Rudy Vallee
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.
Acted in
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
2015
as Self (archive footage)
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
1995
as Self (archive footage)
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
1987
as Self
Going Hollywood: The '30s
1984
as (archive footage)
Men Who Rate a 10
1980
as Self
CHiPs
1977
as Arthur Forbinger
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
1976
as Autograph Hound
Ellery Queen
1975
as Alvin Winer
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
1975
as Self (archive footage)
Slashed Dreams
1975
as Proprietor
The Chicago Teddy Bears
1971
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
Night Gallery
1970
The Phynx
1970
as Rudy Vallee
The Night They Raided Minsky's
1968
as Opening Narrator (voice)
Live a Little, Love a Little
1968
as Louis Penlow
Here's Lucy
1968
as Rudy Vallee
The Name of the Game
1968
as Myron Lesser
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
1967
as Jasper B. Biggley
Batman
1966
as Lord Marmaduke Ffogg
Petticoat Junction
1963
Hansel and Gretel
1958
as Father
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
1957
as Rudy Vallee
The Helen Morgan Story
1957
as Himself
Jazz Ball
1956
as Self (archive footage)
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
1955
as Rudy Vallee
Ricochet Romance
1954
as Worthington Higgenmacher
December Bride
1954
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
The Admiral Was a Lady
1950
as Peter Pedigrew
The Golden Twenties
1950
as Self (archive footage)
Your Show of Shows
1950
What's My Line?
1950
as Self
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Panelist
Father Was a Fullback
1949
as Mr. Jessup
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
1949
as Charles Hingleman
Mother Is a Freshman
1949
as John Heaslip
Unfaithfully Yours
1948
as August Henshler
My Dear Secretary
1948
as Charles Harris
So This Is New York
1948
as Herbert Daley
I Remember Mama
1948
as Dr. Johnson
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
1947
as Tommy Chamberlain
Kraft Television Theatre
1947
as Bromley
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
1947
as Lynn Sargent
The Fabulous Suzanne
1946
as Hendrick Courtney Jr.
People Are Funny
1946
as Ormsby Jamison
Man Alive
1945
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 Uniform
1943
as Himself
Happy Go Lucky
1943
as Alfred Monroe
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
1942
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as John D. Hackensacker III
Too Many Blondes
1941
as Dick Kerrigan
Time Out for Rhythm
1941
as Daniel 'Danny' Collins
Rodeo Dough
1940
as Rudy Vallee
Second Fiddle
1939
as Roger Maxwell
Breakdowns of 1938
1938
as Rudy (archive footage) (uncredited)
Gold Diggers in Paris
1938
as Terry Moore
Things You Never See on the Screen
1935
as Self
Sweet Music
1935
as Skip Houston
A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
1935
as Himself (uncredited)
Hollywood on Parade No. B-9
1934
as Self
George White's Scandals
1934
as Jimmy Martin
International House
1933
as Himself
The Musical Doctor
1932
as Dr. Vallee
Rudy Vallee Melodies
1932
as Self
Kitty from Kansas City
1931
as Singer with Handlebar Moustache
Betty Co-ed
1931
as Himself
Glorifying the American Girl
1929
as Self
The Vagabond Lover
1929
as Rudy Bronson
Radio Rhythm
1929
as Rudy Vallee