive footage)
movie'White Christmas': A Look Back with Rosemary Clooney
2000
Bob Wallace (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieHollywood Musicals of the 40's
2000
Self (archive footage)
Television: The First Fifty Years
1999
Self (archive footage)
movieA Bing Crosby Christmas
1998
Self - Host (archive footage)
movieChristmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
1997
Bob Wallace (archive footage)
movieThe First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies
1995
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment! III
1994
(archive footage)
movieSongs That Won the War
1994
Himself (Archive)
Holiday Greetings from 'The Ed Sullivan Show'
1992
Self - Vocalist (archive footage)
movieThe Magic of Bing Crosby
1991
Self (archive footage)
movieYou're the Top: The Cole Porter Story
1990
Self (archive footage)
movieHappy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieGrace Kelly: The American Princess
1987
Self (archive footage)
movieClassic Comedy Teams
1986
Self (archive footage)
movieHollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
Self (archive footage)
movieGoing Hollywood: The '30s
1984
(archive footage)
movieShowbiz Goes to War
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieDisney's Halloween Treat
1982
(archive footage)
movieShowbiz Ballyhoo
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieOops, Those Hollywood Bloopers!
1982
Self (archive footage)
movieThe Hollywood Clowns
1979
(archive footage)
movieBing Crosby: The Christmas Years
1978
Himself (archival footage)
movieHalloween Hall o' Fame
1977
Narrator/Brom Bones
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
Self (archive footage)
movieThat's Entertainment, Part II
1976
(archive footage)
movieIt's Showtime
1976
Self (archive footage)
movieHooray for Hollywood
1976
Self (archive footage)
movieBrother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
Self (archive footage)
tvDinah!
1974
Self
movieThat's Entertainment!
1974
Self - Host / Narrator
movieCancel My Reservation
1972
Himself (uncredited)
movieHollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
Self (archive footage)
movieDr. Cook's Garden
1971
Leonard Cook
movieGoldilocks
1970
Self / Papa Bear (voice)
movieSwing Out, Sweet Land
1970
Mark Twain
movieThe Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell
1968
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
Self (uncredited) / Self
movieThe Movie Orgy
1968
Self (archive footage)
tvThe Carol Burnett Show
1967
Self / Self - Guest / Various Characters
tvThe Danny Thomas Hour
1967
Charlie Castle
movieStagecoach
1966
Doc Josiah Boone
movieCinerama's Russian Adventure
1966
Narrator (voice)
movieBing Crosby Color Christmas Show
1965
Self (host)
tvThe Bing Crosby Show
1964
Bing Collins
movieRobin and the 7 Hoods
1964
Allen A. Dale
tvTop of the Pops
1964
Self (archive footage) / Self - Jim Hardy (archive footage)
movieThe Sound of Laughter
1963
Bob (Singer in Grocery Store)
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
Self / Self (archive footage)
movieThe Road to Hong Kong
1962
Harry Turner
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
Self / Self (archive footage)
movieThe Grand Olympics
1961
Himself
moviePepe
1960
Bing Crosby
movieHigh Time
1960
Harvey Howard
movieLet's Make Love
1960
Bing Crosby (uncredited)
movieLifetime of Comedy
1960
(archive footage)
movieSay One for Me
1959
Father Conroy
movieAlias Jesse James
1959
Bing (uncredited)
movieMan on Fire
1957
Earl Carleton
movieHigh Society
1956
C. K. Dexter-Haven
movieAnything Goes
1956
Bill Benson
movieHigh Tor
1956
Van Van Dorn
movieShowdown at Ulcer Gulch
1956
Influential Man
tvThe Phil Silvers Show
1955
