The King of comedy is no more

Hope died at 9:28 pm Sunday last at his home in Toluca Lake, north of Hollywood. His death came less than two months after his 100th birthday, which was celebrated May 29.

"Dad had an amazing send-off. All of the family was together with him and he died very peacefully," his daughter Linda said at a press conference. "I don't think you could have asked for a more peaceful, beautiful death. And I think all the good vibes that he put out during his lifetime came back to take him up."

Hope's career covered almost every example of mass entertainment of the 20th century. He first earned fame on the vaudeville circuit, starred on the Broadway stage, moved over to movies and radio, then made generations laugh with five decades of television specials.

Moreover, he was a tireless stage performer, particularly when it came to military audiences. Hope was synonymous with entertaining U.S. troops, putting on shows during World War II, Korea, Vietnam and on through the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Hope's efforts earned him the titles of "Mr. Entertainment" and "The King of Comedy." He appeared in more than 75 films, starred in more than 475 TV programs and 1,000-plus radio programs.

Most of all, he was a master of the one-liners -- and he was often his own best target. "I want to tell you, I was built like an athlete once -- big chest, hard stomach. Of course, that's all behind me now," went one of his jokes.

And, referring to his frequent Oscar duties but lack of success at winning, one year he welcomed audiences to the Academy Awards -- "or, as it's called at my house, Passover."

Even presidents -- many of whom he counted as friends -- weren't immune to his barbs. "I bumped into Gerald Ford the other day," went another gag. "I said, 'Pardon me.' He said, 'I don't do that anymore.'"

"Bob Hope made us laugh, and he lifted our spirits," said President Bush.

He also issued a proclamation calling Hope one of the nation's "great treasures" and declared that flags at US government buildings, installations and military posts around the world would be flown at half-staff on the day of Hope's interment.

Source: CNN.com