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Bing Crosby Biography (1901-1977)

Real name, Harry Lillis Crosby; born May 2, 1901, in Tacoma, WA; died of a heart attack, October 14, 1977, in Madrid, Spain; son of Harry Lowe (a bookkeeper) and Catherine Helen (maiden name, Harrigan) Crosby; married Dixie Lee (anactress), September 29, 1930 (marriage ended with her death, November 1, 1952); married Kathryn Grant, 1957; children: (first marriage) Gary Evan, PhilipLang & Dennis Michael (twins), Lindsay Harry; (second marriage) Harry, Nathaniel, Mary Frances. Religion: Roman Catholic. Avocational interests: Golf, hunting and fishing. Career: Actor, producer, and singer. Two Boys and a Piano (a musical group), Boulevard Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, member, 1925-27; The Rhythm Boys, member, c. 1927-1930; appeared on CBS Radio, 1932; Decca Records, recording artist, 1934-?; appeared on ABC radio, c.1946-?; Pittsburgh Pirates, part owner, c. 1940s-60s; Crosby Enterprises (television production company), part owner; Del Mar Race Track, part owner. Member: The Friars, North Hollywood Marching and Chowder Club. Awards,Honors: Gonzaga University, honorary doctorate in music, 1937; Academy Award, best actor, 1944, for Going My Way; Academy Award nomination, best actor, 1945, for The Bells of St Mary's; National Board of Review Award, best actor, 1954, Academy Award nomination, best actor, 1955, both forThe Country Girl; Cecil B. DeMille Award, Hollywood Press Association,1960; National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Lifetime AchievementAward, 1962; George Foster Peabody Broadcasting Award, University of Georgia,radio and television-individual award, 1969; American Music Award, special award of merit, 1974; Grammy Award, Hall of Fame Winner, 1974, for White Christmas; Bob Jones Award, United States Golf Association, 1978; Professional Golfers' Association/World Golf Hall of Fame, inductee, 1978; Broadcasting Hall of Fame, inductee, 1980.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor, Producer, Singer

