Rudy Vallee

Acting

Born Jul 28, 1901

From Island Pond, Vermont, USA

Died Jul 06, 1986

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.

Rudy Vallee

Known For

I Remember Mama

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Unfaithfully Yours

The Helen Morgan Story

The Night They Raided Minsky's

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Palm Beach Story

Second Fiddle

Going Hollywood: The '30s

So This Is New York

Filmography — Acting

I Remember Mama

Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood

Unfaithfully Yours

The Helen Morgan Story

The Night They Raided Minsky's

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Palm Beach Story

Second Fiddle

Going Hollywood: The '30s

So This Is New York

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend

Live a Little, Love a Little

My Dear Secretary

The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

It's in the Bag!

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?

The Admiral Was a Lady

Father Was a Fullback

Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do

A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio

Time Out for Rhythm

The Phynx

Ricochet Romance

Breakdowns of 1938

Glorifying the American Girl

George White's Scandals

Mother Is a Freshman

Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons

Gold Diggers in Paris

International House

Too Many Blondes

Men Who Rate a 10

Sweet Music

Things You Never See on the Screen

Rodeo Dough

Slashed Dreams

The Golden Twenties

Gentlemen Marry Brunettes

Man Alive

Jazz Ball

Hollywood on Parade No. B-9

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

People Are Funny

The Perfect Woman

Hansel and Gretel

Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6

The Fabulous Suzanne

Happy Go Lucky

The Vagabond Lover

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

Lydia

The Musical Doctor

Kitty from Kansas City

Campus Sweethearts

Betty Co-ed

Radio Rhythm

Rudy Vallee Melodies