Bette Midler, also known as “The Divine Miss M,” is a renowned American singer, actress, and writer. Her remarkable performances on stage and screen have garnered her numerous accolades, including two Tonys, three Primetime Emmys, and three Grammys.
Bette has produced 14 studio albums, selling over 30 million copies worldwide, and has an impressive portfolio of over 50 acting roles, including memorable films such as “The Rose” (1979), “Beaches” (1988), and “The First Wives Club” (1996).
Bette Midler Bio Summary
Full name: Bette Davis Midler
Date of birth: December 1, 1945
Gender: Female
Age: 79 years old (2024)
Place of birth: Honolulu, Hawaii
Education: University of Hawaii, Radford High School
Profession: Actor & Singer
Nationality: American
Marital status: Married
Husband’s name: Martin von Haselberg
Children: 1 (Sophie von Haselberg)
Early Life & Education
Bette Midler was born on December 1, 1945, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was raised in a family of the Jewish faith, with her mother Ruth working as a seamstress, her father Fred as a painter at a Navy base, and her sisters Susan and Judy.
Bette was a student at Radford High School, where she was chosen as both “Most Dramatic” and “Most Talkative.” Upon graduating in 1963, she pursued a degree in drama at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
However, she left the program after three semesters and quickly landed a gig as a background actor in the 1966 movie “Hawaii,” playing a nauseous traveler.
Career
Midler relocated to New York City in mid-1965 and enrolled in classes with Uta Hagen at HB Studio. In the same year, she starred in the Off-Off-Broadway productions “Miss Nefertiti Regrets” and “Cinderella Revisited,” and by 1966, she had landed a role on Broadway as Tzeitel in “Fiddler on the Roof.”
After remaining with the production until 1969, she became a member of the Off-Broadway show “Salvation” and began entertaining at the Continental Baths, a gay bathhouse, with Barry Manilow playing the piano. Manilow also produced her first album, “The Divine Miss M,” in 1972, which achieved Platinum status in both the U.S. and Canada.
In addition, Bette released 13 additional studio albums and four soundtracks, which included the 3× Platinum “Beaches” soundtrack and the 2× Platinum soundtrack for “The Rose.”
During the 1970s, Bette appeared in the Who’s “Tommy” and also made her debut on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” She became a regular guest, making over 25 appearances, and was the final guest on Carson’s show before he retired in 1992.
Bette’s performance in “The Rose” in 1979 landed her a nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards and a Golden Globe. The title song from the movie’s soundtrack went Gold and also earned her a Grammy.
Six years later, in 1985, she participated in the recording of “We Are the World” and appeared at Live Aid. She also signed a contract with Walt Disney Studios.
In 1988, she both acted in and produced the film “Beaches,” and her accompanying soundtrack became her top-selling album and won her another Grammy. Four years later, Bette received her second Oscar nomination for her role in “For the Boys.”
The next year, she appeared alongside Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker in Disney’s “Hocus Pocus,” which would go on to gain a devoted fan following. She also portrayed Mama Rose in a television adaptation of “Gypsy.”
In 1996, Midler appeared alongside Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton in “The First Wives Club” and later had her own TV show, “Bette,” which was broadcast on CBS from 2000 to 2001. She also played the role of executive producer for the series.
Additionally, Midler has headlined in various television specials, including “Bette Midler in Concert: Diva Las Vegas” (1997), “Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On” (2010), and “Bette Midler: One Night Only” (2014).
Bette has been featured in several movies including “The Stepford Wives” (2004), “The Women” (2008), and “Parental Guidance” (2012). Additionally, she provided the voice for Grandmama in the 2020 computer-animated film “The Addams Family.”
Personal Life
Bette Midler tied the knot with artist Martin von Haselberg on December 16, 1984. Their union resulted in a daughter named Sophie Frederica Alohilani Von Haselberg. Eleven years later, she founded the ‘New York Restoration Project’ to plant trees and revitalize parks in overlooked parts of New York City.
Net Worth
Bette Midler’s wealth is estimated to be around $220 million, earned through her career in singing, songwriting, comedy, and acting. In 2008, she agreed to a deal with Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where she put on a recurring show called Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On, which ran for 2 years until 2010.
