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'{{for|Midler's 1973 album|Bette Midler (album)}} {{short description|American singer-songwriter, actress, and comedienne}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Bette Midler | image = Bette Midler (18939287670) (cropped).jpg | caption = Bette Midler in 2015 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|12|01}} | birth_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Territory of Hawaii]] | occupation = {{flat list| * Singer * songwriter * actress * comedian }} | spouse = {{Marriage|[[The Kipper Kids|Martin von Haselberg]]|1984}} | children = [[Sophie von Haselberg]] | awards = [[List of awards and nominations received by Bette Midler|Full list]] | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | background = solo_singer | instrument = {{flat list| * Vocals * ukulele }} | genre = {{flat list| * [[Traditional pop music|Traditional pop]] * [[vocal music|vocal]] * [[Pop music|pop]] * [[Comedy music|musical comedy]] }} | years_active = 1965–present | label = {{flat list| * [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] * [[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]] * [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] * [[Warner Music Group]] }} | associated_acts = [[Barry Manilow]] | website = [http://bettemidler.com/ bettemidler.com] }} | alias = "The Divine Miss M" }} '''Bette Midler''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɛ|t}};<ref name=tca>''[[Inside the Actors Studio]]'', 2004</ref> born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and comedian.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.filmreference.com/film/58/Bette-Midler.html | title=Bette Midler Biography (1945–) | publisher=FilmReference.com | access-date = December 10, 2013}} Source notes: "Born December 1, 1945, in Paterson, NJ (some sources cite Honolulu, HI or Aiea, HI); raised in Aiea, HI".</ref> In a career spanning over half a century, Midler has won four [[Golden Globe Award]]s, three [[Grammy Award]]s, three [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s, and two [[Tony Award]]s. Born in [[Honolulu]], [[Territory of Hawaii|Hawaii]], Midler began her professional career in several [[Off-Off-Broadway]] plays, prior to her engagements in ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'' and ''[[Salvation (musical)|Salvation]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in the late 1960s. She came to prominence in 1970 when she began singing in the [[Continental Baths]], a local [[gay bathhouse]] where she managed to build up a core following. Since 1970, Midler has released 14 studio albums as a solo artist, selling over 30 million records worldwide, and has received four Gold, three Platinum, and three Multiplatinum albums by RIAA.<ref name="BBC">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11842187| title=Bette Midler: I wouldn't make it now| date=November 26, 2010 |author=Sinead Garvan|work=BBC News |access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |title=Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – August 01, 2014 |publisher=RIAA |access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref> Many of her songs became chart hits, including her renditions of "[[The Rose (song)|The Rose]]", "[[Wind Beneath My Wings#Bette Midler version|Wind Beneath My Wings]]", "[[Do You Want to Dance]]", "[[Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy]]", and "[[From a Distance#Bette Midler version|From a Distance]]." She won Grammy Awards for [[Grammy Award for Best New Artist|Best New Artist]], [[Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance|Best Female Pop Vocal Performance]] for "The Rose", and [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] for "Wind Beneath My Wings". Midler made her motion picture debut in 1979 with ''[[The Rose (film)|The Rose]]'', which earned her a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical|Best Actress]], as well as a nomination for the [[Academy Award for Best Actress]]. She went on to star in numerous hit films, including ''[[Down and Out in Beverly Hills]]'' (1986), ''[[Ruthless People]]'' (1986), ''[[Outrageous Fortune (film)|Outrageous Fortune]]'' (1987), ''[[Big Business (1988 film)|Big Business]]'' (1988), ''[[Beaches (1988 film)|Beaches]]'' (1988), ''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]'' (1993), ''[[The First Wives Club]]'' (1996), ''[[The Stepford Wives (2004 film)|The Stepford Wives]]'' (2004), ''[[Parental Guidance (film)|Parental Guidance]]'' (2012), and ''[[The Addams Family (2019 film)|The Addams Family]]'' (2019). Midler also had starring roles in ''[[For the Boys]]'' (1991) and ''[[Gypsy (1993 film)|Gypsy]]'' (1993), winning two additional Golden Globe Awards for these films and receiving a second Academy Award nomination for the former. In 2008, Midler signed a contract with [[Caesars Palace]] in Las Vegas for a residency, ''[[The Showgirl Must Go On|Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On]]'', which ended in 2010. She starred in the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] revival of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'', which began previews in March 2017 and premiered at the [[Shubert Theatre (New York City)|Shubert Theatre]] in April 2017.<ref name=Playbill>Viagas, Robert (January 10, 2017). [http://www.playbill.com/article/bette-midlers-hot-ticket-hello-dolly-adds-two-performances "Bette Midler’s Hot-Ticket ''Hello, Dolly!'' Adds Two Performances"]. ''[[Playbill]]''.</ref><ref>Ale Russian, [http://people.com/theater/bette-midler-first-photo-hello-dolly-broadway/ "Hello, Bette! See the First Photo of Bette Midler in ''Hello, Dolly!'' Broadway Revival,"] ''People'', March 14, 2017.</ref> The show was her first leading role in a Broadway musical.<ref>Kaitlin Fontana, [https://www.vulture.com/2017/03/heres-your-first-look-at-bette-midler-in-hello-dolly.html "Here’s Your First Look at Bette Midler in ''Hello, Dolly!'',"] ''Vulture'', March 15, 2017.