Born: May 2, 1903 – Died: October 14, 1977
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby graced the world with his dulcet tones and laid-back charm, becoming one of the most iconic figures of the entertainment industry. Hailing from Tacoma, Washington, he was the fourth child in a family of seven to Catherine Harrigan and Harry Lincoln Crosby, a bookkeeper at a local brewery. Crosby's lineage was a mix of English and Irish, and his family background set the stage for a storied career that would intertwine with America's cultural history.
Early Life and Career
Crosby's formative years were spent under the vast Washington skies, where he attended Gonzaga University in Spokane with an initial interest in law. However, his true passion lay in the rhythm of music, as he played the drums and sang with a local band. By 1925, Crosby and his bandmate Al Rinker, fueled by ambition, ventured to Los Angeles to carve out their path in the industry. Crosby's inaugural professional gig came shortly after, but it was his distinctive voice on the 1931 recording of "I Surrender, Dear" that became his first significant step into the limelight.
The role that thrust Bing Crosby into the heart of American stardom was none other than Father Chuck O'Malley in the 1944 classic "Going My Way," a performance that garnered him an Academy Award for Best Actor. Crosby didn't just stop at acting; his voice became a signature part of American culture, especially with hits like "White Christmas." His accolades include numerous awards, but the Oscar win and his pivotal role in "The Country Girl" stand out as career-defining moments.
Away from the camera and microphone, Crosby's personal life was as full as his professional one. He balanced his family life, having children, and indulged in his love for golf. His interests weren't confined to his hobbies alone; he faced his share of controversies and dabbled in philanthropy.
Summing up Bing Crosby's legacy, it's clear that he left an indelible mark on Hollywood and the entertainment industry at large. His soothing voice and everyman appeal made him not just a star, but a cultural icon whose influence resonates even decades after his death.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Just One More Time (Short) | Bing Crosby (uncredited) |
| 1972 | Cancel My Reservation | Bing Crosby (uncredited) |
| 1970–1971 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (TV Series) | Guest Performer |
| 1971 | Dr. Cook's Garden (TV Movie) | Dr. Leonard Cook |
| 1970 | Swing Out, Sweet Land (TV Movie) | Mark Twain |
| 1967 | The Danny Thomas Hour (TV Series) | Charlie Castle |
| 1966 | *Stagecoach* | Doc Josiah Boone |
| 1964–1965 | The Bing Crosby Show (TV Series) | Bing Collins |
| 1964 | Robin and the 7 Hoods | Allen A. Dale |
| 1963 | Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (TV Series) | George Warren |
| 1962 | The Road to Hong Kong | Harry Turner |
| 1961 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) | Narrator |
| 1960 | Pepe | Bing Crosby |
| 1960 | High Time | Harvey Howard |
| 1960 | Let's Make Love | Bing Crosby (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Say One for Me | Father Conroy |
| 1959 | Alias Jesse James | Bing (uncredited) |
| 1958 | The Christophers (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1957 | The Joker Is Wild | Bing Crosby (singing voice, uncredited) |
| 1957 | Man on Fire | Earl Carleton |
| 1957 | The Phil Silvers Show (TV Series) | Bing Crosby |
| 1956 | Showdown at Ulcer Gulch (Short) | Influential Man |
| 1956 | High Society | C. K. Dexter-Haven |
| 1956 | Ford Star Jubilee (TV Series) | Van Van Dorn |
| 1956 | Bing Presents Oreste (Short) | Bing Crosby |
| 1956 | Anything Goes | Bill Benson |
| 1954 | The Country Girl | Frank Elgin |
| 1954 | White Christmas | Bob Wallace |
| 1953 | Little Boy Lost | Bill Wainwright |
| 1953 | Scared Stiff | Skeleton (uncredited) |
| 1952 | Road to Bali | George Cochran |
