[Sticks]

Comedian Bob Hope has died, less than two months after turning 100.

The British born star, who celebrated his centenary in May, had not appeared in public for some time.

Bob Hope died Sunday of pneumonia, said his long-time publicist Ward Grant.

His family was at his bedside at his home in Toluca Lake, California.

The United States' most-honoured comedian, and multi-millionaire, proved to be a success in radio, television and film. He also starred in several movies with longtime friend Bing Crosby.

For decades, he took his show on the road to bases around the world, boosting the morale of American servicemen from World War II to the Gulf War.

The comedian was made an honorary knight in 1998.

He was born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903, in Eltham, England, the fifth of seven sons of a British stonemason and a Welsh singer of light opera.

The Hopes emigrated to the United States when he was 4 and settled in Cleveland, Ohio. They found themselves in the backwash of the 1907 depression.

See link to the BBC site