</ref> Midler received the [[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical]] for her performance. ==Early life== Bette Midler was born in [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]],<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bette-midler-mn0000053739/biography| publisher= [[AllMusic.com]]| title=Artist Biography Bette Midler| first= William |last=Ruhlmann|access-date=November 26, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/04/archives/stage-miss-m-divine-bette-midler-begins-month-at-the-palace.html | title= Stage: Miss M. Devine | first=Ian|last=Dove| work=[[The New York Times]] |date=December 4, 1973|quote=Despite Bette Midler's Honolulu birthplace, New York has always regarded her as homegrown and hometown.|access-date=November 26, 2014}}</ref> where her family was one of the few [[Jewish]] families in a mostly Asian neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web| title=The Religious Affiliation of Singer, Actress, Comedian Bette Midler| url=http://www.adherents.com/people/pm/Bette_Midler.html| publisher=Adherents.com| date=October 8, 2005| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> Her mother, Ruth ([[née]] Schindel), was a seamstress and housewife, and her father, Fred Midler, worked at a Navy base in Hawaii as a painter, and was also a housepainter.<ref>{{cite web| title=Bette Midler, Biography (1945–)| url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/58/Bette-Midler.html| publisher=FilmReference.com| access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/the_ticket/item/bette_midler_the_divine_miss_bubbe |title=Bette Midler: The Divine Miss Bubbe |publisher=Jewish Journal |date=December 12, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> Both parents were born in New Jersey. She was named after actress [[Bette Davis]], though Davis pronounced her first name in two syllables, and Midler uses one.<ref name=tca/> She was raised in [[ʻAiea, Hawaii|Aiea]] and attended [[Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School|Radford High School]] in Honolulu.<ref>[http://www.radgrad63.org/rg_senior2.html The Class of 1963! We're Radgrads!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501200137/http://www.radgrad63.org/rg_senior2.html |date=May 1, 2008 }}</ref> She was voted "Most Talkative" in the 1961 school Hoss Election, and "Most Dramatic" in her senior year (class of 1963).<ref>[http://www.radgrad63.org/rg_classnewsp.html High School Hoss Elections] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205050729/http://www.radgrad63.org/rg_classnewsp.html |date=February 5, 2005 }}</ref> Midler majored in drama at the [[University of Hawaii at Manoa]] but left after three semesters.<ref name="oprah">{{cite episode| title=Bette Midler: 62 and Heading for Vegas!| series=[[The Oprah Winfrey Show]]|url=http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/The-Divine-Miss-M/3| airdate=January 28, 2008| network=Harpo Productions, Inc}}</ref> She earned money in the 1966 film ''[[Hawaii (1966 film)|Hawaii]]'' as an [[extra (actor)|extra]],<ref name=tca/> playing an uncredited [[sea-sickness|seasick]] passenger named Miss David Buff. ==Career== ===1965–1971: Beginnings and early theatre work=== Midler relocated to New York City in the summer of 1965, using money from her work in the film ''Hawaii''. She studied theatre at [[HB Studio]]<ref>[https://hbstudio.org/about-hb-studio/alumni/ HB Studio Alumni]</ref> under [[Uta Hagen]]. She landed her first professional onstage role in [[Tom Eyen]]'s [[Off-Off-Broadway]] plays in 1965, ''Miss Nefertiti Regrets'' and ''Cinderella Revisited'', a children's play by day and an adult show by night.<ref name="time">{{cite news|title=That Old Feeling: Best Bette Yet |url=http://www.time.com/time/columnist/corliss/article/0,9565,601990,00.html |work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=March 17, 2004 |author=Richard Corliss |access-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221172027/http://www.time.com/time/columnist/corliss/article/0%2C9565%2C601990%2C00.html |archive-date=February 21, 2011 }}</ref> From 1966 to 1969, she played the role of Tzeitel in ''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'' on Broadway.<ref name=tca/> After ''Fiddler'', she joined the original cast of ''[[Salvation (musical)|Salvation]]'' in 1969.<ref name="world">{{cite web| title=Bette Midler| url=http://broadwayworld.com/people/Bette_Midler/| publisher=BroadwayWorld.com| access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> She began singing in the [[Continental Baths]], a [[gay bathhouse]] in the Ansonia Hotel, in the summer of 1970.<ref name=tca/> During this time, she became close to her piano accompanist, [[Barry Manilow]], who produced her first album in 1972, ''[[The Divine Miss M]].''<ref name="time"/> It was during her time at the Continental Baths that she built up a core following. In the late 1990s, during the release of her album ''[[Bathhouse Betty]]'', Midler commented on her time performing there, "Despite the way things turned out [with the AIDS crisis], I'm still proud of those days. I feel like I was at the forefront of the gay liberation movement, and I hope I did my part to help it move forward. So, I kind of wear the label of 'Bathhouse Betty' with pride."<ref>{{cite news|title=Bette Midler|url=http://delveintothedivine.com/bio/bettebathhouse.html|work=Houston Voice|date=October 23, 1998|publisher=DelveIntoTheDevine.com|access-date=July 28, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313082552/http://delveintothedivine.com/bio/bettebathhouse.html|archive-date=March 13, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Midler starred in the first professional production of [[the Who]]'s [[rock opera]] ''[[Tommy (rock opera)|Tommy]]'' in 1971, with director [[Richard Pearlman]] and the [[Seattle Opera]].