Film, vaudeville and television actor. Born Charles Cali to Italian parents Carmelo Cali and Teresa Galletti, he was a boyhood friend of Bob Hope from their grammar school days in Cleveland. He helped get the famous comedian his first big break in vaudeville. Hope took him to Hollywood in 1938 and remained with Hope as his personal secretary and traveling companion on the comic's USO tours and other trips. He also played small, mostly uncredited parts in many of Hope's films, including "Monsieur Beaucaire" (1946), "My Favorite Brunette" (1947), "Road to Rio" (1947), "The Paleface" (1948), "Sorrowful Jones" (1949, as Shorty), "The Great Lover" (1949), "Fancy Pants" (1950, as the parson), "The Lemon Drop Kid" (1951, as Goomba), "My Favorite Spy" (1951), "Son of Paleface" (1952, as Charley), "Here Come the Girls" (1953, as Sam), and "Casanova's Big Night" (1954). Cooley also appeared a few episodes of his friend's television shows ("The Colgate Comedy Hour" and "The Bob Hope Show," the latter on two episodes in 1956 and 1957). A rare blood disease forced an end to his professional association with Hope. After a three year battle, Charles Cooley passed away at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, at age 58.
Film, vaudeville and television actor. Born Charles Cali to Italian parents Carmelo Cali and Teresa Galletti, he was a boyhood friend of Bob Hope from their grammar school days in Cleveland. He helped get the famous comedian his first big break in vaudeville. Hope took him to Hollywood in 1938 and remained with Hope as his personal secretary and traveling companion on the comic's USO tours and other trips. He also played small, mostly uncredited parts in many of Hope's films, including "Monsieur Beaucaire" (1946), "My Favorite Brunette" (1947), "Road to Rio" (1947), "The Paleface" (1948), "Sorrowful Jones" (1949, as Shorty), "The Great Lover" (1949), "Fancy Pants" (1950, as the parson), "The Lemon Drop Kid" (1951, as Goomba), "My Favorite Spy" (1951), "Son of Paleface" (1952, as Charley), "Here Come the Girls" (1953, as Sam), and "Casanova's Big Night" (1954). Cooley also appeared a few episodes of his friend's television shows ("The Colgate Comedy Hour" and "The Bob Hope Show," the latter on two episodes in 1956 and 1957). A rare blood disease forced an end to his professional association with Hope. After a three year battle, Charles Cooley passed away at the Motion Picture Home in Woodland Hills, at age 58.
Bio by: James Lacy
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