Bette Midler

December 1, 2024

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Bette Midler, born December 1, 1945, in Honolulu, Hawaii, is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and entrepreneur. She has garnered several awards and nominations throughout her five-decade career, including four Golden Globes, three Grammy Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards, two Tony Awards, and a Kennedy Center Honor, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and a British Academy Film Award. Her records have sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making her one of the most successful female vocalists. From humble beginnings, she would eventually become one of the most popular singers in the industry.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Bette Davis Midler

Birth date:

December 1, 1945

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 1"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$250 million

Background

Bette Midler has made a name for herself as one of the most successful and well-paid figures in the entertainment industry. She was born to Jewish parents. Her mother Ruth Midler was a homemaker, and her father Fred Middler worked as a seamster. She attended Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where she grew up. She went to the University of Hawaii after high school for three semesters before dropping out.

Midler began her professional career in several off-Broadway productions before landing roles on Broadway in “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Salvation” in the late 1960s. She rose to prominence in 1970 after beginning to sing at the Continental Baths, a local homosexual bathhouse where she amassed a loyal following. She went on to become one of the music industry’s most successful singers. A multi-talented personality, Midler has gained great recognition in the film and television industries throughout her long career. Her debut album, “The Divine Miss M,” was followed by “Bette Midler,” “Some People’s Lives,” “Songs for the New Depression,” and “Thighs and Whispers.” She appeared in the Golden Globe-nominated film “For the Boys,” as well as in the critically praised television series “Gypsy.”

She married Martin von Haselberg on December 16, 1984. Sophie von Haselberg, an actress, is their only child, born on November 14, 1986.

Career timeline

1965

She Moves to New York City

Bette Midler relocates to New York City and makes her theatrical debut in Off-Broadway productions by American playwright and theater director Tom Eyen.

1966—1969

She Performs In Broadway Productions

She gets to know the Broadway style of acting by appearing in “Fiddler on the Roof” on Broadway and “Salvation.”

1972

She Releases Her Debut Album

Atlantic Records publishes Midler's debut album, “The Divine Miss M.”

1980

She Receives Two Golden Globe Awards

Midler receives two Golden Globe Awards in two different categories.

1981

She Wins Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Midler wins the Grammy Award for best female pop singer.

1990

She Wins Her Second Grammy Award

Midler wins the Grammy Award for Record of the Year for her hit ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’

1992

She Receives the Golden Globe Award

She receives the Golden Globe Award for her superb performance in the motion picture “For the Boys.”

Why We Love Bette Midler

Her love for humanity
Midler has been honored by AIDS Project Los Angeles. She received the Lifetime Commitment Award for her tireless fundraising and advocacy efforts in the aftermath of the AIDS epidemic.
She is environmentally conscious
She has contributed to the beautification of New York City, having planted over one million trees in the region through her organization. What’s not to love about this philanthropic star?
Her music is inspiring
Midler is one of the most well-known musicians in the world! Her Grammy Awards are indicative of how inspiring people find her music.

5 Surprising Facts

Born into a very impoverished household
Bette Midler came from a very impoverished household, and reading books at the Honolulu Public Library taught her and her sister about ballet, theater, and opera.
She was named after a Hollywood actress
Her mother named her after the famous Hollywood actress Bette Davis.
Her theatrical debut was in a bathhouse
This portrayal earned her critical recognition and a sizable L.G.B.T. following, which she maintained throughout her career.
She was nominated for an Academy Award
She received an Academy Award nomination for her first major film performance.
She has planted over a million trees
Midler has also contributed to the beautification of New York City, and her organization has planted over one million trees in the region.