<ref name="Seattle">{{cite news|title=Glynn Ross, 90, turned Seattle into opera destination |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002394625_ross22.html |author=Melinda Bargreen |date=July 22, 2005 |work=The Seattle Times |publisher=Seattletimes.com |access-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524124543/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002394625_ross22.html |archive-date=May 24, 2011 }}</ref> It was during the run of ''Tommy'' that Midler first appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show]].'' ===1972–1980: ''The Divine Miss M'' and success=== [[File:Hoffman-Midler - 1977.jpg|thumb|Midler with [[Dustin Hoffman]] on Bette Midler TV special (1977)]] Midler released her debut album, ''The Divine Miss M,'' on [[Atlantic Records]] in December 1972. The album was co-produced by Barry Manilow, who was Bette's arranger and music conductor at the time. It reached Billboard's Top 10 and became a million-selling Platinum-certified album,<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web| title=Gold & Platinum Searchable database-Bette Midler| url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database| publisher=Recording Industry Association of America| access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> earning Midler the 1973 Grammy Award for Best New Artist.<ref name="Grammy">{{cite web| title=Past Winners Search-Midler| url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees/search?artist=midler&title=&year=All&genre=All| publisher=Grammy.com| access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> It featured three hit singles—"[[Do You Wanna Dance?]]", "[[Friends (Bette Midler song)|Friends]]", and "[[Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy]]"—the third of which became Midler's first No. 1 Adult Contemporary hit. "Bugle Boy" became a successful rock cover of the classic swing tune originally introduced and popularized in 1941 by the [[Andrews Sisters]], to whom Midler has repeatedly referred as her idols and inspiration, as far back as her first appearances on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]''. Midler told Carson in an interview that she always wanted to move like the sisters, and Patty Andrews remembered: "When I first heard the introduction on the radio, I thought it was our old record. When Bette opened at the Amphitheater in Los Angeles, Maxene and I went backstage to see her. Her first words were, 'What else did you record?{{'"}}<ref name="ReferenceA">Sforza, John: "Swing It! The Andrews Sisters Story" University Press of Kentucky, 2000; 289 pages.</ref> During another Midler concert, Maxene went on stage and presented her with an honorary bugle. Bette recorded other Andrews Sisters hits, including "In the Mood" and "Lullaby of Broadway".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> [[File:Bette Midler 1979 2.jpg|right|thumb|Midler at the premiere of her feature-film starring debut, ''[[The Rose (film)|The Rose]]'', in 1979]] Her [[Bette Midler (album)|self-titled follow-up album]] was released at the end of 1973. Again, the album was co-produced by Manilow. It reached Billboard's Top 10 and eventually sold close to a million copies in the United States alone.<ref name="Whitburn">{{Cite book| title=Top Adult Contemporary 1961–2001| author=Joel Whitburn| date=May 1, 2002| publisher=Record Research, Inc. 3rd edition| place=Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin| page=170| isbn=978-0-89820-149-9}}</ref> Midler returned to recording with the 1976 and 1977 albums, ''[[Songs for the New Depression]]'' and ''[[Broken Blossom]].'' In 1974, she received a Special [[Tony Award]] for her contribution to Broadway,<ref name="tony">{{cite web| url=http://www.tonyawards.com/p/tonys_search?start=15&year=1974&award=All&lname=&fname=&show=| title=Search Past Winners-1974| publisher=TonyAwards.com| access-date=August 23, 2010}}</ref> with ''Clams on the Half Shell Revue'' playing at the [[Minskoff Theater]]. From 1975–1978, she also provided the voice of Woody the Spoon on the [[PBS]] educational series ''[[Vegetable Soup (TV series)|Vegetable Soup]].'' In 1977, Midler's first television special, whose title, ''Ol' Red Hair is Back'', was a takeoff on [[Frank Sinatra]]'s ''[[Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back]]'', premiered, featuring guest stars [[Dustin Hoffman]] and [[Emmett Kelly]]. It went on to win the ''[[Emmy Award]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/bette-midler |title=Bette Midler |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> for Outstanding Special&nbsp;— Comedy-Variety or Music. Bette recorded other Andrews Sisters hits, including "In the Mood" and "Lullaby of Broadway".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In 1977 she also released her first live album, ''[[Live at Last (Bette Midler album)|Live at Last]]'', a double album taken from concert performances in Cleveland, Ohio. [[File:Bette Midler (1981).jpg|thumb|1981, in [[Amsterdam]] promoting the film ''[[Divine Madness (film)|Divine Madness]]'' (1980)]] Midler made her first motion picture in 1979, starring in the 1960s-era [[rock and roll]] tragedy ''[[The Rose (film)|The Rose]]'', as a drug-addicted rock star modeled after [[Janis Joplin]].<ref name=tca/> That year, she also released her fifth studio album, ''[[Thighs and Whispers]].'' Midler's first foray into disco was a commercial and critical failure and went on to be her all-time lowest charting album, peaking at No. 65 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' album chart.<ref name="Thighs">{{cite web| title=Thighs and Wispers| url=http://www.betteontheboards.com/boards/album-09.htm| publisher=betteontheboards.com| access-date=July 25, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717134410/http://www.betteontheboards.com/boards/album-09.htm| archive-date=July 17, 2011| df=mdy-all}}</ref> Soon afterward, she began a world concert tour, with one of her shows in [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] being filmed and released as the concert film ''[[Divine Madness (film)|Divine Madness]]'' (1980). Her performance in ''The Rose'' earned her a nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Actress]], a role for which she won the Golden Globe for Best Actress (Comedy or Musical).