Rudy Vallee

Known for ActingBorn 1901-07-28Died 1986-07-06Island Pond, Vermont, USA

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.Read more

Movies & web series

Campus Sweethearts

The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

Going Hollywood: The '30s

Men Who Rate a 10

Mother Is a Freshman

Radio Rhythm

The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Jazz Ball

Ricochet Romance

Night Gallery

Too Many Blondes

The Musical Doctor

Kraft Television Theatre

Ellery Queen

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Batman

Your Show of Shows

Alias Smith and Jones

I Remember Mama

Unfaithfully Yours

The Name of the Game

CHiPs

What's My Line?

The Golden Twenties

The Palm Beach Story

Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform

The Colgate Comedy Hour

Here's Lucy

The Chicago Teddy Bears

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Merv Griffin Show

So This Is New York

Gold Diggers in Paris

Time Out for Rhythm

Sweet Music

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

Father Was a Fullback

Rodeo Dough

The Admiral Was a Lady

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

December Bride

It's in the Bag!

My Dear Secretary

Petticoat Junction

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6