Actress Betty White kisses the photo of her husband Allen Ludden next to her bed every day, even though he passed away many years ago.
Star Betty White (left) passed away on December 31, a few days before her 100th birthday. Many colleagues and fans remembered the actress on social networks. Some of them recall the beautiful love story between her and her third husband Allen Ludden.
White met Ludden (right) in the early 1960s, when she appeared on his television show “Password” as a guest. The male MC immediately fell in love with the actress and pursued her. After a few weeks of dating, Ludden bought a diamond ring to propose, but White refused. Before that, the star had two quick marriages. She married Dick Barker in 1945 but divorced a few months later. White’s second marriage to director Lane Allen only lasted nearly two years.
At Easter 1963, White accepted Ludden’s marriage proposal. The MC gave her a stuffed rabbit with gold ears and a pair of diamond and ruby earrings. In an interview with CNN in 2012, White said he felt lucky to have overcome his fear and agreed to get married. She also regretted not accepting the invitation sooner to have more time with Ludden.
Betty White once told People about her late husband: He was the most honest man I’ve ever known. At first, I was overcome by his enthusiastic personality. He is always attentive in everything he does. Even though he’s busy with work, Ludden rarely misses dinner with his wife. Whenever he couldn’t cook, he often stopped on the way home to buy food. They had dinner in the yard and danced.
Colleagues admired the love story of Betty White and Allen Ludden. Producer Lin Bolen said the two were always like newlyweds. When not working on the set, Ludden will call his wife to confide in him during breaks. When MC was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the late 1970s, Betty White went to the hospital immediately after completing recording sessions. Her professionalism and diligence impressed many of her co-stars.
Betty White said she always thought about her husband when playing the character Rose in The Golden Girls, her most famous series. It’s hard not to think of Ludden when acting with Charlie (Rose’s character’s husband). Those two roles have a beautiful marriage, the star said.
Ludden’s health seriously declined in late 1980 and he died in June 1981. Betty White stayed by her husband’s side until the last moments and decided not to move on.
Kiersten Mikelas – Betty White’s assistant – told People the actress always keeps Ludden’s photo near her bed. Every morning when she wakes up, she will give him a kiss. Betty White has kept this habit f