<ref name=tca/> The film's acclaimed soundtrack album sold over two million copies in the United States alone, earning a Double Platinum certification.<ref name="RIAA"/> The single version of the title song, which [[Amanda McBroom]] had written and composed, held the No. 1 position on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart for five consecutive weeks and reached No. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100. It earned Midler her first Gold single<ref name="RIAA"/> and won the Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female.<ref name="Grammy"/> ===1981–1989: "Wind Beneath My Wings", ''Beaches'', and chart comeback=== Midler worked on the troubled comedy project ''[[Jinxed (1982 film)|Jinxed!]]'' in 1981. However, during production, there was friction with co-star [[Ken Wahl]] and the film's director, [[Don Siegel]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}} Released in 1982, the film was a major flop.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bette Midler|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?id=bettemidler.htm|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=April 13, 2015}}</ref> Midler did not appear in any other films until 1986; however, she was an early choice for Miss Hannigan in the 1982 film ''[[Annie (1982 film)|Annie]]''. During those four years, she concentrated on her music career and in 1983, released the album ''[[No Frills (Bette Midler album)|No Frills]]'', produced by [[Chuck Plotkin]], who was best known for his work with [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Bruce Springsteen]]. The album included three single releases: the ballad "[[All I Need to Know (Emma Bunton song)|All I Need to Know]]", a cover of Detroit native [[Marshall Crenshaw]]'s "[[You're My Favorite Waste of Time]]"—which Midler fell in love with after flipping his 45 of "[[Someday Someway]]"{{Citation needed|date=October 2011}}—and Midler's take on the [[Rolling Stones]]' "[[Beast of Burden (song)|Beast of Burden]]". She also released an all-comedy album (with a few songs tied into the comedy) called ''[[Mud Will Be Flung Tonight]]'' in 1985. Midler performed on [[USA for Africa]]'s 1985 fund-raising single "[[We Are the World]]", and participated at the [[Live Aid]] event at [[JFK Stadium]] in [[Philadelphia]].<ref name="Jet">{{Cite news| title={{-'}}We Are The World' Tune Brings Out The Best of America's 46 Stars| page=16| work=Jet| date=February 18, 1985| publisher=Johnson Publishing Company| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbMDAAAAMBAJ&q=jackson%20%22we%20are%20the%20world%22&pg=PA16| access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> Also in 1985, she signed a multi-picture deal with the [[The Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], where she starred in a string of successful films produced by the studio's newly formed [[Touchstone Pictures]] division. She also produced them through her production banner, All Girl Productions with producing partner [[Bonnie Bruckheimer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/t/bette-midler|title=Bette Midler|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> She was subsequently cast by director [[Paul Mazursky]] in ''[[Down and Out in Beverly Hills]]'', beginning a successful comedic acting career.<ref name=tca/> She followed that role with several more Touchstone comedies, ''[[Ruthless People]]'' (1986), ''[[Outrageous Fortune (film)|Outrageous Fortune]]'' (1987), and ''[[Big Business (1988 film)|Big Business]]'' (1988).<ref name=tca/> Later in 1988, Midler lent her voice to the animated character Georgette, a snobbish poodle, in Disney's ''[[Oliver & Company]]'', and had a hit with the tearjerker ''[[Beaches (1988 film)|Beaches]]'', co-starring [[Barbara Hershey]].<ref name=tca/> The accompanying soundtrack remains Midler's all-time biggest selling disc, reaching No. 2 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s album chart and with U.S. sales of four million copies. It featured her biggest hit, "[[Wind Beneath My Wings#Bette Midler version|Wind Beneath My Wings]]", which went to No. 1 on ''Billboard''{{'}}s Hot 100, achieved Platinum status,<ref name="RIAA"/> and won Midler her third [[Grammy Award]] – for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] – at the 1990 telecast.<ref name="Grammy"/> ===1990–1999: ''Some People's Lives'', further acting career, and television appearances=== [[File:BM3.JPG|thumb|upright|left|Midler in Los Angeles, 1990]] Midler's 1990 cover of the [[Julie Gold]] song "[[From a Distance]]", the first offering from her seventh studio album ''[[Some People's Lives]]'' (1990), topped the ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] charts and achieved platinum status in the US. The same year, she starred along with [[Trini Alvarado]] as the title character in [[John Erman]]'s drama film ''[[Stella (1990 film)|Stella]]''. The third [[feature film]] adaptation of the 1920 novel ''[[Stella Dallas (novel)|Stella Dallas]]'' by [[Olive Higgins Prouty]], Midler portrayed a vulgar single mother living in [[Watertown (city), New York|Watertown, New York]], who, determined to give her daughter all the opportunities she never had, ultimately makes a selfless sacrifice to ensure her happiness. The movie scored mediocre reviews,<ref>{{cite news|title= MOVIE REVIEWS : Melodrama: Was this 'Stella,' a loony Midler remake, really necessary?|work= [[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 2, 1990|url= https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C0CEED6123FF931A35751C0A966958260|access-date=June 10, 2012|first=Janet|last=Maslin}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Stella|publisher= [[Chicago Sun Times]]|url= http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19900202/REVIEWS/2020305|access-date=June 10, 2012}}</ref> while Midler received her first [[Razzie Award]] nomination for [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]].