Acting
Rudy Vallee
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.
Filmography
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Film · 2015
Betty Boop: Queen of the Cartoons
Film · 1995
The RKO Story: Tales From Hollywood
Series · 1987
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Film · 1984
The Perfect Woman
Film · 1981
Men Who Rate a 10
Film · 1980
CHiPs
Series · 1977
Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood
Film · 1976
Slashed Dreams
Film · 1975
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?
Film · 1975
Ellery Queen
Series · 1975
Alias Smith and Jones
Series · 1971
The Chicago Teddy Bears
Series · 1971
The Phynx
Film · 1970
Night Gallery
Series · 1970
Live a Little, Love a Little
Film · 1968
The Night They Raided Minsky's
Film · 1968
Here's Lucy
Series · 1968
The Name of the Game
Series · 1968
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Film · 1967
Batman
Series · 1966
Petticoat Junction
Series · 1963
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
Hansel and Gretel
Film · 1958
The Helen Morgan Story
Film · 1957
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Series · 1957
Jazz Ball
Film · 1956
Gentlemen Marry Brunettes
Film · 1955
Ricochet Romance
Film · 1954
December Bride
Series · 1954
The Admiral Was a Lady
Film · 1950
The Golden Twenties
Film · 1950
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Series · 1950
Your Show of Shows
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend
Film · 1949
Mother Is a Freshman
Film · 1949
Father Was a Fullback
Film · 1949
Unfaithfully Yours
Film · 1948
I Remember Mama
Film · 1948
My Dear Secretary
Film · 1948
So This Is New York
Film · 1948
The Ed Sullivan Show
Series · 1948
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
Film · 1947
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer
Film · 1947
Kraft Television Theatre
Series · 1947
People Are Funny
Film · 1946
The Fabulous Suzanne
Film · 1946
Man Alive
Film · 1945
It's in the Bag!
Film · 1945
11th. Naval District "United States Coast Guard Band"
Film · 1944
Happy Go Lucky
Film · 1943
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform
Film · 1943
The Palm Beach Story
Film · 1942
Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood No. 6
Film · 1942
Time Out for Rhythm
Film · 1941
Too Many Blondes
Film · 1941
Rodeo Dough
Film · 1940
Second Fiddle
Film · 1939
Gold Diggers in Paris
Film · 1938
Breakdowns of 1938
Film · 1938
Sweet Music
Film · 1935
A Trip Thru a Hollywood Studio
Film · 1935
Things You Never See on the Screen
Film · 1935
George White's Scandals
Film · 1934
Hollywood on Parade No. B-9
Film · 1934
International House
Film · 1933
Rudy Vallee Melodies
Film · 1932
The Musical Doctor
Film · 1932
Betty Co-ed
Film · 1931
Kitty from Kansas City
Film · 1931
Campus Sweethearts
Film · 1930
Glorifying the American Girl
Film · 1929
The Vagabond Lover
Film · 1929
Radio Rhythm
Film · 1929
Lydia
Film