Rudy Vallee

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

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Mike Douglas Show

Batman

Petticoat Junction

The Merv Griffin Show

What's My Line?

Night Gallery

The Ed Sullivan Show

All Movies (58)

• Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do2015 · as Self (archive footage)
• Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons1995 · as Self (archive footage)
• Going Hollywood: The '30s1984 · as (archive footage)
• The Perfect Woman1981 · as Tock
• Men Who Rate a 101980 · as Self
• Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood1976 · as Autograph Hound
• Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?1975 · as Self (archive footage)
• Slashed Dreams1975 · as Proprietor
• The Phynx1970 · as Rudy Vallee
• The Night They Raided Minsky's1968 · as Opening Narrator (voice)
• Live a Little, Love a Little1968 · as Louis Penlow
• How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying1967 · as J. B. Biggley
• Hansel and Gretel1958 · as Father
• The Helen Morgan Story1957 · as Self
• Jazz Ball1956 · as Self (archive footage)
• Gentlemen Marry Brunettes1955 · as Rudy Vallee
• Ricochet Romance1954 · as Worthington Higgenmacher
• The Admiral Was a Lady1950 · as Peter Pedigrew
• The Golden Twenties1950 · as Self (archive footage)
• Father Was a Fullback1949 · as Mr. Jessup
• The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend1949 · as Charles Hingleman
• Mother Is a Freshman1949 · as John Heaslip
• Unfaithfully Yours1948 · as August Henshler
• My Dear Secretary1948 · as Charles Harris
• So This Is New York1948 · as Herbert Daley
• I Remember Mama1948 · as Dr. Johnson
• The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer1947 · as Tommy
• The Sin of Harold Diddlebock1947 · as Lynn Sargent
• The Fabulous Suzanne1946 · as Hendrick Courtney Jr.
• People Are Funny1946 · as Ormsby Jamison
• Man Alive1945 · as Gordon Tolliver
• It's in the Bag!1945 · as Rudy Vallee
• 11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"1944 · as Himself - Bandleader
• Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform1943 · as Himself
• Happy Go Lucky1943 · as Alfred Monroe
• Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 61942
• The Palm Beach Story1942 · as John D. Hackensacker III
• Too Many Blondes1941 · as Dick Kerrigan
• Time Out for Rhythm1941 · as Daniel 'Danny' Collins
• Rodeo Dough1940 · as Rudy Vallee
• Second Fiddle1939 · as Roger Maxwell
• Breakdowns of 19381938 · as Rudy (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Gold Diggers in Paris1938 · as Terry Moore
• Things You Never See on the Screen1935 · as Self
• Sweet Music1935 · as Skip Houston
• A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio1935 · as Himself (uncredited)
• Hollywood on Parade No. B-91934 · as Self
• George White's Scandals1934 · as Jimmy Martin
• International House1933 · as Himself
• The Musical Doctor1932 · as Dr. Vallee
• Rudy Vallee Melodies1932 · as Self
• Kitty from Kansas City1931 · as Singer with Handlebar Moustache
• Betty Co-ed1931 · as Himself
• Campus Sweethearts1930
• Glorifying the American Girl1929 · as Self
• The Vagabond Lover1929 · as Rudy Bronson
• Radio Rhythm1929 · as Rudy Vallee
• Lydia— · as Barker

All TV Shows (20)

• The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood1987 · as Self
• CHiPs1977 · as Arthur Forbinger
• Ellery Queen1975 · as Alvin Winer
• The Chicago Teddy Bears1971
• Alias Smith and Jones1971
• Night Gallery1970 · as Dr. Francis Deeking
• Here's Lucy1968 · as Rudy Vallee
• The Name of the Game1968 · as Myron Lesser
• Batman1966 · as Lord Marmaduke Ffogg
• Petticoat Junction1963
• The Merv Griffin Show1962 · as Self
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson1962 · as Self
• The Mike Douglas Show1961 · as Self - Co-Host
• The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour1957 · as Rudy Vallee
• December Bride1954
• The Colgate Comedy Hour1950 · as Self
• Your Show of Shows1950
• What's My Line?1950 · as Self
• The Ed Sullivan Show1948 · as Self
• Kraft Television Theatre1947 · as Bromley