{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} She co-starred with [[Woody Allen]] in the 1991 film ''[[Scenes from a Mall]]'', again for Paul Mazursky. In the film, Allen's character reveals to his author wife Deborah, played by Midler, after years of a happy marriage, that he has had an affair, resulting in her request for divorce. The movie performed poorly,<ref>{{cite news|title= THREE-DAY WEEKEND BOX OFFICE : A Replay of the Top Fhree |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 26, 1991|url= https://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-26/entertainment/ca-1833_1_weekend-box-office|access-date=June 10, 2012|first=Pat H.|last=Broeske}}</ref> and received a mixed reception by critics.<ref>{{cite news|title= Review/Film; A Marriage On and Off The Rocks|work=The New York Times|date=February 22, 1991|url= https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE0DB163EF931A15751C0A967958260|access-date=June 10, 2012|first=Vincent|last=Canby}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Scenes from a Mall |publisher= [[Chicago Sun-Times]]|url= http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19910222/REVIEWS/102220302/1023|access-date=June 10, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= MOVIE REVIEW : Down and Out in Beverly Center : A Slice of L.A.--Without the Bite|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 22, 1991|url= https://articles.latimes.com/1991-02-22/entertainment/ca-1467_1_movie-beverly-center|access-date=June 10, 2012|first=Peter|last=Rainer}}</ref> Midler fared somewhat better with her other 1991 project ''[[For the Boys]]'', on which she reteamed with ''The Rose'' director [[Mark Rydell]]. A historical musical drama, it tells the story of 1940s actress and singer Dixie Leonard, played by Midler, who teams up with Eddie Sparks, a famous performer to entertain American troops. While the film received a mixed reception from critics, Midler earned rave review for her portrayal. The following year she was awarded her second Golden Globe and received her second Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Midler turned down the lead role in the musical comedy ''[[Sister Act]]'' in 1992, which instead went to [[Whoopi Goldberg]].<ref name="NYT">{{cite news| title=Meta-Midler| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/08/magazine/meta-midler.html| author=Lynn Hirschburg| date=October 8, 2000| work=New York Times|page=14| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> Midler won an Emmy Award in 1992 for her performance on the penultimate episode of ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' in May 1992, during which she sang an emotion-laden "[[One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)]]" to [[Johnny Carson]]. That night, Midler began singing "[[Here's That Rainy Day]]", Carson's favorite song; Carson joined in a few lyrics later.<ref name="Saporito">{{Cite news| title=Great Performances to Savor| url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1004565-1,00.html| author=Bill Saporito| date=March 31, 2003| work=Time| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> In 1993, she starred with [[Sarah Jessica Parker]] and [[Kathy Najimy]] in the Walt Disney [[comedy film|comedy]] [[fantasy film]], ''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]'', as Winifred Sanderson, the head witch of the Sanderson Sisters.<ref name=tca/> Released to initially mixed reviews, through various outlets such as strong [[DVD]] sales and annual record-breaking showings on [[13 Nights of Halloween]], the film has achieved [[cult following|cult status]] over the years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/235708/20111021/hocus-pocus-abc-family.htm|title=Five Reasons Why 'Hocus Pocus' is One of the Greatest Cult Classic Films|work=International Business Times|access-date=November 3, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/01/abc-family%E2%80%99s-13-nights-of-halloween-2011-scares-up-record-crowd/109316/ |title=ABC Family's "13 Nights of Halloween 2011" Scares Up Record Crowd |publisher=TV By the Numbers |access-date=November 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106021806/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/11/01/abc-family%E2%80%99s-13-nights-of-halloween-2011-scares-up-record-crowd/109316/ |archive-date=November 6, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-10-31/cast-of-cult-halloween-hit-hocus-pocus-where-are-they-now-photos/|title=HOCUS POCUS – Where are they now?|publisher=Oh No They Didn't|access-date=November 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103235756/http://www.celebuzz.com/2011-10-31/cast-of-cult-halloween-hit-hocus-pocus-where-are-they-now-photos/|archive-date=November 3, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In relation to ''Hocus Pocus'', every year Midler hosts her annual Hulaween costume party, which benefits the New York Restoration Project.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bette Midler's Hulaween Party to Celebrate 20th Anniversary: See Her Best Costumes!|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-style/news/bette-midler-best-hulaween-costumes-through-the-years-photos-20152010|website=Us Weekly|access-date=November 3, 2015}}</ref> Her television work includes an Emmy-nominated version of the stage musical ''[[Gypsy: A Musical Fable|Gypsy]]'' and a guest appearance as herself in [[Fran Drescher]]'s ''[[The Nanny]]''. She appeared on ''[[Seinfeld]]'' in the 1995 episode "[[The Understudy (Seinfeld)|The Understudy]]", which was the season finale of that show's sixth season in 1995. That same year, Midler had a supporting role in ''[[Get Shorty (film)|Get Shorty]]''. Her 1997 [[HBO]] special ''Diva Las Vegas'' earned her a third Emmy Award, for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Midler's other 1990s films include ''[[The First Wives Club]]'' (1996).