What’s not to love about Betty White? One of Hollywood’s first funny gals, her wicked sense of humour has turned her into a fan favourite for generations upon generations. But there is one topic she doesn’t joke about, and that is love.
Betty was married a total of three times; first to U.S. Army Air Corps pilot Dick Baker in 1945 and again two years later to Hollywood agent Lane Allen. Both marriages were short-lived, but the third try proved a charm.
The actress and comedian met TV host Allen Ludden through his game show ‘Password’ where Betty had been his celebrity guest. She might have been a bit hesitant after two failed marriages as she refused his marriage proposal twice, and it is believed Allen wore the engagement ring on a chain around his neck till she accepted.
Through her marriage to Allen, Betty became stepmother to his three children from an earlier marriage. The transition was not the smoothest, and Allen’s eldest daughter’s rebellious stage created a rift in the new family unit. Things took a turn for the worse when Betty’s father passed away, but it is these tough times that cemented the bond between the loved-up couple.
The pair enjoyed 18 years of wedded bliss until Allen passed away due to stomach cancer. Despite her happy demeanour and sunny smiles, Betty harbours some regrets about her refusals to his early proposals: “I wasted a whole year we could have had together. Take a chance, you never know how perfect something might turn out to be!” she was reported saying.
Betty, who celebrates her 98th birthday today, may be one of the cheekiest grandmothers around, but the nonagenarian has not had the inclination to remarry after Allen’s passing in 1981. Betty famously remarked on a Larry King interview: “I miss having someone to hold, but once you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?”
Preach sister, and happy 98th!