Betty White: Why she remained a widow for 40 years

Betty White: The death of an icon

Actress Betty White passed away on December 31 at age 99. Her loyal followers were preparing to celebrate her 100th birthday on January 17, 2022, but now that will not happen. White was honored on December 1, with a tribute by the CBS soap The Bold and the Beautiful as it was the date in 2006 when she joined the cast as Ann Douglas the mother of Pam Douglas (Ally Mills) and Stephanie Forrester (Susan Flannery). White remained in the role until 2009.

There are many fascinating aspects to her life and one is the fact that she remained a widow after the death of her third husband and outlived him by 40 years. Betty was beautiful and talented so she naturally had suitors but she stuck to her decision to not marry again and that is impressive. Betty accepted widowhood and went on with her life and career and she can be an inspiration for other widows. It has been said that what kept her going was the belief that she would see her beloved third husband Allen Ludden again after she died.

Betty White marriage history

Betty married her first husband, army pilot Dick Barker, in 1945 when she was 23 and they divorced later that same year. In 1947 White married Lane Allen who was a casting director and an actor. They divorced two years later in 1949 and it was at this point that the actress found her career on the upswing. White met game show host Allen Ludden in 1961 when she starred on his popular game show Password.

White and Ludden were together for 20 years and married for 18. During an interview, Betty once told Oprah Winfrey she had "one major regret" about her relationship with her third spouse. White said. “I spent a whole year, wasted a whole year that Allen and I could have had together No, I wouldn’t marry him. No, I won’t. No, I won’t leave California. No, I won’t move to New York,'” White said. “I wasted a whole year we could have had together.”

Allen Ludden the love of her life

White gave in and married Ludden in 1963 and has said often that he was the love of her life. Ludden was born Allen Packard Ellsworth on October 5, 1917. He was a television personality, emcee, and actor, as well as a game show host. Between 1961 and 1980 Ludden hosted a variety of formats for Password until he was diagnosed with stomach cancer early in 1980 and Bill Cullen took over hosting the show. Ludden died from the disease after going into a coma on June 9, 1981.

When asked why she never remarried White told the Daily Mail she didn’t have any interest in finding love again and added “Once you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?” “I made two mistakes before Allen, but the love of your life doesn’t come along in every life, so I am very grateful that I found him.” White's sentiment can be echoed by other women who consider their late spouse as the love of their life and have no desire to date again or remarry.

Jeff Witjas who was White's agent and also a friend told People the following. “I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again.” Embracing widowhood is not for everyone but kudos to Betty White for taking a stand, sticking with it, and entertaining the world along the way.