<ref name=tca/> In 1997, Midler, along with her co-stars from ''The First Wives Club'', [[Goldie Hawn]], and [[Diane Keaton]], was a recipient of the [[Women in Film Los Angeles|Women in Film]] [[Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards#THE CRYSTAL AWARD|Crystal Award]], which honors "outstanding women who, through their endurance and the excellence of their work, have helped to expand the role of women within the entertainment industry."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wif.org/past-recipients |title=Past Recipients |publisher=wif.org |access-date=May 9, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724120329/http://www.wif.org/past-recipients |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 1998, Midler released her ninth studio album, ''[[Bathhouse Betty]]'', named after the nickname she was given for performing at bathhouses early in her career. In 1999, she appeared in an episode of the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[Murphy Brown]]'' and was featured in the animated musical film ''[[Fantasia 2000]]''. ===2000–2005: ''Bette'' sitcom, tribute albums, and ''Kiss My Brass'' tour=== Midler starred in her own sitcom in 2000, ''[[Bette (TV series)|Bette]]'', which featured Midler playing herself, a divine celebrity who is adored by her fans. Airing on [[CBS]], initial ratings were high, marking the best sitcom debut for the network in more than five years, but viewers percentage soon declined, resulting in the show's cancellation in early 2001.<ref name="abcnews-2001">{{cite web|title=CBS Reportedly Cancels 'Bette'|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=108743&page=1|work=[[ABC News]]|publisher=ABC News|date=March 6, 2001|access-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref> Midler openly griped about the show's demanding shooting schedule, while the show itself was also reportedly rocked by backstage turmoil, involving the replacement of co-star [[Kevin Dunn]] whose departure was attributed to his behind-the scenes bickering with Midler by the media.<ref name="abcnews-2001"/> However, Midler, critically praised, was awarded a [[27th People's Choice Awards|People's Choice Award]] for her performance in the show and received a [[Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy|Golden Globe Award]] nomination the following year.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} Also in 2000, Midler made an uncredited [[cameo appearance]] in [[Nancy Meyers]]' fantasy rom–com ''[[What Women Want]]'', starring [[Mel Gibson]] and [[Helen Hunt]].<ref name="www-variety"/> In the film, she portrayed a therapist who realizes that central character Nick, played by Gibson, is able to understand women's [[Telepathy|thoughts]].<ref name="www-variety">{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117796916?refcatid=31|title=''What Women Want'' review|work=Variety|first=Todd|last=McCarthy|date=December 10, 2000|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> Released to generally mixed reviews, it became the then-most successful film ever directed by a woman, taking in $183 million in the United States, and grossing upward of $370 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|first=Nancy|last=Griffin|title=Diane Keaton Meets Both Her Matches|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/14/movies/film-diane-keaton-meets-both-her-matches.html|work=The New York Times|date=December 14, 2003|access-date=February 2, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Amy|last=Kaufman|title=No Complications For Meyers|url=https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/01/01/nothing_complicated_about_director_meyerss_attention_to_detail/|work=Los Angeles Times|date=January 1, 2010|access-date=February 18, 2010}}</ref> The same year Midler starred in ''[[Isn't She Great]]'' and ''[[Drowning Mona]]''. In [[Andrew Bergman]]'s ''Isn't She Great'', a highly fictionalized account of the life and career of author [[Jacqueline Susann]], she played alongside [[Nathan Lane]] and [[Stockard Channing]], portraying Susann with her early struggles as an aspiring actress relentlessly hungry for fame, her relationship with [[press agent]] Irving Mansfield, her success as the author of ''[[Valley of the Dolls]]'', and her battle with and subsequent death from breast cancer. The dramedy garnered largely negative reviews by critics, who dismissed it as "bland material [that] produces entirely forgettable comic performances."<ref>{{cite web|title=Isn't She Great (2000)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/isnt_she_great/|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=RottenTomatoes.com|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> For her performance in the film, Midler received her second [[Golden Raspberry Award]] nomination for Worst Actress at the 21st ceremony.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} In [[Nick Gomez]]'s dark comedy ''Drowning Mona'', Midler appeared along with [[Danny DeVito]] and [[Jamie Lee Curtis]], playing title character Mona Dearly, a spiteful, loud-mouthed, cruel and highly unpopular woman, whose mysterious death is investigated. Another critical fiasco, reviewers noted that the film "drowns itself in humor that never rises above sitcom level."<ref>{{cite web|title=Drowning Mona (2000)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/drowning_mona/|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=RottenTomatoes.com|access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> After nearly three decades of erratic record sales, Midler was dropped from the [[Warner Music Group]] in 2001. Following a reported long-standing feud with Barry Manilow, the two joined forces after many years in 2003 to record ''[[Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook]]''. Now signed to [[Columbia Records]], the album was an instant success, being certified gold by [[Recording Industry Association of America|RIAA]]. One of the ''Clooney Songbook'' selections, "This Ole House", became Midler's first Christian radio single shipped by Rick Hendrix and his positive music movement. The album was nominated for a Grammy the following year.