Ordinarily she loves to be in the spotlight, but Bette Midler recently got herself some attention she could have done without. She had over 230 trees cut down on vacant land near one of her properties in Kauai, Hawaii. She also had a road built on land that was zoned for conservation. Because she didn’t have the proper permits, Bette Midler was fined $6,500 by the Board of Land and Natural Resources. She also has to follow a plan to replant the area. Midler, who is known for her conservation efforts, didn’t know she needed any permits. Kind of odd for a native not to know, isn’t it? A little known fact about singer/actress Bette Midler is that she was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 1, 1945. Read this interesting article and learn some more facts about her that might bedazzle you!
Her Singing Career
Born the youngest to parents Fred and Ruth, “Bette Davis Midler”, the brown-eyed, natural blonde graduated from Radford High School in 1963. Seeing her full name may give you the idea she was named after “The First Lady of the American Screen,” Bette Davis. You are correct. Her sister Susan was named after “Susan Hayward”, and her sister Judy was named after “Judy Garland” as well.
A little known fact about singer/actress Bette Midler is that, even though she was named after “Bette” – pronounced “Betty” – her mother thought it was “bet”, one syllable, and that’s why the second syllable of her name is silent.
Midler then started out studying Drama at the University of Hawaii. She quit that school and moved to New York where she learned to be a dancer at the Herbert Berghof Studio. Midler played on Broadway in “Fiddler on the Roof.” In 1968, her sister Judy went to New York to see Bette perform. Sadly, she was struck and killed by a taxi there.
Bette Midler’s big singing break came when she teamed up with an old pal of hers. A little known fact about Bette Midler is that Barry Manilow –
“Barry Manilow Biography” – produced her debut album, “The Divine Miss M.”, Atlantic Record, 1972. The album turned platinum and earned Bette Midler a Grammy.
Her second album, “Bette Midler”, made Billboard Magazine’s Top Ten List. However, the critics dissed the album. Midler had a nervous breakdown. Her singing career was put on hold until she recovered. Bette Midler’s third album wasn’t released until 1975. It was appropriately titled, “Songs For the New Depression.”
A little known fact about singer/actress Bette Midler is that she has sold over fourteen million albums thus far.
Her Acting Career
Bette Midler broke into the film business when she got the role of “Mary Rose Foster” in “The Rose” in 1979. She won two Golden Globe Awards and a nomination for an Academy. Midler also won a Grammy for the soundtrack.
Midler also starred in “Beaches” opposite actress Barbara Hershey in 1988. The drama was a success. The theme song of the movie, “Wind Beneath My Wings” became a number one hit and was named “Song of the Year” in 1989.
Another little known fact about singer/actress Bette Midler is that “The Rose” and “Wind Beneath My Wings” were chosen by the The American Film Institute when it compiled “The 100 years of the Greatest Songs” in 2004.
Family Life
In between singing and acting, Bette Midler found true love when she married Martin von Haselberg in December of 1984. The couple’s daughter, Sophia Frederica Alohilani von Haselberg was born on November 14, 1986.
