Allen Ludden Wiki: TV Show, 'Password' & Facts About Betty White's Ex Husband

Allen Ludden was born in 1981. He was a famous American television personality, emcee and a game show host, who was quite popular and well-reputed. He was best known for hosting the various versions of the Game Show 'Password' aired from 1961 to 1980. His parents were Elmer Ellsworth and Leila M. Allen. His mom was a housewife and his dad worked as an ice dealer in Wisconsin. Elmer Wisconsin died at the age of 26 due to Spanish Flu epidemic which was spread in 1919. Ludden's mother then remarried to Homer Ludden Jr. when he was just 5 years old. Allen Ludden was given his adoptive father's name and became Allen Ellsworth Ludden. The family moved to many places during his childhood and then finally made Texas their home. Ludden was a English and dramatics major at the University of Texas. He graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1940 and also received his Master of Arts in English from the same university. Ludden served in the U.S. Army and received a bronze star for his work there. He was discharged from the U.S Army with the rank of captain in 1946. He carved a career for himself as an adviser for youth in a teen magazine and also on radio in the late 1940's and 1050's. His radio show, 'Mind your Manners' for teenagers also received a Peabody award in 1950. Allen Ludden appeared in the movie, 'Future World' in 1976. 'Future World' was an American Science fiction thriller film. Allen Ludden has hosted many game shows during his lifetime. He also hosted the show GE College Bowl but he was more famous for hosting the daytime and prime timer versions of 'Password' show on CBS and ABC between the years 1961 to 1975. Ludden had an opening TV catch phrase, 'Hi doll,' which was directed towards his real-life mother-in-law, Tess White. She was the mother of his wife, Betty White. He used to end the show 'Password' with a 'password of the day' and then used to say, "So long, see you tomorrow, I hope." Ludden later began hosting an updated version of the same game called, 'Password Plus' on NBC in the year 1979. But at the same time, he was diagnosed with cancer and the chemotherapy treatments for his stomach cancer forced him to quit show in late October 1980. Ludden had also hosted other shows like 'Liar's Club', 'Win with the Stars' and 'STumpers!'. Ludden also hosted a talk-variety show, 'Allen Ludden's Gallery'. He also appeared as a panelist regularly on 'The Gong Show'. The show, 'Liar's Club' was initially hosted by Rod Serling and then Bill Armstrong but later he was replaced by Allen Ludden. Ludden had written and published four books of 'Plain Talk' advice for youth and also a youth novel ‘Roger Thomas, Actor' in 1959. He received a Horatio Alger Award in 1961. Ludden also released an album named 'Allen Ludden Sings His Favorite Songs on RCA Records' in 1964. Allen Ludden was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 1980. His condition deteriorated gradually and he slipped into comma while he was on a vacation in California. His cancer grew worse day by day and he died in Los Angeles in 1981 just a few days before his 18th anniversary with wife Betty White. He was 63 when he died and was buried beside his father in Ellsworth family plot in Graceland Cemetery in Wisconsin.

The net worth of Allen Ludden is estimated to be around $8 Million. Betty White's net worth is estimated to be around $50 million.

Ludden married Margaret McGloin in 1943. She died from cancer in 1961. They had a son, David and two daughters, Martha and Sarah. Ludden proposed to Betty White whom he met on Password. Betty White was twice-divorced already. They again met in the play Critic's Choice in 1962. They were also together in the romantic comedy Janus in 1963. Their romance blossomed and they were married in 1963. They remained together until Ludden's death and Betty White has never remarried. They appeared together in an episode of 'The Odd Couple' Once in an interview with Winfrey, White said that she does have a big regret in life involving her deceased husband, Allen Ludden. Her husband's early death makes her wish to have more time with him. She is 96 currently and still going strong! "I spent a whole year, wasted a whole year that Allen and I could have had together, saying, 'No, I wouldn't marry him. No, I won't. No, I won't leave California. No, I won't move to New York,'" she told Winfrey. "I wasted a whole year we could have had together." "But we made it," she added. "We finally did." She also said in another interview, "I had the love of my life; if you've had the best, who needs the rest?"