Bette Davis Midler is an American singer, actress and comedienne, also known to her fans as The Divine Miss M. She is named after the actress Bette Davis although Davis pronounced her first name in two syllables, and Midler uses one. During her career, she has won four Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award, and has been nominated for two Academy Awards. She is currently performing a new concert show, "The Showgirl Must Go On," live five nights a week as a headliner at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Performed her cabaret act at the famed gay mens club, The Continental Baths, in the 1970s with Barry Manilow as her accompanist.
Worked at a Dole pineapple processing plant in Hawaii in her early years.
Her first big album "The Divine Miss M" was produced by Barry Manilow.
Attended and graduated from Radford High School in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1963.
Majored in drama at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, but dropped out after three semesters.
Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1979" in John Willis Screen World, Vol. 31.
Was the final guest on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" .
Gave birth to her only child at age 40, a daughter Sophie Frederica Alohilani von Haselberg (aka Sophie von Haselberg ) on November 14, 1986. Childs father is her husband, Martin von Haselberg.
She performed a cover version of the song "Beast of Burden". She also appeared in a music video of the song with Mick Jagger that was choreographed and cast by Lori Eastside.
Ranked #51 on VH1s 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
Won four Grammy Awards including the 1973 Best New Artist and the prestigious Record of the Year in 1989 for the soaring rendition of her # 1 hit "Wind Beneath My Wings" from the movie Beaches .
In 1974, she received a special Tony Award "for adding lustre to the Broadway season".
Is named after Bette Davis and her sisters Susan and Judy are named after Susan Hayward and Judy Garland.
When the American Film Institute announced "The 100 Years of the Greatest Songs" on June 22, 2004, two of her hits were selected: "Wind Beneath My Wings" from Beaches (#44), "The Rose" from The Rose , (#83).
Her album "Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook" was originally titled "Rosemary for Remembrance". The name was changed just weeks before the albums September 30, 2003 release.
The last syllable of her first name is unpronounced because her mother thought that was how Bette Davis pronounced her name.
Is a huge fan and longtime friend of the late singer Rosemary Clooney.
The role of Delores Van Carter in Sister Act was originally written for her. However, she turned down the role which went to Whoopi Goldberg.
While Bette was on Broadway in "Fiddler on the Roof" (she played the character Tzeitel until 1969), her sister Judy visited New York City to see her perform and was tragically struck by a taxi and killed.
Graduated as valedictorian of her high school.
Can be seen in the crowd as an extra in Hawaii as a seasick passenger aboard a ship listening to a preacher, played by Max von Sydow. Midler was also hired for a small speaking role in the film and went to Los Angeles to film these scenes in a studio. Her scenes were cut from the final film. However, she used the money she earned to move to New York, where her career took off and she became a star.
She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 6, 1985.
Was in a relationship with Peter Riegert. They lived together in the 1970s.
She studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
Despite playing her daughter in Beaches , Midler is just five years younger than Lainie Kazan in real life.
Became pregnant by her husband Martin von Haselberg a second time but suffered a miscarriage in April 1988.
Is a huge fan of Susan Boyle.
Is a staunch liberal Democrat.
She launched her current show in Las Vegas, Nevada titled "The Showgirl Must Go On". The show took place at Caesers Palace, and she performed the show for two years.
Bettes paternal grandparents, Ruben Midler and Minnie Friedman, were Jewish immigrants from Russia and Poland/Lithuania. Bettes maternal grandparents, Israel D. Schindel and Fannie Goldberger, were Jewish immigrants from Austria/Hungary and Poland.
She is exactly ten years younger than her Scenes from a Mall co-star Woody Allen : Allen was born on December 1, 1935 while Midler was born on December 1, 1945.
Was considered for the role of Zira in The Lion King 2: Simbas Pride .
During one time, she rented an old house off Coldwater Canyon and Richard Chamberlain was her landlord.
Friends with Debbie Harry , Debra Messing , and 50 Cent.
Won the 2017 Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Tony Award for her performance as Dolly Gallagher Levi in "Hello, Dolly!" on June 11, 2017.
Returned to work 11 months after giving birth to her daughter Sophie von Haselberg to begin filming Big Business .
I always try to balance the light with the heavy - a few tears of human,spirit in with the sequins and the fringes.
I bear no grudges. I have a mind that retains nothing.
Get the trash off the street and back on the stage where it belongs.
In Hawaii, I was the chief chunker in a pineapple canning factory. I,used to come home smelling like a compote.
My parents (mother Ruth a seamstress, father Fred a painter) were not,encouraging. My father put everybody down. Yeah, it was a real drag but,he had his moments. His saving grace was a wicked sense of humour. He,was a good provider. They were a team. They were at Pearl Harbour, they,knew hardship. My mum was supportive, she had a tinge of showbiz fever,and named me and my sisters after Hollywood icons. My dad was like "Get,a job". But that gave me something to fight against.
[on growing up in Hawaii]: We were very poor, it was a hard-scrabble,childhood, not particularly happy. The best part was nature, which is,so intense there. The sky is bright blue, the clouds are puffy, the,grass is lush, it feels like you can touch the stars. But the people,were not very nice. I was a white kid in a mostly Asian neighbourhood.
There are no trills, no thrills. Its straight singing and it comes from,the heart.
My father loved me, but until the day he died he thought it was a total,waste of time and that I should have been a teacher or a nurse.
[on Beaches (1988) ] No one was more surprised than me at how it,took off and has such a place in the hearts of so many generations.
The worst part of success is trying to find someone who is happy for you.
After thirty a body has a mind of its own.
I have my standards. They may be low but I have them.
After thirty, a body has a mind of its own. .
