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

  • The Colgate Comedy Hour

    The Colgate Comedy Hour

  • December Bride

    December Bride

  • Petticoat Junction

    Petticoat Junction

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • What's My Line?

    What's My Line?

  • Here's Lucy

    Here's Lucy

  • Kraft Television Theatre

    Kraft Television Theatre

  • The Name of the Game

    The Name of the Game

  • The Ed Sullivan Show

    The Ed Sullivan Show

  • Night Gallery

    Night Gallery

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • Ellery Queen

    Ellery Queen

  • Your Show of Shows

    Your Show of Shows

  • CHiPs

    CHiPs

  • The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

    The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

  • The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

    The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour

  • Kitty from Kansas City

    Kitty from Kansas City

  • Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

    Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

  • Gold Diggers in Paris

    Gold Diggers in Paris

  • The Chicago Teddy Bears

    The Chicago Teddy Bears

  • Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

  • George White's Scandals

    George White's Scandals

  • Ricochet Romance

    Ricochet Romance

  • The Phynx

    The Phynx

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

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

  • The Fabulous Suzanne

    The Fabulous Suzanne

  • Slashed Dreams

    Slashed Dreams

  • Second Fiddle

    Second Fiddle

  • The Golden Twenties

    The Golden Twenties

  • Hansel and Gretel

    Hansel and Gretel

  • Mother Is a Freshman

    Mother Is a Freshman

  • Jazz Ball

    Jazz Ball

  • Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

    Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

  • People Are Funny

    People Are Funny

  • Breakdowns of 1938

    Breakdowns of 1938

  • The Perfect Woman

    The Perfect Woman

  • Things You Never See on the Screen

    Things You Never See on the Screen

  • Sweet Music

    Sweet Music

  • Going Hollywood: The '30s

    Going Hollywood: The '30s

  • The Admiral Was a Lady

    The Admiral Was a Lady

  • Glorifying the American Girl

    Glorifying the American Girl

  • My Dear Secretary

    My Dear Secretary

  • Too Many Blondes

    Too Many Blondes

  • 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

  • Man Alive

    Man Alive

  • A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

    A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

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

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

  • I Remember Mama

    I Remember Mama

  • The Vagabond Lover

    The Vagabond Lover

  • Unfaithfully Yours

    Unfaithfully Yours

  • How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

    How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

  • The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

    The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

  • Rodeo Dough

    Rodeo Dough

  • Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

    Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

  • International House

    International House

  • The Night They Raided Minsky's

    The Night They Raided Minsky's

  • It's in the Bag!

    It's in the Bag!

  • So This Is New York

    So This Is New York

  • Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

    Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

  • The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

    The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

  • Time Out for Rhythm

    Time Out for Rhythm

  • Betty Co-ed

    Betty Co-ed

  • Father Was a Fullback

    Father Was a Fullback

  • Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

    Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

  • Men Who Rate a 10

    Men Who Rate a 10

  • The Helen Morgan Story

    The Helen Morgan Story

  • Rudy Vallee Melodies

    Rudy Vallee Melodies

  • Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

    Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

  • Happy Go Lucky

    Happy Go Lucky

  • The Musical Doctor

    The Musical Doctor

  • Campus Sweethearts

    Campus Sweethearts

  • Radio Rhythm

    Radio Rhythm