| 1952 | Just for You | Jordan Blake |
| 1952 | Son of Paleface | Driver (uncredited) |
| 1952 | The Greatest Show on Earth | Spectator (uncredited) |
| 1951 | Here Comes the Groom | Peter 'Pete' Garvey |
| 1951 | Angels in the Outfield | Bing Crosby (uncredited) |
| 1950 | Mr. Music | Paul Merrick |
| 1950 | Riding High | Dan Brooks |
| 1949 | The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Short) | Narrator | Ichabod Crane | Brom Bones (voice) |
| 1949 | The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad | Relating the Story of Ichabod Crane (voice) |
| 1949 | Top o' the Morning | Joe Mulqueen |
| 1949 | Jolson Sings Again | Bing Crosby (voice, uncredited) |
| 1949 | A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court | Hank Martin |
| 1948 | The Emperor Waltz | Virgil Smith |
| 1947 | Road to Rio | Scat Sweeney |
| 1947 | Variety Girl | Bing Crosby |
| 1947 | Welcome Stranger | Dr. James 'Jim' Pearson |
| 1947 | My Favorite Brunette | Harry (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Rough But Hopeful (Short) | Bing Crosby |
| 1946 | Blue Skies | Johnny Adams |
| 1945 | The Bells of St. Mary's | Father Chuck O'Malley |
| 1945 | Road to Utopia | Duke Johnson |
| 1945 | Hollywood Victory Caravan (Short) | Bing Crosby |
| 1945 | Duffy's Tavern | Bing Crosby |
| 1945 | Out of This World | Herbie Fenton (singing voice, uncredited) |
| 1944 | Here Come the Waves | Johnny Cabot |
| 1944 | The Princess and the Pirate | Margaret's Sweetheart (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Road to Victory (Short) | Bing Crosby (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Going My Way | Father Chuck O'Malley |
| 1944 | The Shining Future (Short) | Bing Crosby |
| 1943 | Dixie | Daniel Decatur Emmett |
| 1943 | Don't Hook Now (Short) | Bing Crosby |
| 1943 | They Got Me Covered | Music Box (voice, uncredited) |
| 1942 | Star Spangled Rhythm | Bing Crosby - 'Old Glory' Number |
| 1942 | Road to Morocco | Jeff Peters |
| 1942 | Holiday Inn | Jim Hardy |
| 1942 | My Favorite Blonde | Man Outside Union Hall (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Birth of the Blues | Jeff Lambert |
| 1941 | Road to Zanzibar | Chuck Reardon |
| 1940 | Rhythm on the River | Bob Sommers |
| 1940 | If I Had My Way | Buzz Blackwell |
| 1940 | Road to Singapore | Joshua 'Josh' Mallon V |
| 1939 | The Star Maker | Larry Earl |
| 1939 | East Side of Heaven | Denny Martin |
| 1939 | Paris Honeymoon | 'Lucky' Lawton |
| 1938 | Sing, You Sinners | Joe Beebe |
| 1938 | Hollywood Handicap (Short) | Bing Crosby |
| 1938 | Doctor Rhythm | Dr. Bill Remsen |
| 1937 | Double or Nothing | 'Lefty' Boylan |
| 1937 | Waikiki Wedding | Tony Marvin |
| 1936 | Pennies from Heaven | Larry Poole |
| 1936 | Rhythm on the Range | Jeff Larabee |
| 1936 | Anything Goes | Billy Crocker |
| 1935 | The Big Broadcast of 1936 | Bing |
| 1935 | Two for Tonight | Gilbert Gordon |
| 1935 | Mississippi | Tom Grayson |
| 1934 | Here Is My Heart | J. (Jasper) Paul Jones |
| 1934 | She Loves Me Not | Paul Lawton |
| 1934 | We're Not Dressing | Stephen Jones |
| 1934 | Just an Echo (Short) | Bing |
| 1933 | Going Hollywood | Bill Williams |
| 1933 | Please (Short) | Howard Jones |
| 1933 | Too Much Harmony | Eddie Bronson |
| 1933 | College Humor | Professor Frederick Danvers |
| 1933 | Sing, Bing, Sing (Short) | Bing |
| 1933 | Blue of the Night (Short) | Bing Crosby aka Jack Smith |
| 1932 | The Big Broadcast | Bing Hornsby |
| 1932 | Hollywood on Parade (Short) | Unknown |
| 1932 | Billboard Girl (Short) | Bing |
| 1932 | Dream House (Short) | Bing Fawcett - Plumber |
| 1931 | One More Chance (Short) | Bing Bangs |
| 1931 | I Surrender Dear (Short) | Bing |
| 1931 | Confessions of a Co-Ed | Bing Crosby |
| 1931 | Up for Murder | Singer on radio (uncredited) |
| 1930 | Reaching for the Moon | Bing |
| 1930 | Two Plus Fours (Short) | Bing (as The Rhythm Boys) |
| 1930 | King of Jazz | One of the Rhythm Boys (as The Rhythm Boys) |