Profile of the Day: Bette Midler

Happy birthday to Bette Midler! Today the iconic singer and actress turns 78.

Image: Bette Midler / Nationaal Archief

Midler was born on December 1, 1945 in Honolulu, Hawaii to Ruth Schindel and Fred Midler. The third of four children, Midler was named after actress Bette Davis, although she pronounces her name as one syllable. After graduating as valedictorian of her high school, Midler went on to study drama at the University of Hawaii. However, she left school after a year to pursue a career as an actor in New York.

As she struggled to find success on Broadway, Midler began singing at a public bathhouse with a then-unknown Barry Manilow accompanying her on the piano. The two maintained a close partnership and Manilow eventually went on to produce Midler’s debut album, The Devine Miss M. The album launched her to superstardom and earned Midler her first Grammy Award. In addition to her musical success, Midler continued to pursue work as an actor. In 1979, she earned her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the film, The Rose. Since launching to stardom, Midler has sold over 30 million records worldwide and has starred in a variety of films, including Beaches, The First Wives Club, and Hocus Pocus.

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