Grace Thompson
Bob Hope was a comedian, actor, entertainer, and producer whose career spanned nearly 80 years. He was married to Dolores Hope, a devout Catholic, for 69 years until his death in 2003. Although he resisted baptism and church membership for decades, he converted to Catholicism at the age of 93, seven years before his death. Hope's conversion was influenced by his wife's faith and his experiences entertaining troops during World War II, where he was impressed by the Catholic men and women he met.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age when converted to Catholicism | 93 years old |
| Year of conversion | Early 1990s, officially in 1996 |
| Wife's name | Dolores Hope |
| Wife's religion | Catholic |
| Wife's age when she died | 102 years old |
| Year of death | 2003 |
| Age when he died | 95 years old |
| Cause of death | Natural causes |
| Date of death | July 27, 2003 |
| Place of burial | Bob Hope Memorial Garden in the San Fernando Mission in Mission Hills |
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What You'll Learn
Bob Hope's wife, Dolores, was Catholic
Bob Hope's wife, Dolores Hope (née DeFina), was a Catholic of "deep and abiding faith". She was born on May 27, 1909, in Manhattan's Harlem neighbourhood, to an Italian father and an Irish mother. Dolores was raised in the Bronx, alongside her younger sister Mildred, by her mother, Theresa DeFina, after her father's death in 1925.
During the 1930s, Dolores began her career as a singer and entertainer in nightclubs under the stage name Dolores Reade. She met her future husband, Bob Hope, when he attended one of her shows in New York in 1933. They married on February 19, 1934, and she joined his vaudeville act. The couple went on to adopt four children: Nora, Linda, Kelly, and Anthony.
Dolores was a lifelong Catholic and a supporter of numerous Catholic charities. She was honoured with several awards by Catholic institutions, including the Patronal Medal from the Catholic University of America and the Outstanding Catholic Laywoman Award from St. Louis University. She was also made a Dame of St. Gregory with Star, a rare honour bestowed upon very few women.
Dolores played a significant role in her husband's conversion to Catholicism later in his life. Cardinal McCarrick, a longtime friend of the couple, noted that Dolores gently and persistently encouraged Bob to consider Catholicism: "She would never force anyone. She was always very thoughtful and considerate. But she was persistent in saying 'One of these days; one of these days.' And, finally, he said, 'Okay, it's time.'" Bob Hope officially became a member of the Catholic Church in 1996, at the age of 93, seven years before his death.
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Hope resisted baptism and Church membership for decades
Bob Hope resisted baptism and Church membership for decades. He was 93 years old when he finally converted to Catholicism, his wife's faith.
Hope's wife, Dolores, was a lifelong Catholic with a deep and abiding faith. She was an entertainer in her own right, and the couple supported numerous Catholic charities over the years. They were benefactors of the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain, France, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. They also donated to Catholic Relief Services and were among the first contributors to the Big Shoulders Fund, a nonprofit Chicago organisation that supports inner-city Catholic schools.
Despite his resistance to converting, Hope often attended Mass with his wife and financially supported various Church endeavours. According to Cardinal McCarrick, Hope became "very close" to New York Cardinal Francis Spellman during World War II, when he began entertaining the troops. McCarrick recalled that they had been "chatting with him about the Church" for many years.
Hope's conversion to Catholicism was gradual, and it was his wife's devout faith that ultimately led to his decision to convert. Dolores was an instrument in her husband's baptism, and her persistence in encouraging him to convert is reflected in her response to those who asked if Hope would become Catholic: "Keep those rosaries coming, sweetheart."
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He was influenced by Catholic men and women in the military
Bob Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope, was a man of many talents. He was an American comedian, actor, entertainer, and producer. He had a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films and hosted the Academy Awards ceremony a record 19 times. He was also a philanthropist and a man of business.
