Rudy Vallee
Acting
Born: 1901-07-28 in Island Pond, Vermont, USA
Biography
Rudy Vallee started his career as a saxophone player and singer and later became a band leader. In the 1920s and early 30s he had a hit radio program, The Fleishmann's Yeast Hour (where he was hated by his cast and crew due to his explosive ego-driven personality). In the early 1930's he was ranked with the likes of Bing Crosby and the tragic Russ Columbo in the Hit Parade. A huge hit on radio in 1933 with his program, initially known as 'The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour,' Vallee was considered a slave driver by his staff. He was known to instigate fist fights with virtually anyone who got on his nerves. During the run of his show he slugged photographers, threw sheet music in the faces of pianists' heads and if provoked, would sock hecklers in the nose. While audiences loved him, he was hated by most of his staff. As a very popular star in night clubs and on records, as well as in movies, he helped other singers like Alice Faye - who was for a while his band singer - and Frances Langford to start their careers. In his early movies he often played the romantic lead, but he switched later to stuffy and comic parts. He also appeared on Broadway. The mid-60's Broadway hit "How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" was filmed in 1967 with him in his original Broadway role.
Known For
Batman
Lord Marmaduke Ffogg
The Palm Beach Story
John D. Hackensacker III
CHiPs
Arthur Forbinger
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Tommy
Unfaithfully Yours
August Henshler
Night Gallery
Dr. Francis Deeking
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
I Remember Mama
Dr. Johnson
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
J. B. Biggley
Petticoat Junction
Ellery Queen
Alvin Winer
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Lynn Sargent
Alias Smith and Jones
Live a Little, Love a Little
Louis Penlow
Here's Lucy
Rudy Vallee
What's My Line?
Self
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Opening Narrator (voice)
My Dear Secretary
Charles Harris
International House
Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show
Self
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Rudy Vallee
Glorifying the American Girl
Self
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Autograph Hound
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Rudy Vallee
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Charles Hingleman
Slashed Dreams
Proprietor
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
The Name of the Game
Myron Lesser
The Phynx
Rudy Vallee
The Helen Morgan Story
Self
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Self (archive footage)
Kitty from Kansas City
Singer with Handlebar Moustache
Second Fiddle
Roger Maxwell
George White's Scandals
Jimmy Martin
People Are Funny
Ormsby Jamison
The Admiral Was a Lady
Peter Pedigrew
Time Out for Rhythm
Daniel 'Danny' Collins
Betty Co-ed
Himself