Allen Ludden, Betty White Spouse His Challenges & Life Struggles

Allen Ludden, the husband of Betty White, was an American television personality best known for presenting various versions of the game show ‘Password.’ 

He also served as the host of the well-liked game program G.E. College Bowl. 

His real name was Allen Packard Ellsworth. He was the host of the famous game program G.E. college bowl.

Before transitioning to television, he worked as a youth advisor for radio and magazine columns. 

he spent time in the U.S. Army as the officer in command of entertainment for the Pacific theater, despite the fact that he was exceptionally well known as a television personality. 

Early Life Of Allen Ludden

Allen Ludden was the first child of ice salesman Elmer Ellsworth and his wife, Leila M. Allen. He was born Allen Packard Ellsworth on October 5, 1917, in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

During the 1919 influenza epidemic, Ludden’s father died. In the early 1950s, when Ludden was five years old, his mother remarried Homer J.Ludded, an engineer.  

Allen took on his father’s name and changed his last name to Ludden. 

When Ludden was nine years old, the family moved to Texas after a brief stay in the Wisconsin cities of Janesville, Elkhorn, Antigo, and Waupaca.

Education – Where Did He Acquire His Education From?

Ludden double majored in English and drama at the University of Texas. 

He graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1940 and earned his Master Of Arts In English from the same institution the following year.

Professional Career – What Did He Do For Living?

He was an officer in command of entertainment in the Pacific Theater while serving in the United States Army. He was also awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

In 1946, he was released from service with the rank of captain. He started his career as a youth advisor in adolescent magazine columns and radio in the late 1940s and early 1950s. 

In 1950, his radio program Mind Your Manners for teenagers won an Award for honorable mention.

He has produced a number of works for teenagers and young adults. Based on his prior work with students, Ludden agreed to anchor the “G.E. College Bowl” radio/T.V. game show in 1953. 

Each episode of the CBS program “Password,” which ran from 1961 to 1975, was hosted by Allen Ludden, who used the closing line “So long, see you tomorrow, I hope.” 

In 1979, he started hosting “Password Plus,” an enhanced version of the game but quit in 1980 owing to health problems.

In addition, Ludden hosted “Liar’s Club,” “Win With the Stars,” “Stumpers!” and the first episode of “The Joker’s Wild.” 

He also presented a conversation program called “Allen Ludden’s Gallery.”

Allen and Betty White’s Marriage

When Betty White appeared on the first season of “Password” in 1961, Allen Ludden got to know her.

Before meeting Ludden, White had already been married twice and divorced; her first marriage was in 1945 and ended in divorce, while her second marriage lasted from 1947 to 1949.

Despite his early attraction to her, she was reluctant to give him another chance.

After two years of dating, she formally accepted his proposal on Easter Sunday, 1963 and the couple tied the knot om June 14, 1963.

A few weeks before their 18th wedding anniversary, Allen passed away.

In an interview, Betty White revealed that she regretted not marrying Allen Ludden earlier. 

Ludden wed Margaret McGloin first before being married to Betty White. David, Martha, and Sarah were the three children they had together. 

Betty’s Love For Her Husband

The last thing Betty White spoke before she passed away on December 31, 2021, at the age of 99, was the name of her husband, Allen Ludden. 

Betty stated in a 1997 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, “We felt like we knew one other. He would phone me from his place of employment and ask if I wanted to go out to supper. Do you want to go on a date?’

In a previous interview, Betty discussed the beginnings of her and Allen’s relationship with People. And I’d respond, ‘Sure! Going out to dinner meant he would have to stop on the way home and buy a chicken to cook on the grill. We would dance, have our BBQ, and play songs. We enjoyed each other.’

Betty expressed a similar viewpoint to People in an earlier interview. She remarked, ‘He was the most sincere man I’ve ever known. His enthusiasm initially knock me. He has a broad range of interests.’

In a previous interview with People, Betty’s personal assistant Kiersten Mikelas also mentioned that Betty kept a picture of Allen on her nightstand and kissed it every morning.

Death Of Allen Ludden

Early in 1980, Betty White’s spouse, Allen was diagnosed with stomach cancer, after which Bill Cullen took over as host while he was away from Password Plus for a month to receive chemotherapy. 

He fell into a coma on October 7, 1980, while on vacation in Monterey, California. 

Although it was initially believed that he had suffered a stroke, the coma was brought on by high medications for cancer he had been consuming.  

At 63, he passed away on June 9 in Los Angeles. 

Ludden was laid to rest next to his father in the Ellsworth family plot at Graceland Cemetery in his Wisconsin hometown of Mineral Point.

Net Worth Of Allen Ludden

According to the celebrity net worth, Allen Ludden has a net worth of 5 million dollars. His primary source of income was his projects as an American T.V. actor and host. 

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