The Biography Channel - Bette Midler Biography

Bette Midler
born: 01-12-1945
birth place: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Always a live performer at heart, Midler toured with her saucy and successful show, ‘Kiss My Brass’, first in America from 2003 to 2004 and then in Australia in 2005. Turning to her music, she released ‘Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook (2003), a tribute album to the late singer Rosemary Clooney, her long-time friend. She was a big fan of Clooney’s music and originally titled the album ‘Rosemary for Remembrance’. This was followed by ‘Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook’ (2005). Both of these albums were nominated for Grammy awards. Trying her hand at holiday season music, Midler released ‘Cool Yule‘ (2006), an album with a Christmas version of the song ‘From A Distance’.

Midler starred as Bobbie Markowitz, with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Glenn Close and Christopher Walken in Frank Oz’s comedy thriller remake of ‘The Stepford Wives’ (2004). Her next feature film role was as Bernice Graves in ‘Then She Found Me’ (2007), a romantic drama directed by Helen Hunt, who also starred in it, with Matthew Broderick and Colin Firth.

Committed to charities and fund-raising, Midler has lent her voice and her time to many worthy causes over the years. In 1985 she sang on USA for Africa’s hit single ‘We Are the World’, which raised money for famine and disease relief in Africa. On 13th July 1985, she performed at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia as part of Bob Geldof and Midge Ure’s multi-venue rock concert ‘Live Aid’ for famine relief in Ethiopia. She is also the founder of the New York Restoration Project, which reclaims, restores and maintains neglected public spaces. The project offers environmental education for at-risk neighbourhood youths; arranges community programmes such as boating activities and park festivals for local families; and creates green spaces for inner-city communities.

Currently in her early 60s, Midler lives with her Argentine husband Martin von Haselberg. The couple were married on 16th December 1984 in Las Vegas and have a daughter, Sophie von Haselberg, born in 1986. Midler has been in the entertainment industry for over 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down. She has graced her fans with innumerable record-breaking performances and been awarded no less than four Grammys, four Golden Globes, three Emmys and a Tony. Her fabulous figure, powerful voice and sassy style are as youthful and energetic as ever. In February 2008, Midler is due to open a new show at Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas. Hats off to the Divine Miss M.

Carey Latimore