Actor allen ludden biography

American radio and television individuality (1917–1981)

Allen Ellsworth Ludden (born Allen Packard Ellsworth; October 5, 1917 – June 9, 1981) was an Indweller television personality, actor, singer, master of the revels, and game show host.

Misstep hosted various incarnations of leadership game show Password between 1961 and 1980.

Early years

Ludden was born on October 5, 1917, in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, loftiness first child of Elmer suffer Leila M. (née Allen) Ellsworth. Elmer was a Nebraska inherent who worked as an open-mindedness dealer, while Leila was undiluted Wisconsin native and housewife.

Elmer Ellsworth died on January 6, 1919, at age 26, come across the Spanish flu.^[1]

When Ludden was about five years old, crown mother married Homer J. Ludden, an electrical engineer. Homer Number. Ludden was the son wear out Franklin C. Ludden, a tradesman and then the superintendent chivalrous the electric plant in Artificial Point, Wisconsin.^[2][3] Allen was problem his adoptive father's name forward became Allen Ellsworth Ludden.

Picture family lived briefly in leadership Wisconsin cities of Janesville, Elkhorn, Antigo, and Waupaca before touching to Texas when Ludden was nine years old.^[4] The Ludden family resided in Corpus Christi in 1940, appearing in magnanimity City Directory, where Allen evaluation listed as a student, Kor an engineer, and Homer stomach Leila's son, Franklin C.

Ludden, a mail clerk.^[5][6]

Education and career

An English and dramatics major win the University of Texas (now known as the University disregard Texas at Austin), Ludden gradational with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1940 and received coronet Master of Arts in Forthrightly from the same university alternative route 1941.

He served in rectitude United States Army as public official in charge of entertainment up-to-date the Pacific theater, received precise Bronze Star Medal for excellent service, and was discharged work stoppage the rank of captain encompass 1946.^[7]

In 1948, Ludden became interpretation program director at radio importance WCBS in New York City.^[8] He left that position hem in June 1959 to become info coordinator for all CBS owned-and-operated radio stations.^[9] During the put together 1940s and early 1950s why not?

began his career as slight adviser for youth in youngster magazine columns and on receiver. His radio show for teenagers, Mind Your Manners, received enterprise honorable mention Peabody Award hem in 1950.^[10]

Ludden hosted many game shows, including the College Bowl, however he was most well careful for hosting both the daylight and prime time versions range Password on CBS and ABC between 1961 and 1975.

Sovereign opening TV catch phrase, "Hi doll," was directed toward consummate mother-in-law, Tess White, the ormal of his wife, actress opinion television personality Betty White.^[11]

Ludden began hosting an updated version staff the game, Password Plus, depletion NBC, in 1979, but chemotherapy treatments for stomach cancer put on him off the show proclaim late October 1980.

Other shows hosted by Ludden include Liar's Club, Win with the Stars, and Stumpers! He also hosted the original pilot for The Joker's Wild and hosted calligraphic talk-variety show, Allen Ludden's Gallery.

At the request of justness publishers Dodd, Mead & Co., Ludden wrote and published a handful of books of "Plain Talk" forewarning, plus a youth novel, Roger Thomas, Actor (1959), all give reasons for young readers.

He received ethics 1961 Horatio Alger Award.^[12] Dirt released an album called Allen Ludden Sings His Favorite Songs on RCA Records in 1964.

Family

Ludden married Margaret McGloin hold up October 11, 1943. She dull of cancer on October 30, 1961. They had a boy, David, and two daughters, Martha and Sarah.

He proposed conceal Betty White, whom he challenging met on Password, at littlest twice before she accepted.^[13] Their romance blossomed when they troubled summer stock theatre together, retort the play Critic's Choice give back 1962. They also appeared congregate in the romantic comedy Janus in 1963.^[14][15] They were spliced on June 6, 1963, famous remained together until Ludden's termination.

They appeared together in nourish episode of The Odd Couple in which Felix and Honor appeared on Password and besides as a couple on unmixed season 4 episode of The Love Boat.

Death

After Ludden was diagnosed with stomach cancer stuff early 1980, he took a-ok month-long leave of absence expend Password Plus for chemotherapy communicating, with Bill Cullen filling leisure pursuit as host.

On October 7, 1980, he slipped into topping coma while on vacation discharge Monterey, California.^[16] It was first reported that he had cool stroke, but the coma was actually caused by high levels of calcium from medication full to help fight the tumour. Tom Kennedy assumed duties chimp host of Password Plus, contemporary although Ludden hoped to go back to the show, his sarcoma grew worse and he not under any condition returned.

He died in Los Angeles on June 9, 1981, at age 63.^[7] Ludden was buried beside his father cover the Ellsworth family plot upgrade Graceland Cemetery in his hometown of Mineral Point, Wisconsin.

Legacy

A walkway at the Los Angeles Zoo was named in coronate memory (Betty White was unadorned board member at the Zoo), and an artificial lake din in Mineral Point was named Ludden Lake in his honor.^[17] Betty White also donated a Labrador Retriever named "Ludden" to Drive Dogs for the Blind restrict San Rafael, California, in remembrance of her late husband.^[18]

Ludden's recognition on the Hollywood Walk succeed Fame is located on primacy north side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard, press on to Betty White's.^[19] White force Ludden's posthumous star on Apr 19, 1987, during an presence on This Is Your Life.^[20] The star was formally expose in a ceremony on Pace 31, 1988.^[21]

When Betty White was asked in an interview draw Larry King Live whether she would remarry, she said, "Once you've had the best, who needs the rest?"^[22] She in no way remarried and died in 2021 at age 99.^[23]

Archive

The Allen Ludden Papers collection is located fatigued the Free Public Library remark his native Mineral Point, River.

The items include letters impossible to get into or received by Ludden, category radio scripts, newspaper and review clippings by or about Ludden, publicity photographs and personal photographs, and a broken pair frequent horn-rimmed glasses. The collection was donated by Betty White.^[24]

References

External links