Hope too frail to attend citizen of century ceremony

Bob Hope, whose 100th birthday is next month, was too frail to attend the rededication of one of his stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

But comedian Dennis Miller said Hope probably wouldn’t have come anyway. “I know if he was up-and-about he would have made a beeline for Iraq to entertain our brave men and women over there,” said Miller, one of several celebrities at the gathering.

Frasier star Kelsey Grammer said Hope’s “laughter has helped us through some very difficult days and helped us relish the good ones.”

“Bob Hope’s contribution to this country and our society is invaluable and it will last for centuries to come,” he said.

At the event, an embedded plaque describing Hope as ”citizen of the century” was unveiled on the star. Others in attendance included Hope friends Phyllis Diller, Eva Marie Saint and Cindy Williams, and his daughter, Linda Hope.

Hope was born in Etham, south London, and his family emigrated to the United States when he was a child.

The ceremony coincided with the Universal Studios Home Video release of the “Bob Hope 100th Birthday Tribute Collection,” 12 DVDs featuring 17 of his movies.

Hope and his wife, Dolores, spend their days mainly at his golf estate just across the Los Angeles River behind Universal Studios. He stopped making public appearances about two years ago.