Birth Details

May 2, 1901

Tacoma, Washington, United States

Death Details

October 14, 1977

Madrid, Spain

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Film Appearances
• Two Plus Fours, Pathe, 1930
• Himself, The King of Jazz, Universal, 1930
• Singer, Reaching for the Moon, Artcinema Associates Inc., 1930
• Himself, I Surrender Dear, Atlantic Pictures, 1931
• Bing Fawcet, plumber, Dream House (also known as Crooner's Holiday), Atlantic Pictures, 1932
• Bing, Billboard Girl, Atlantic Pictures, 1932
• Bing Hornsby, The Big Broadcast, Paramount, 1932
• Himself, Sing, Bing, Sing, Atlantic Pictures, 1933
• Himself, Blue of the Night, Paramount, 1933
• Professor Frederick Danvers, College Humor, Paramount, 1933
• Eddie Bronson, Too Much Harmony, Paramount, 1933
• Bill Williams, Going Hollywood, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1933
• Paul Lawton, She Loves Me Not, Paramount, 1934
• J. Paul Jones, Here Is My Heart, Paramount, 1934
• Stephen Jones, We're Not Dressing, Paramount, 1934
• Gilbert Gordon, Two for Tonight, Paramount, 1935
• Star Night at the Coconut Grove, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1935
• Tom Grayson, Mississippi, Paramount, 1935
• Singing voice of Paul Newlan, Millions in the Air, 1935
• Larry, Pennies from Heaven, Columbia, 1936
• Billy Crocker, Anything Goes (also known as Tops is the Limit), Paramount, 1936
• Jeff Larabee, Rhythm on the Range, Paramount, 1936
• Guest, The Big Broadcast of 1936, Paramount, 1936
• "Lefty" Boylan, Double or Nothing, Paramount, 1937
• Tony Marvin, Waikiki Wedding, Paramount, 1937
• John Beebe, Sing You Sinners, Paramount, 1938
• (Uncredited) Hollywood Handicap, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1938
• Don't Hook Now, 1938
• Dr. Bill Remsen, Dr. Rhythm, Paramount, 1938
• Larry Earl, The Star Maker, Paramount, 1939
• "Lucky" Lawton, Paris Honeymoon, Paramount, 1939
• Denny Martin, East Side of Heaven, Universal, 1939
• Bob Sommers, Rhythm on the River, Paramount, 1940
• Buzz Blackwell, If I Had My Way, Universal, 1940
• Josh Mallon, Road to Singapore, Paramount, 1940
• Jeff Lambert, Birth of the Blues, Paramount, 1941
• Chuck Reardon, Road to Zanzibar, Paramount, 1941
• Himself, Star Spangled Rhythm, Paramount, 1942
• Man giving directions, My Favorite Blonde, Paramount, 1942
• Jim Hardy, Holiday Inn, Paramount, 1942
• Jeff Peters, Road to Morocco, Paramount, 1942
• Himself, Show Business at War (also known as The March of TimeVolume IX, Issue 10), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1943
• Dan Emmett, Dixie, Paramount, 1943
• (Uncredited) The Princess and the Pirate, Goldwyn Pictures, 1944
• Johnny Cabot, Here Come the Waves, Paramount, 1944
• Father Chuck O'Malley, Going My Way, Paramount, 1944
• Road to Victory, Warner Bros., 1944
• Duke Johnson, Road to Utopia, Paramount, 1945
• Herbie's singing voice, Out of the This World, Paramount, 1945
• Duffy's Tavern, Paramount, 1945
• Father Chuck O'Malley, The Bells of St. Mary's, RKO Radio Productions, 1945
• Himself, The All-Star Bond Rally, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1945
• Himself, The Road to Hollywood, Astor Pictures, 1946
• Johnny Adams, Blue Skies, Paramount, 1946
• Dr. James Pearson, Welcome Stranger, Paramount, 1947
• Scat Sweeney, Road to Rio, Paramount, 1947
• (Uncredited) Harry, My Favorite Brunette, Paramount, 1947
• Himself, Variety Girl, Paramount, 1947
• Virgil Smith, The Emperor Waltz, Paramount, 1948
• Hank Martin, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (also known as A Yankee in King Arthur's Court), Paramount, 1949
• Joe Mulqueen, Top o' the Morning, Paramount, 1949
• Narrator, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," The Adventures of Ichabod andMr. Toad (also known as Ichabod and Mr. Toad and The Madcap Adventures of Mr. Toad; animated), RKO Radio Pictures, 1949
• Dan Brooks, Riding High, Paramount, 1950
• Paul Merrick, Mr. Music, Paramount, 1950
• (Uncredited) Himself, Angels in the Outfield (also known as Angels and the Pirates), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1951