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Complete list of 46th annual Grammy winners and nominees|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-grammys-nominees,0,3626237.story|work=Chicago Tribune|agency=Associated Press|access-date=February 11, 2012}}</ref> Throughout 2003 and 2004, Midler toured the United States in her new show, ''[[Kiss My Brass]]'', to sell-out audiences. Also in 2004, she appeared in a supporting role in [[Frank Oz]]' [[science fiction film|science fiction]] satire ''[[The Stepford Wives (2004 film)|The Stepford Wives]]'', a [[remake]] of the [[The Stepford Wives (1975 film)|1975 film of the same name]] also based on [[The Stepford Wives|the Ira Levin novel]]. Also starring [[Nicole Kidman]], [[Matthew Broderick]], [[Christopher Walken]] and [[Glenn Close]], Midler played Bobbie Markowitz, a writer and recovering alcoholic. The project underwent numerous production problems that occurred throughout its shooting schedule, with reports of problems on-set between director Oz and the actors being rampant in the press. Oz later blamed Midler — who was amid recording her next album and rehearsing for her tour — for being under a lot of stress by other projects and making "the mistake of bringing her stress on the set."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news-article/frank-oz.s-tense-remake|title=Nicole Kidman-Frank Oz's Tense Remake |publisher=contactmusic.com |date=February 10, 2003}}</ref> While the original book and film had tremendous cultural impact, the remake was marked by poor reviews by many critics, and a financial loss of approximately $40 million at the box office.<ref name="BoxOfficeMojo">{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=stepfordwives.htm |title=The Stepford Wives (2004) |publisher=Boxofficemojo.com |access-date=September 20, 2010}}</ref><ref name="TheNumbers">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2004/STEPF.php |title=Stepford Wives 2004 budget details |publisher=The Numbers |access-date=September 20, 2010}}</ref> Midler joined forces again with Manilow for another tribute album, ''[[Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook]]''. Released in October 2005, the album sold 55,000 copies the first week of release, returned Midler to the top ten of [[Billboard 200|US ''Billboard'' 200]],<ref name="Lee">{{cite web| title=Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook-Bette Midler| url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=bette midler|chart=all}}|work=Billboard| access-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref> and was nominated for a Grammy Award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20061220160454/http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 20, 2006 |title=49th Annual Grammy Awards Winners List |access-date=February 11, 2012 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |df=mdy }}</ref> ===2006–2011: ''Cool Yule'', ''The Showgirl Must Go On'', ''Jackpot: The Best Bette'', and ''Memories of You''=== Midler released a new Christmas album titled ''[[Cool Yule]]'' in 2006, which featured a duet of Christmastime pop standards "[[Winter Wonderland]]"/"[[Let It Snow]]" with [[Johnny Mathis]]. Well-received, the album garnered a [[Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album|Grammy Award nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album]] in 2007.<ref name="bootleg">{{cite web| title=Bette Midler's Array of Awards| url=http://www.bootlegbetty.com/awardsandnominations.htm| publisher=Bootleg Betty| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> The same year, Midler returned to the big screen, appearing in ''[[Then She Found Me]]'', [[Helen Hunt]]'s feature film directorial debut. Also starring Hunt along with [[Matthew Broderick]] and [[Colin Firth]], the comedy-drama film tells the story of a 39-year-old Brooklyn elementary school teacher, who after years is contacted by the flamboyant host of a local talk show, played by Midler, who introduces herself as her biological mother. Critical response to the film was mixed; whereas some critics praised the film for having strong performances, others felt the film was bogged down by a weak script and technical issues. [[File:Divine-2.jpg|thumb|Midler at the 2010 HRC Annual Dinner]] Midler debuted her [[Las Vegas Strip|Vegas]] show titled ''[[The Showgirl Must Go On|Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On]]'' at [[The Colosseum at Caesars Palace]] on February 20, 2008. It comprised [[The Staggering Harlettes]], 20 female dancers called The Caesar Salad Girls and a 13-piece band. The show played its final performance on January 31, 2010,<ref name="midler">{{cite news| title=Bette Midler's residency at Caesars Palace to end Jan. 31| date=November 5, 2009| url=http://www.lasvegassun.com/blogs/kats-report/2009/nov/05/midlers-residency-caesars-palace-end-jan-31/| work=Las Vegas Sun| author=John Katsilometes| publisher=lasvegassun.com| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> and was nominated for a [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/bette-midler-showgirl-must-go |title=Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On |publisher=Emmys.com |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> Also in 2008, another compilation album by Midler, ''[[Jackpot: The Best Bette]]'', was released. It reached number 66 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' 200 chart, and number six in the United Kingdom, where it was certified platinum for sales of over 300,000 copies.