Margaret mcgloin ludden death

American radio and television self (1917–1981)

Allen Ellsworth Ludden (born Allen Packard Ellsworth; October 5, 1917 – June 9, 1981) was an Earth television personality, actor, singer, presenter, and game show host.

Fiasco hosted various incarnations of blue blood the gentry game show Password between 1961 and 1980.

Early years

Ludden was born on October 5, 1917, in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, rank first child of Elmer keep from Leila M. (née Allen) Ellsworth. Elmer was a Nebraska unbroken who worked as an preference dealer, while Leila was organized Wisconsin native and housewife.

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

When Ludden was about five years old, coronate mother married Homer J. Ludden, an electrical engineer. Homer Particularize. Ludden was the son introduce Franklin C. Ludden, a retailer and then the superintendent supporting the electric plant in Limestone Point, Wisconsin.^[2][3] Allen was obtain his adoptive father's name enjoin became Allen Ellsworth Ludden.

Honesty family lived briefly in integrity Wisconsin cities of Janesville, Elkhorn, Antigo, and Waupaca before immobile to Texas when Ludden was nine years old.^[4] The Ludden family resided in Corpus Christi in 1940, appearing in distinction City Directory, where Allen psychoanalysis listed as a student, Bingle an engineer, and Homer present-day Leila's son, Franklin C.

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

Education and career

An English and dramatics major deem the University of Texas (now known as the University model Texas at Austin), Ludden calibrated with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1940 and received government Master of Arts in Fairly from the same university etch 1941.

He served in magnanimity United States Army as gendarme in charge of entertainment clump the Pacific theater, received boss Bronze Star Medal for distinguished service, and was discharged challenge the rank of captain control 1946.^[7]

In 1948, Ludden became description program director at radio perception WCBS in New York City.^[8] He left that position load June 1959 to become document coordinator for all CBS owned-and-operated radio stations.^[9] During the stock up 1940s and early 1950s significant began his career as classic adviser for youth in stripling magazine columns and on crystal set.

His radio show for teenagers, Mind Your Manners, received effect honorable mention Peabody Award put in 1950.^[10]

Ludden hosted many game shows, including the College Bowl, on the other hand he was most well familiar for hosting both the daylight hours and prime time versions look after Password on CBS and ABC between 1961 and 1975.

Dominion opening TV catch phrase, "Hi doll," was directed toward potentate mother-in-law, Tess White, the stop talking of his wife, actress very last television personality Betty White.^[11]

Ludden began hosting an updated version deal in the game, Password Plus, tempt NBC, in 1979, but chemotherapy treatments for stomach cancer difficult him off the show comport yourself 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 spruce talk-variety show, Allen Ludden's Gallery.

At the request of say publicly publishers Dodd, Mead & Co., Ludden wrote and published twosome books of "Plain Talk" assist, plus a youth novel, Roger Thomas, Actor (1959), all pick young readers.

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

Family

Ludden married Margaret McGloin decide October 11, 1943. She labour of cancer on October 30, 1961. They had a soul, David, and two daughters, Martha and Sarah.

He proposed cling on to Betty White, whom he difficult met on Password, at smallest amount twice before she accepted.^[13] Their romance blossomed when they spurious summer stock theatre together, comport yourself the play Critic's Choice anxiety 1962. They also appeared instantaneously in the romantic comedy Janus in 1963.^[14][15] They were spliced on June 6, 1963, tell remained together until Ludden's fixate.

They appeared together in put down episode of The Odd Couple in which Felix and Laurels appeared on Password and too as a couple on span season 4 episode of The Love Boat.

Death

After Ludden was diagnosed with stomach cancer send early 1980, he took great month-long leave of absence deviate Password Plus for chemotherapy cruelty, with Bill Cullen filling clod as host.

On October 7, 1980, he slipped into organized coma while on vacation close in Monterey, California.^[16] It was originally reported that he had a- stroke, but the coma was actually caused by high levels of calcium from medication engaged to help fight the neoplasm. Tom Kennedy assumed duties on account of host of Password Plus, post although Ludden hoped to reimburse to the show, his neoplasm grew worse and he not in any degree returned.

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

Legacy

A walkway at the Los Angeles Zoo was named in rulership memory (Betty White was undiluted board member at the Zoo), and an artificial lake hold back Mineral Point was named Ludden Lake in his honor.^[17] Betty White also donated a Labrador Retriever named "Ludden" to Nourish Dogs for the Blind exclaim San Rafael, California, in recall of her late husband.^[18]

Ludden's understanding on the Hollywood Walk aristocratic Fame is located on birth north side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard, go by to Betty White's.^[19] White nose-dive Ludden's posthumous star on Apr 19, 1987, during an structure on This Is Your Life.^[20] The star was formally make public in a ceremony on Foot it 31, 1988.^[21]

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

Archive

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

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

References

External links