Bing Crosby

Birthday: 2 May 1903, Tacoma, Washington, USA

Birth Name: Harry Lillis Crosby

Height: 170 cm

Bing Crosby was born Harry Lillis Crosby, Jr. in Tacoma, Washington, the fourth of seven children of Catherine Helen "Kate" (Harrigan) and Harry Lowe Crosby, a brewery bookkeeper. He was of ...Show More

[on Fred Astaire] But when you're in a picture with Astaire, you've got rocks in your head if you do Show more [on Fred Astaire] But when you're in a picture with Astaire, you've got rocks in your head if you do much dancing. He's so quick-footed and so light that it's impossible not to look like a hay-digger compared with him. Hide

[on Frank Sinatra] Frank is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come Show more [on Frank Sinatra] Frank is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come in mine? Hide

[on W.C. Fields] His comedy routines appeared spontaneous and improvised, but he spent much time per Show more [on W.C. Fields] His comedy routines appeared spontaneous and improvised, but he spent much time perfecting them. He knew exactly what he was doing every moment, and what each prop was supposed to do. That My Little Chickadee (1940) way of talking of his was natural. Hide

[on Judy Garland] There wasn't a thing that gal couldn't do -- except look after herself. [on Judy Garland] There wasn't a thing that gal couldn't do -- except look after herself.

[in 1954] I don't sing anywhere as good as I used to, and I feel sincerely that it's getting worse. Show more [in 1954] I don't sing anywhere as good as I used to, and I feel sincerely that it's getting worse. I don't see any purpose in trying to stretch something out that was once acceptable and that now is merely adequate, if that. I don't know what the reason for this condition is, unless it's apathy. I just don't have the interest in singing. I am not keen about it any more. Songs all sound alike to me, and some of them so shoddy and trivial. I don't mean I didn't sing some cheap songs in the old days, but I had such a tremendous interest in singing and was so wrapped up in the work that it didn't matter. I don't know how to diagnose the condition, but it seems to me that possibly this apathy, this lack of desire, when I have to go to a recording session, transmits itself into nervous exhaustion and fatigue. Hide

Once or twice I've been described as a light comedian. I consider this the most accurate description Show more Once or twice I've been described as a light comedian. I consider this the most accurate description of my abilities I've ever seen. Hide

[on Bob Hope] Hope? He's got more money on him than I have. [on Bob Hope] Hope? He's got more money on him than I have.

[on Frank Sinatra] He has this tense Sicilian quality while I don't have any tenseness at all and I Show more [on Frank Sinatra] He has this tense Sicilian quality while I don't have any tenseness at all and I just hang in there with what I call a dead ass. But Frank gets picked on by people who want to see how tough he is and he usually obliges them with a demonstration. Like all Sicilians, if he is a friend he will always be a friend -- and if he is an enemy, go on hating. Hide

[after Hedda Hopper asked if he was considering retirement] Every day, but I'm sure I'll never get c Show more [after Hedda Hopper asked if he was considering retirement] Every day, but I'm sure I'll never get caught up with my work in time to do it. Hide

[about Elvis Presley] He helped to kill off the influence of me and my contemporaries, but I respect Show more [about Elvis Presley] He helped to kill off the influence of me and my contemporaries, but I respect him for that. Because music always has to progress, and no-one could have opened the door to the future like he did. Hide

I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the 20th century that have made gr Show more I think popular music in this country is one of the few things in the 20th century that have made great strides in reverse. Hide

[on John Boles singing his solo in King of Jazz (1930)] I have often wondered what might have happen Show more [on John Boles singing his solo in King of Jazz (1930)] I have often wondered what might have happened to me if I had sung "The Song of the Dawn". It certainly helped Boles - on the strength of it, he got a lot of pictures. I must say, he had a bigger voice and a better delivery for that kind of song than I had. My crooning style wouldn't have been good for such a number, which was supposed to have been delivered a la breve, like "The Vagabond Song". I might have flopped with it. I might have been cut out of "The King of Jazz". I might never have been given another crack at a song in any picture. Hide

[on his phenomenally successful single "White Christmas"] A jackdaw with a cleft palate could have s Show more [on his phenomenally successful single "White Christmas"] A jackdaw with a cleft palate could have sung it successfully. Hide

Honestly, I think I've stretched a talent which is so thin it's almost transparent over a quite unbe Show more Honestly, I think I've stretched a talent which is so thin it's almost transparent over a quite unbelievable term of years. Hide

[his own epitaph] He was an average guy who could carry a tune. [his own epitaph] He was an average guy who could carry a tune.

Everyone knows I'm just a big, good-natured slob. Everyone knows I'm just a big, good-natured slob.

[on Judy Garland] The most talented woman I ever knew was Judy Garland. She was a great, great comed Show more [on Judy Garland] The most talented woman I ever knew was Judy Garland. She was a great, great comedienne and she could do more things than any girl I ever knew. Act, sing, dance, make you laugh. She was everything. I had a great affection for her. Such a tragedy. Too much work, too much pressure, the wrong kind of people as husbands. Hide

[on Grace Kelly] She's a great lady, with great talent and kind, considerate, friendly with everybod Show more [on Grace Kelly] She's a great lady, with great talent and kind, considerate, friendly with everybody. She was great with the crew and they all loved her. Hide

[at the start of his career] If I'm going to get by in pictures, it's going to be as a singer, with Show more [at the start of his career] If I'm going to get by in pictures, it's going to be as a singer, with about as much acting as you would expect from a guy standing in front of a microphone. Hide

[accepting his Oscar] This is the only country in the world where an old broken-down crooner can win Show more [accepting his Oscar] This is the only country in the world where an old broken-down crooner can win an Oscar for acting. It shows that everybody in this country has a chance to succeed. I was just lucky enough to have Leo McCarey take me by the hand and lead me through the picture. Hide

Bing Crosby's FILMOGRAPHY

as Actor (65)

Scared Stiff [Audio: Spanish]

Let`s Make Love

Dean Martin: King of Cool

The Carol Burnett Show - Season 6

The Carol Burnett Show - Season 9

Here Come the Waves

High Time

The Carol Burnett Show - Season 2

Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas

Road to Zanzibar