Singer, Actor, and Band Leader. He was born Hubert Prior Vallee and changed his name to Rudy after the great saxophonist, Rudy Wiedoeft. He wanted to serve in World War I, so he enlisted in the Navy in 1917. He was discharged after 41 days when it was discovered he was only 15 years old. He was too old for World War II, so he joined the 40-piece Coast Guard band and entertained the troops until 1944. His first marriage was annulled and his second ended in divorce. He then married the younger actress, Jane Greer, and that also ended in divorce. He married for the fourth time in 1946, and that lasted until his death in 1986. They reconciled and she wrote a memoir, "My Vagabond Lover." He enjoyed a long and varied career. His first recording contract came in 1928 and his feature-film debut occurred in 1929. That was the same year he began hosting the first of his radio shows. He could sing fluently in three different Mediterranean languages and always varied the keys. In 1937, he attended law school in Boston, Massachusetts. His last significant hit was a 1943 re-release of the hit he made 15 years earlier, "As Time Goes By," which was featured in the 1943 movie, "Casablanca." In the 1960s, he appeared as the character "Lord Marmaduke Fogg" in the TV hit series, "Batman."
Singer, Actor, and Band Leader. He was born Hubert Prior Vallee and changed his name to Rudy after the great saxophonist, Rudy Wiedoeft. He wanted to serve in World War I, so he enlisted in the Navy in 1917. He was discharged after 41 days when it was discovered he was only 15 years old. He was too old for World War II, so he joined the 40-piece Coast Guard band and entertained the troops until 1944. His first marriage was annulled and his second ended in divorce. He then married the younger actress, Jane Greer, and that also ended in divorce. He married for the fourth time in 1946, and that lasted until his death in 1986. They reconciled and she wrote a memoir, "My Vagabond Lover." He enjoyed a long and varied career. His first recording contract came in 1928 and his feature-film debut occurred in 1929. That was the same year he began hosting the first of his radio shows. He could sing fluently in three different Mediterranean languages and always varied the keys. In 1937, he attended law school in Boston, Massachusetts. His last significant hit was a 1943 re-release of the hit he made 15 years earlier, "As Time Goes By," which was featured in the 1943 movie, "Casablanca." In the 1960s, he appeared as the character "Lord Marmaduke Fogg" in the TV hit series, "Batman."
Bio by: Tom Todd
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