Betty White's Husband: What Really Happened with the Love of Her Life

Honestly, if you ask anyone about the legendary Betty White, they’ll probably mention her sharp wit or those iconic "Golden Girls" marathons. But there is one thing she was most vocal about during her 99 years on this planet: her husband, Allen Ludden. He wasn't just some guy she married; he was, in her own words, the absolute love of her life.

It’s kinda wild to think that a woman who spent seven decades in the spotlight only had one "true" love, especially since she was actually married three times. Most people forget about the first two. She basically called those "rehearsals."

Who Was Betty White's Husband, Allen Ludden?

So, who was this guy? Allen Ludden was a massive star in his own right back in the day. He was the host of the hit game show Password. That’s actually where they met. In 1961, Betty appeared as a celebrity guest. At the time, Ludden was a widower; his first wife, Margaret McGloin, had passed away from cancer just that same week Betty filmed her appearance.

It wasn't exactly love at first sight in a romantic, "let's get married tomorrow" way. Betty was actually seeing someone else at the time. But Allen? He was persistent. Like, really persistent.

For a whole year, he would propose to her instead of saying hello. He’d just walk up and ask, "Will you marry me?" Betty kept saying no. She was terrified of moving from her beloved California to New York, where he was based. She even rejected a diamond ring he bought her! He ended up wearing that ring on a chain around his neck so she’d have to see it every time they were together.

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The Stuffed Bunny That Changed Everything

You’ve gotta love a man who knows how to play the long game. On Easter in 1963, Allen sent Betty a white stuffed bunny. It sounds simple, right? Except the bunny had gold leaf ears adorned with ruby, diamond, and sapphire earrings. That was the moment she finally said yes.

They got married on June 14, 1963.

Betty later told Oprah that her biggest regret in life was wasting that entire year saying "no" to him. She felt they could have had those extra twelve months together. It’s a bit heartbreaking when you realize they only got 18 years before he passed away from stomach cancer in 1981.

The "Rehearsal" Husbands: Dick and Lane

Before Allen, there were two others. First, there was Dick Barker. He was a U.S. Army pilot. They met at a recreation hall and got hitched in 1945. It lasted exactly six months.

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Betty was pretty blunt about why they married—basically, they just wanted to sleep together, and that was the way you did things back then. She moved to his chicken farm in Ohio, hated the rural life, and realized she wasn't cut out to be a farm wife. She headed back to California pretty quickly.

Then came Lane Allen. He was a theatrical agent. They were married from 1947 to 1949. This one ended because he wanted her to stop being an actress and stay home to raise a family. For Betty, that was a total deal-breaker. She chose her career, and honestly, the world is better for it.

Why She Never Remarried

After Allen died, Betty remained single for forty years. Forty!

When people like Larry King or Anderson Cooper asked her why she didn't look for someone else, she had the best line: "Once you've had the best, who needs the rest?"

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She truly lived by that. Her assistant once mentioned that Betty kept a photo of Allen by her bed and would blow it a kiss every single morning. Even on her deathbed in late 2021, her last word was reportedly "Allen."

Fast Facts About the Ludden Era

• The Kids: Betty never had biological children, but she was a very devoted stepmother to Allen's three kids: David, Martha, and Sarah.
• The Stars: Their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame are right next to each other. Betty famously joked that in the "wee hours," their stars were probably fooling around.
• The Work: They even appeared on The Love Boat together in 1980, just a year before he died.

If you’re looking for a takeaway from Betty’s love life, it’s probably this: don't settle for a "rehearsal" when you know what you want, and don't be afraid to say yes to the person who truly sees you.

Next Steps for Fans:
To really see their chemistry, look up old clips of the 1960s version of Password. You can see them flirting in real-time. Also, if you’re ever in Hollywood, you can visit their side-by-side stars at 6755 Hollywood Blvd. It’s a nice way to pay respects to a couple that actually figured out the whole "forever" thing.