Rudy Vallee

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

79

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 Mike Douglas Show

    The Mike Douglas Show

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Batman

    Batman

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • The Merv Griffin Show

    The Merv Griffin Show

  • Slashed Dreams

    Slashed Dreams

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • Petticoat Junction

    Petticoat Junction

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Unfaithfully Yours

    Unfaithfully Yours

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • December Bride

    December Bride

  • Ellery Queen

    Ellery Queen

  • CHiPs

    CHiPs

  • Kraft Television Theatre

    Kraft Television Theatre

  • Sweet Music

    Sweet Music

  • I Remember Mama

    I Remember Mama

  • Man Alive

    Man Alive

  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

    Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

  • Your Show of Shows

    Your Show of Shows

  • So This Is New York

    So This Is New York

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

    The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

  • People Are Funny

    People Are Funny

  • Breakdowns of 1938

    Breakdowns of 1938

  • Too Many Blondes

    Too Many Blondes

  • The Vagabond Lover

    The Vagabond Lover

  • Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

    Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

  • Hansel and Gretel

    Hansel and Gretel

  • Happy Go Lucky

    Happy Go Lucky

  • My Dear Secretary

    My Dear Secretary

  • The Musical Doctor

    The Musical Doctor

  • The Chicago Teddy Bears

    The Chicago Teddy Bears

  • The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

    The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

  • Glorifying the American Girl

    Glorifying the American Girl

  • Campus Sweethearts

    Campus Sweethearts

  • The Palm Beach Story

    The Palm Beach Story

  • The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

    The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood

  • Live a Little, Love a Little

    Live a Little, Love a Little

  • Kitty from Kansas City

    Kitty from Kansas City

  • The Phynx

    The Phynx

  • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

    How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

  • Betty Co-ed

    Betty Co-ed

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • The Helen Morgan Story

    The Helen Morgan Story

  • It's in the Bag!

    It's in the Bag!

  • The Night They Raided Minsky's

    The Night They Raided Minsky's

  • The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

    The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • Things You Never See on the Screen

    Things You Never See on the Screen

  • The Admiral Was a Lady

    The Admiral Was a Lady

  • Men Who Rate a 10

    Men Who Rate a 10

  • The Golden Twenties

    The Golden Twenties

  • Ricochet Romance

    Ricochet Romance

  • Father Was a Fullback

    Father Was a Fullback

  • Second Fiddle

    Second Fiddle

  • Gold Diggers in Paris

    Gold Diggers in Paris

  • Mother Is a Freshman

    Mother Is a Freshman

  • Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

    Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

  • International House

    International House

  • Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

    Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

  • Time Out for Rhythm

    Time Out for Rhythm

  • The Perfect Woman

    The Perfect Woman

  • The Fabulous Suzanne

    The Fabulous Suzanne

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

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

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

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

  • A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

    A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

  • Rudy Vallee Melodies

    Rudy Vallee Melodies

  • Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

    Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

  • George White's Scandals

    George White's Scandals

  • Rodeo Dough

    Rodeo Dough

  • Jazz Ball

    Jazz Ball

  • Radio Rhythm

    Radio Rhythm

  • Lydia

    Lydia