Born Leslie Townes Hope (1903–2003) in Eltham, England, beloved comedian Bob Hope was born on this day. Throughout his career, he was a master at making people feel good.

“I have seen what a laugh can do,” he said. “It can transform almost unbearable tears into something bearable, even hopeful.”

Always, his dream was to entertain—in Vaudeville, radio, television, and Hollywood. Whether on the road with Bing Crosby, hosting the Academy Awards, or delivering punchlines on his NBC show, Bob Hope’s timing and laughter left a lasting legacy.

“You know you're getting older when the candles cost more than the cake,” he quipped.

The comic entertained with passion glowing in his heart. For nearly six decades—from World War II through the Gulf War—“G.I. Bob” traveled the globe, lifting spirits and softening the hardships of war with laughter. His presence brought a touch of home to the front lines, reminding soldiers they were never forgotten.

Writer John Steinbeck observed, “This man drives himself and is driven. It is impossible to see how he can do so much, cover so much ground, work so hard and be so effective. There's a man. There is really a man!”

“They say I do so much for the GIs,” Hope once said, “but they don't know what it does for me.”

On his 100th birthday in 2003, the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street was renamed Bob Hope Square—a lasting tribute to the man who gave the world the priceless gifts of joy, service, and memory. He didn’t just make us laugh. He made us feel loved.