Bette Midler: Looking back on Miss Divine

Midler was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 1, 1945. Her family was poor, so she learned about opera, ballet, and theater from books in the library. She also worked at a Dole pineapple processing plant in her early years, and majored in drama at the University of Hawaii, though she dropped out after three semesters.

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Moving to New York -

In 1965, after landing a small part in the movie, 'Hawaii,' for which Midler went to LA to film (though the scenes ended up being cut out), she used the money she earned to move to New York City.

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Early odd jobs -

She knew she wanted to perform for people, so she reportedly worked some jobs as a go-go dancer in a New Jersey club, and even as a hatcheck girl and glove saleswoman at a department store in New York City.

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Broadway debut -

The year after arriving in NYC, she made her Broadway debut in 'Fiddler on the Roof,' for which she played the character Tzeitel until 1969.

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Tragedy struck -

While Midler was on Broadway, her sister Judy visited New York City in 1968 to see her perform. On her way, Judy was tragically killed in a car accident.

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Burgeoning gay following -

In the early '70s, Midler started performing at the famed gay men's bathhouse Continental Baths, with Barry Manilow as her pianist, arranger, and musical director. Her performances led to the creation of the Divine Miss M character, as well as a vast gay following.

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Her first album -

In 1972 she released her first album, 'The Divine Miss M,' produced by Barry Manilow, which would also garner her first ever Grammy.

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Her first lead film role -

Midler took everyone by surprise with her knockout performance as a rock 'n' roll singer (loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin) in 'The Rose' (1979), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

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Her first book -

In 1980, Simon & Schuster published her first book, 'A View from a Broad.' She wore a campy typewriter hat to her first book signing, of course.

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Longtime husband -

She met Martin von Haselberg, one half of performance art group/comedy duo the Kipper Kids, at a party, and then two years later he called her up for a date. A few weeks after their date, they were married, and have stayed that way since 1984. “If somebody makes me laugh, I'm his slave for life,” Midler admitted.

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Her idea of romance -

When she met Martin, they both were ready to have a family. “It was romantic and not romantic at the same time,” she told Oprah, adding that romance is ephemeral and their first years together were not easy. "We got married, and then we realized we had very different opinions about a lot of things,” she said.

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Comedic turn -

In 1986, Midler was cast opposite Nick Nolte and Richard Dreyfuss in the hilarious 'Down and Out in Beverly Hills' (1986), which kicked off a string of very comedic film roles.

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Her first and only child -

Midler had her first and only child at age 40, daughter Sophie Frederica Alohilani von Haselberg.

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'Wind Beneath My Wings' -

The soundtrack to the tearjerker 'Beaches' (1988) went triple platinum, and the title track, 'Wind Beneath My Wings,' went to the top of the charts and scored a Grammy. Midler actually almost rejected the song, but her longtime friend and producer Marc Shaiman insisted.

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Loads of awards -

To sum it up: she was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards and won three; she was nominated for eight Emmy Awards and also won three; she was nominated for two Academy Awards; and she's won one Tony Award.

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Fight against HIV/AIDS -

Midler rose to fame with the gay community and has been helping break the stigma around and raise money for HIV/AIDS for over 30 years now.

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Cleaning up New York -

In 1995, Midler started the New York Restoration Project, a non-profit focusing on restoring green spaces in low-income neighborhoods. They've planted over a million trees in New York City since then.

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Eternal Halloween fame -

The campy 'Hocus Pocus' (1993), with Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy, has lasted the test of time, and each year resurfaces as a Halloween film favorite.

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Her eponymous sitcom -

Venturing into TV, Midler starred in her own sitcom called 'Bette' (2000-2001), which poked fun at celebrity culture through her own image, career, ego, and her various roles as diva, wife, and mother.

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Champion for women -

In 2014 she released 'It's the Girls!' which is her 14th studio album, and 25th album overall. It's a tribute to the music of famous girl groups over the years, featuring covers from the 1930s' Andrews Sisters, to the 1990s' TLC.

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It's hard to get her down -

In 2017, during a Broadway performance of 'Hello Dolly,' Midler took a tumble after two set pieces collided. She left the stage, but returned after a short break to resume her performance.

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Her motto -

One of Midler's most famous quotes is: “I always try to balance the light with the heavy—a few tears of human spirit in with the sequins and the fringes.”

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Gay Pride favorite -

In 2019, Midler headlined New York's Pride Main Event, marking the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. “Thank God for the gays," Midler has said. "I don't know what would have happened but I know what did happen. Good for them and good for me.”

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On her camp quality -

“I wouldn't say I invented tack, but I definitely brought it to its present high popularity,” Midler has joked. She has also claimed, “Underneath all this drag, I'm really a librarian, you know.”

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After 50, things changed for her -

She told Oprah, “When you reach a certain age, you have fulfilled your childhood dream and whatever your first or second adulthood led you to do. Then you're in your third adulthood, the one that leads to the grave, and you ask yourself, 'What will I do between now and then?' Instead of thinking in terms of glamour, you start thinking in terms of reform—your contribution to the world.”

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Environmental champion -

Midler's work with the New York Restoration Project involves teaching thousands of kids about environmental science, cleaning up parks, running over 50 community gardens, and bringing more nature into the lives of New Yorkers. She told Seth Meyers it's the most rewarding thing she's ever done!

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Dedicated Democrat -

Midler has been outspoken about her political beliefs as a liberal Democrat, and even more outspoken against Donald Trump.

(Oprah) (CNN) (Britannica) (IMDb)

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Bette Midler: Looking back on Miss Divine

This absolute icon turns 75 on December 1

01/12/20 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Retrospective

Bette Midler is easily one of the most genuinely entertaining stars Hollywood has ever had the pleasure of calling its own. And it's not only for her sheer talent across film, TV, music, and theater, but also for her impeccable sense of humor and her relentless charm. She never made her career about her own vanity, but rather about how she could make other people feel, and she’s never lost sight of her values, from gay rights to environmentalism.

It's hard to completely capture her vast career spanning over half a century and morphing through different mediums, let alone list all of the awards she's won, including Golden Globes, Grammys, Emmys, and a Tony.

In this gallery, let's take a look at some major moments of her life and career, and celebrate the star who continues to give all she's got.