Rudy Vallee

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

78

Gender

Male

Birthday

1901-07-28

Day of death

1986-07-06 (84 years old)

Place of Birth

Island Pond, Vermont, USA

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 Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • The Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • Batman

    Batman

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Petticoat Junction

    Petticoat Junction

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

    How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Your Show of Shows

    Your Show of Shows

  • Kraft Television Theatre

    Kraft Television Theatre

  • Ellery Queen

    Ellery Queen

  • CHiPs

    CHiPs

  • December Bride

    December Bride

  • Slashed Dreams

    Slashed Dreams

  • Jazz Ball

    Jazz Ball

  • Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

    Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

  • The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

    The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

  • The Helen Morgan Story

    The Helen Morgan Story

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • The Phynx

    The Phynx

  • Unfaithfully Yours

    Unfaithfully Yours

  • The Palm Beach Story

    The Palm Beach Story

  • Man Alive

    Man Alive

  • Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

    Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

  • Sweet Music

    Sweet Music

  • International House

    International House

  • Father Was a Fullback

    Father Was a Fullback

  • My Dear Secretary

    My Dear Secretary

  • Mother Is a Freshman

    Mother Is a Freshman

  • Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

    Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

  • I Remember Mama

    I Remember Mama

  • 11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"

    11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"

  • Gold Diggers in Paris

    Gold Diggers in Paris

  • George White's Scandals

    George White's Scandals

  • Glorifying the American Girl

    Glorifying the American Girl

  • Things You Never See on the Screen

    Things You Never See on the Screen

  • The Perfect Woman

    The Perfect Woman

  • The Night They Raided Minsky's

    The Night They Raided Minsky's

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

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

  • Breakdowns of 1938

    Breakdowns of 1938

  • The Admiral Was a Lady

    The Admiral Was a Lady

  • The Vagabond Lover

    The Vagabond Lover

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • The Fabulous Suzanne

    The Fabulous Suzanne

  • So This Is New York

    So This Is New York

  • The Golden Twenties

    The Golden Twenties

  • Men Who Rate a 10

    Men Who Rate a 10

  • People Are Funny

    People Are Funny

  • The Chicago Teddy Bears

    The Chicago Teddy Bears

  • Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

    Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

  • Hansel and Gretel

    Hansel and Gretel

  • The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

    The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • Too Many Blondes

    Too Many Blondes

  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

    Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

  • The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

    The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

  • Time Out for Rhythm

    Time Out for Rhythm

  • Second Fiddle

    Second Fiddle

  • The Musical Doctor

    The Musical Doctor

  • Live a Little, Love a Little

    Live a Little, Love a Little

  • The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

    The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

  • Kitty from Kansas City

    Kitty from Kansas City

  • Happy Go Lucky

    Happy Go Lucky

  • It's in the Bag!

    It's in the Bag!

  • Ricochet Romance

    Ricochet Romance

  • A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

    A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

  • Rodeo Dough

    Rodeo Dough

  • Rudy Vallee Melodies

    Rudy Vallee Melodies

  • Campus Sweethearts

    Campus Sweethearts

  • Betty Co-ed

    Betty Co-ed

  • Radio Rhythm

    Radio Rhythm