• Pete Garvey, Here Comes the Groom, Paramount, 1951
• Son of Paleface, Paramount, 1952
• George Cochran, Road to Bali, Paramount, 1952
• Jordan Blake, Just for You, Paramount, 1952
• Himself, Crusade for Prayer, Family Theater, 1952
• Spectator, The Greatest Show on Earth, Paramount, 1952
• Bill Wainwright, Little Boy Lost, Paramount, 1953
• Scared Stiff, 1953
• Frank Elgin, The Country Girl, Paramount, 1954
• Bob Wallace, White Christmas, Paramount, 1954
• C.K. Dexter-Haven, High Society, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1956
• Bill Benson, Anything Goes, Paramount, 1956
• Earl Carleston, Man on Fire, 1957
• Narrator, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 1958
• Alias Jesse James, United Artists, 1959
• Father Conroy, Say One For Me, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1959
• Himself, Pepe, Columbia, 1960
• (Uncredited) Let's Make Love (also known as The Billionaireand The Millionaire), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1960
• Harvey Howard, High Time, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1960
• Harry Turner, The Road to Hong Kong, United Artists, 1962
• Allen A. Dale, Robin and the Seven Hoods (also known as Robbo), Warner Bros., 1964
• Doc Josiah Boone, Stagecoach, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966
• (Uncredited) Himself, Cancel My Reservation, 1972
• Narrator, That's Entertainment, 1974
• It's Showtime, United Artists, 1976
• Also appeared as (Uncredited) himself, Lineup for Today: Ted Williamsand Friend.
• Film Song Performer
• Say One for Me, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1959
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, 1974
• The Man Who Fell to Earth, 1976
• F.I.S.T., United Artists, 1978
• The Brink's Job, Universal, 1978
• Film Producer, Except Where Indicated
• Abie's Irish Rose, 1946
• Willard, 1971
• Ben, 1972
• Executive producer, Mean Dog Blues, 1978
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Bing Collins, The Bing Crosby Show, ABC, 1964-65
• Movies
• Doctor Leonard Cook, Dr. Cook's Garden, 1970
• Specials
• Host, Bing Crosby-Cooling It, 1970
• Host, Bing Crosby's Christmas Show, 1970
• The Bob Hope Show, 1970
• Host, Bing Crosby and the Sounds of Christmas, 1971
• Monsanto Presents Mancini, 1971
• The Bob Hope Show, 1971
• Ver-r-r-ry Interesting, 1971
• Host, Bing Crosby and His Friends, 1972
• Host, Christmas with the Bing Crosbys, 1972
• Host, Bing Crosby-Cooling It, 1973
• Host, Bing Crosby's Sun Valley Christmas Show, 1973
• Host, Bing Crosby and His Friends, 1974
• Host, Christmas with the Bing Crosbys, 1974
• Bob Hope Special: A Quarter Century of Bob Hope on Television, 1975
• Host, Merry Christmas from the Crosbys, 1975
• Host, Bing Crosby's White Christmas, 1976
• Host, Jubilee, 1976
• Swing Out, Sweet Land, 1976
• Host, Bing Crosby's Merrie Old Christmas, 1977
• Host, Bing! ... A 50th Anniversary Gala, 1977
• Episodic
• "A Christmas Carol," The Philco Television Playhouse, NBC, 1948
• I Married Joan, NBC, 1953
• "High Tor," Ford Star Jubilee, CBS, 1956
• Guest host, The Hollywood Palace, ABC, 1964
• The Andy Williams Show, NBC, 1966
• Himself, The Jackie Gleason Show, CBS, 1969
• The Pearl Bailey Show, ABC, 1971
• Also appeared in The Flip Wilson Show, NBC.
• Radio Appearances
• Kraft Music Hall, NBC, 1936-46
• RECORDINGS
• Albums
• White Christmas, Decca, 1942
• Jerome Kern Songs, Decca, 1949
• Stephen Foster Songs, Decca, 1949
• The Bells of St. Mary's (Original Soundtrack), Laserlight, 1950
• Bing Sings George Gershwin, Decca, 1950
• Bing Sings Cole Porter, Decca, 1950
• Christmas Greetings, Decca, 1950
• Cowboy Songs, Decca, 1950
• Cowboy Songs, Volume 2, Decca, 1950
• Don't Fence Me In, Decca, 1950
• Drifting and Dreaming, Decca, 1950
• El Bingo, Decca, 1950
• Foster, Decca, 1950
• St. Patrick's Day, Decca, 1950
• St. Valentine's Day, Decca, 1950
• Stardust, Decca, 1950
• Top O' the Morning (Original Soundtrack), Decca, 1950
• Auld Lang Syne, Decca, 1950
• Going My Way, Decca, 1950
• Cole Porter Songs, Decca, 1950
• Songs by Gershwin, Decca, 1950