Bing Crosby
movieThe Country Girl
1954
Frank Elgin
movieWhite Christmas
1954
Bob Wallace
movieLittle Boy Lost
1953
Bill Wainright
movieScared Stiff
1953
Skeleton (uncredited)
movieOff Limits
1952
Bing Crosby (archive footage) (uncredited)
movieRoad to Bali
1952
George Cochran
movieJust for You
1952
Jordan Blake
movieSon of Paleface
1952
Driver (uncredited)
movieThe Greatest Show on Earth
1952
Spectator (uncredited)
movieAngels in the Outfield
1951
Bing Crosby (uncredited)
movieHere Comes the Groom
1951
Peter 'Pete' Garvey
movieMr. Music
1950
Paul Merrick
tvThe Jack Benny Program
1950
Bing Crosby
Screen Actors
1950
Self (uncredited)
movieRiding High
1950
Dan Brooks
movieThe Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
1949
Narrator (segment "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow")
movieTop o' the Morning
1949
Joe Mulqueen
movieJolson Sings Again
1949
Himself (voice) (uncredited)
movieDown Memory Lane
1949
Bing Crosby
movieThe Emperor Waltz
1948
Virgil Smith
movieRoad to Rio
1947
Scat Sweeney
movieVariety Girl
1947
Bing Crosby
movieRoad to Hollywood
1947
Himself
movieWelcome Stranger
1947
Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson
movieMy Favorite Brunette
1947
Harry (uncredited)
movieBlue Skies
1946
Johnny Adams
movieRoad to Utopia
1946
Duke Johnson
movieThe Bells of St. Mary's
1945
Father O'Malley
movieHollywood Victory Caravan
1945
Bing Crosby
movieDuffy's Tavern
1945
Bing Crosby
movieOut of This World
1945
Herbie Fenton (singing voice) (uncredited)
movieHere Come the Waves
1944
Johnny Cabot
movieThe Princess and the Pirate
1944
Margaret's Sweetheart (uncredited)
The Road to Victory
1944
Bing Crosby (uncredited)
tvGolden Globe Awards
1944
Self - Winner
movieGoing My Way
1944
Father Chuck O'Malley
movieDixie
1943
Daniel Decatur Emmett
movieThey Got Me Covered
1943
Music Box (voice)
movieRoad to Morocco
1942
Jeff Peters
movieHoliday Inn
1942
Jim Hardy
movieMy Favorite Blonde
1942
Man Outside Union Hall (uncredited)
movieStar Spangled Rhythm
1942
Bing Crosby
movieBirth of the Blues
1941
Jeff Lambert
movieRhythm on the River
1940
Bob Sommers
movieIf I Had My Way
1940
Buzz Blackwell
movieRoad to Singapore
1940
Josh Mallon
movieThe Star Maker
1939
Larry Earl
movieEast Side of Heaven
1939
Denny Martin
movieParis Honeymoon
1939
'Lucky' Lawton
movieSing, You Sinners
1938
Joe Beebe
movieHollywood Handicap
1938
Himself
movieDoctor Rhythm
1938
Dr. Bill Remsen
movieDouble or Nothing
1937
'Lefty' Boylan
movieWaikiki Wedding
1937
Tony Marvin
moviePennies from Heaven
1936
Larry Poole
movieRhythm on the Range
1936
Jeff Larabee
movieAnything Goes
1936
Billy Crocker
movieTwo for Tonight
1935
Gilbert Gordon
movieMississippi
1935
Tom Grayson
movieHere Is My Heart
1934
J. Paul Jones
movieShe Loves Me Not
1934
Paul Lawton
movieWe're Not Dressing
1934
Stephen Jones
movieGoing Hollywood
1933
Bill 'Billy' Williams
moviePlease
1933
Howard Jones
movieToo Much Harmony
1933
Eddie Bronson
movieCollege Humor
1933
Professor Frederick Danvers
movieThe Big Broadcast
1932
Bing Hornsby
movieHollywood on Parade No. A-4
1932
Self (uncredited)
Dream House
1932
Bing Fawcett (Plumber)
movieOne More Chance
1931
Bing Bangs
movieBlue of the Night
1931
Bing Crosby / Jack Smith
movieI Surrender Dear
1931
Bing Crosby
movieKing of Jazz
1930
Trio Singer (as The Rhythm Boys)
Production10
movieMean Dog Blues
1978
Executive Producer
movieArnold
1973
Executive Producer
movieBen
1972
Executive Producer
tvBen Casey
1961
Executive Producer
movieMan on Fire
1957
Executive Producer
movieHigh Tor
1956
Executive Producer
movieRoad to Bali
1952
Executive Producer
movieAbie's Irish Rose
1946
Executive Producer
movieThe Great John L.
1945
Executive Producer