Hope converted to Catholicism in his waning days. According to Cardinal McCarrick, Hope became "very close" to New York Cardinal Francis Spellman during World War II. The two made rounds visiting the troops, and Hope was impressed by the faith of the Catholic men and women in the service he met. He was also influenced by his wife, Dolores, who was a devout Catholic. In his last book, My Life in Jokes, Hope wrote about his experiences entertaining the troops and the sacrifices they were making:
> I was offering time and laughs — the men and women fighting the war were offering up their lives. They taught me what sacrifice was all about.
Hope's conversion to Catholicism was a gradual process. He began to donate his time and entertainment to cheer up the troops during World War II, and soon expanded his charity work to other causes, including cerebral palsy and the Eisenhower Medical Center. By the midpoint of his life, Hope was no longer just an entertainer but also a philanthropist dedicated to helping children and the poor through Catholic charitable institutions.
Hope's work and influence extended beyond the entertainment industry. He was recognised for his service to the nation and his impact on modern American comedy. Conan O'Brien cited Hope as an influence, and Woody Allen acknowledged that his character was influenced by Hope's work. Hope's legacy includes not only his achievements in the entertainment industry but also his dedication to using his platform for charitable causes and his influence on those who followed in his footsteps.
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He converted to Catholicism in his final years
Bob Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope, was an American comedian, actor, entertainer, and producer. He was married to Dolores Hope, a devout Catholic, for 69 years until his death in 2003.
Hope's mother-in-law, wife, and Our Lady of Hope were said to have made a significant impact on his life. Although he resisted baptism and church membership for decades, Hope was received into the Catholic Church in his final years.
Hope's conversion to Catholicism is evident in his last book, "My Life in Jokes." He writes about how entertaining the troops during World War II influenced his views on sacrifice. During this time, he also became close to New York Cardinal Francis Spellman and was impressed by the faith of the Catholic service members he met.
Hope's wife, Dolores, was a significant influence on his conversion. Cardinal McCarrick recalled that Dolores was anxious for her husband to become Catholic and would persistently bring up the idea. Despite her enthusiasm, she was never forceful, and it was ultimately Monsignor Thomas Kiefer, a mutual friend, who brought Hope into the Church.
Hope's conversion was also influenced by his charitable work with Catholic institutions, especially those that helped children and the poor. He supported numerous Catholic charities over the years, including Catholic Relief Services and the Big Shoulders Fund, which supports inner-city Catholic schools.
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He was received into the Catholic Church by Msgr. Thomas Kiefer
Bob Hope, born Leslie Townes Hope, was a man of many talents. He was an American comedian, actor, entertainer, and producer. He had a career spanning nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO tours. He was married to Dolores Hope, a devout Catholic, for 69 years until his death at the age of 102.
Hope's journey towards Catholicism began during World War II when he started entertaining the troops. He became "very close" to New York Cardinal Francis Spellman and was impressed by the faith of the Catholic men and women in the service. However, it was his wife's devout Catholic faith that ultimately led to his conversion in his early 90s, just a few years before his death.
Dolores was a lifelong Catholic and a supporter of numerous Catholic charities. She and Bob were among the first contributors to the Big Shoulders Fund, a nonprofit Chicago organization that supports inner-city Catholic schools. They also supported Catholic Relief Services and were benefactors of the Chapel of Our Lady of Hope of Pontmain, France, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.
While Bob Hope resisted baptism and official church membership for decades, he often attended Mass with his wife and financially supported various Catholic causes and endeavors. It was Msgr. Thomas Kiefer, a dear friend of the couple and former pastor at St. Charles Borromeo, who ultimately brought him into the Catholic Church.
Bob Hope's conversion to Catholicism in his waning days is a testament to the influence of his wife's faith and their shared commitment to charitable giving and service to others.
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Frequently asked questions
Bob Hope converted to Catholicism in the early 1990s at the age of 93.
Bob Hope was inspired to convert to Catholicism by his wife, Dolores Hope, who was a devout Catholic. He was also influenced by the Catholic men and women he met while entertaining troops during World War II.
Although Bob Hope resisted baptism and official membership in the Catholic Church for decades, he frequently attended Mass with his wife and supported various Catholic charities and causes.