• Hawaiian Songs, Decca, 1950
• Mr. Music, Decca, 1950
• Bing Crosby, Columbia, 1950
• Showboat Selections, 1950
• Blue of the Night, Decca, 1950
• Blue Skies, Decca, 1950
• Holiday Inn, MCA, 1950
• Bing and the Dixieland Bands, Decca, 1951
• Country Style, Decca, 1951
• Down Memory Lane, Decca, 1951
• Down Memory Lane, Volume 2, Decca, 1951
• Favorite Hawaiian Songs, Decca, 1951
• Go West, Young Man, Decca, 1951
• Way Back Home, Decca, 1951
• Yours Is My Heart Alone, Decca, 1951
• Beloved Hymns, Decca, 1951
• Bing Sings Victor Herbert, Decca, 1951
• Bing and Connee, Decca, 1951
• Bing's Buddies, Magic, 1951
• Bing Crosby with Jane Wyman & the Andrews, Decca, 1952
• Road to Bali, 1952
• Country Girl, Decca, 1953
• Old Masters, Decca, 1954
• Ichabod Crane, Decca, 1955
• The Small One/The Happy Prince, MCA, 1955
• Blue Hawaii, Decca, 1956
• High Society, Capitol, 1956
• Home on the Range, Decca, 1956
• Lullaby Time, Decca, 1956
• A Man Without a Country, Decca, 1956
• The Road to Singapore, Decca, 1956
• The Star Marker (Original Soundtrack), Decca, 1956
• Waikiki Wedding (Original Soundtrack), Decca, 1956
• Two for Tonight, Decca, 1956
• High Tor, 1956
• Rhythm on the Range, 1956
• Shillelaghs and Shamrocks, Decca, 1956
• White Christmas (Original Soundtrack), Laserlight, 1956
• Bing Sings Whilst Bregman Swings, Verve, 1956
• Bing with a Beat, RCA Victor, 1957
• Ali Baba & The Forty Thieves & Other, Grand Award, 1957
• The Christmas Story, Grand Award, 1957
• Around the World, Decca, 1958
• Bing in Paris, Decca, 1958
• New Tricks, Decca, 1958
• Some Fine Old Chestnuts, Decca, 1958
• Songs I Wish I Had Sung, Decca, 1958
• Twilight on the Trail, Decca, 1958
• Fancy Meeting You Here, RCA Victor, 1958
• That Travelin' Two-Beat, Capitol, 1958
• Paris Holiday, 1958
• A Christmas Sing with Bing Around the World, MCA, 1958
• That Christmas Feeling, MCA, 1958
• Ichabod, MCA, 1959
• In a Little Spanish Town, Decca, 1959
• Join with Bing and Sing, Warner Bros., 1960
• Bing and Satchmo, MGM, 1960
• High Time, 1960
• 101 Gang Songs, Warner Bros., 1961
• Join Bing in a Gang Sing Along, Warner Bros., 1961
• Senor Bing, MGM, 1961
• Accentuate the Positive, Decca, 1962
• But Beautiful, Decca, 1962
• Cool of the Evening, Decca, 1962
• East Side of Heaven, Decca, 1962
• Easy to Remember, Decca, 1962
• Holiday in Europe, Decca, 1962
• I Wish You Had a Merry Christmas, Warner Bros., 1962
• Join Bing and Sing Along, Warner Bros., 1962
• On the Happy Side, Warner Bros., 1962
• The Road Begins, Decca, 1962
• Sunshine Cake, Decca, 1962
• Zing a Little Zong, Decca, 1962
• The Road to Hong Kong, 1962
• Only Forever, Decca, 1962
• Pennies from Heaven, Pro Arte, 1962
• Pocketful of Dreams, Pro Arte, 1962
• Swingin' on a Star, MCA, 1962
• The Great Standards, MGM, 1963
• Return to Paradise Islands, Reprise, 1964
• Songs Everybody Knows, Decca, 1964
• America, I Hear You Singing, Reprise, 1964
• Blue Skies, MCA, 1965
• Hey Jude/Hey Bing!, Amos, 1969
• Wrap Your Troubles in a Dream, RCA, 1972
• Bing & Basie, EmArcy, 1972
• That's What Life Is All About, United Artists, 1976
• Bing Crosby at the London Palladium, EMI/MFP, 1976
• Feels Good, Feels Right, London/Decca, 1976
• Also recorded Der Bingle, Columbia; Bing Swings; Magic; Bing Crosby, MCA; Bob Hope's Christmas Party 1945, VintageJazz; Crosby Family Christmas, Pilz; Two Favorite Stories, MCA.
• Autobiography
• Crosby, Bing and P. Martin, Call Me Lucky, Simon & Schuster, 1953

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books:

• Crosby, Ted, The Story of Bing Crosby, 1946.
• Mize, J.T.H., Bing, 1946.
• O'Connell, Sheldon, Bing: A Voice for All Seasons, 1984.
• Shepherd, Donald, Bing Crosby: The Hollow Man, A.W. Allen, 1981.
• Thompson, Charles, Bing, Star, 1976.
• Thompson, Charles, Bing: The Authorized Biography, A.W. Allen, 1981.
• Thompson, C., The Complete Crosby, Star, 1980.
• Thomas, Bob, The One & Only Bing, Star, 1980.
• Ulanov, B. The Incredible Crosby, 1948.

Periodicals:

• National Catholic Reporter, January 9, 1998, p. 9.
• U.S. News & World Report, June 1, 1998, p. 64.*