<ref name="chart">{{cite web|title=Bette Midler – Jackpot: The Best Bette| url=http://acharts.us/album/38034| publisher=charts.us| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> As her only film appearance that year, Midler had a small role in [[Diane English]]'s comedy film ''[[The Women (2008 film)|The Women]]'', starring [[Meg Ryan]], [[Annette Bening]] and [[Eva Mendes]] among others. An updated version of the [[George Cukor]]-directed [[The Women (1939 film)|1939 film of the same name]] based on a [[The Women (play)|1936 play]] by [[Clare Boothe Luce]], the film was widely panned by critics, who found it "...a toothless remake of the 1939 classic, lacking the charm, wit and compelling protagonists of the original." Midler appeared on the [[Bravo (U.S. TV channel)|Bravo]] TV show ''[[My Life on the D-List]]'' with [[Kathy Griffin]] in an episode that aired in June 2009. In December of the same year, she appeared in the ''[[Royal Variety Performance]]'', an annual British charity event attended by [[Queen Elizabeth II]]. Midler performed "[[In My Life]]" and "Wind Beneath My Wings" as the closing act.<ref name="Variety">{{Cite news| title=The Royal Variety Performance| url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/26531/the-royal-variety-performance|date=December 8, 2009| work=The Stage| author=Robin Duke| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> In 2010, Midler voiced the character Kitty Galore in the animated film ''[[Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore]].'' The film was a success, grossing $112 million worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=catsanddogs2.htm |title=Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (2010) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=October 21, 2010 |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> In November 2010, Midler released ''[[Memories of You (album)|Memories of You]]'', another compilation of lesser known tracks from her catalog. Midler was one of the producers of the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway production]] of the musical ''[[Priscilla Queen of the Desert (musical)|Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]]'', which opened in February 2011.<ref name="Priscilla">{{cite news| title=Priscilla Queen of the Desert Kicks Up Its Heels on Broadway Starting Feb. 28| url=http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/21056-Priscilla-Queen-of-the-Desert-at-Palace-Theatre| date=February 28, 2011| author=Andrew Gans| work=Playbill| access-date=July 28, 2011| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731033825/http://www.playbill.com/events/event_detail/21056-Priscilla-Queen-of-the-Desert-at-Palace-Theatre| archive-date=July 31, 2011| df=mdy-all}}</ref> ===2012–present: ''I'll Eat You Last: A Chat With Sue Mengers'', ''It's the Girls!'', and ''Hello, Dolly!''=== [[File:Bette Midler 2015 (2).jpg|thumb|Midler (in costume as her character Winnifred Sanderson from ''Hocus Pocus'') performing on her [[Divine Intervention Tour]] in 2015]] In June 2012, Midler received the [[Sammy Cahn]] Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[Songwriters Hall of Fame]] in New York in recognition of her having "captivated the world" with her "stylish presentation and unmistakable voice."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17302078 |title=Bette Midler to receive Songwriter Hall Of Fame award |work=BBC News |date=March 8, 2012 |access-date=December 18, 2012}}</ref> The same year, she co-starred alongside [[Billy Crystal]] in the family movie ''[[Parental Guidance (film)|Parental Guidance]]'' (2012), playing a couple of old school grandparents trying to adapt to their daughter's 21st-Century parenting style. Despite generally negative reviews by critics, who felt the film was "sweet but milquetoast", box office totals for the movie were higher than initially expected.<ref name="Parental Guidance Mojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=parentalguidance.htm|title=Parental Guidance (2012) |publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 1, 2016}}</ref><ref>[https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-box-office-year-end-20121231,0,3142177.story ''LA Times: Movie box-office totals for 2012 projected to set record''] Retrieved January 2, 2013</ref> In 2013, Midler performed on Broadway for the first time in more than 30 years in a play about the Hollywood superagent [[Sue Mengers]]. The play, titled ''[[I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers]]'' and dramatized by [[John Logan (writer)|John Logan]], opened on April 24, 2013 at the [[Booth Theatre]].<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=494064 ''I'll Eat You Last'' listing] ibdb.com, accessed April 27, 2013</ref> After the show's success in New York, recouping its initial $2.4 million investment, it was decided to perform the play in Los Angeles at the Geffen Playhouse.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-bette-midler-sue-mengers-geffen-playhouse-20130918,0,3342454.story | work=Los Angeles Times | first=David | last=Ng | title=Bette Midler bringing Sue Mengers play to Geffen Playhouse | date=September 19, 2013}}</ref> In December, it was announced that Midler would portray actress [[Mae West]] in an [[HBO]] movie biopic, written by [[Harvey Fierstein]] and directed by [[William Friedkin]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Eric Shorey |url=http://www.newnownext.com/bette-midler-to-star-as-mae-west-in-upcoming-hbo-movie/12/2013/ |title=Bette Midler To Star As Mae West In HBO Movie Written By Harvey FiersteinNewNowNext |publisher=Newnownext.com |date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref> In March 2014, she performed at the [[86th Academy Awards]] telecast at the [[Dolby Theatre]] in Los Angeles, singing "[[Wind Beneath My Wings]]" during the [[wikt:in memoriam|in memoriam]] section.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2014/20140219.html |title=Bette Midler To Perform On The Oscars® |publisher=Oscars.org |date=August 24, 2012 |access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref> In November 2014, Midler released her 25th overall album, ''[[It's the Girls!]]'', through Warner Bros. Records.<ref>{{cite web|last=Guerra |first=Joey |url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/celebrities/article/Multitalented-Bette-Midler-has-all-kinds-of-plans-5436361.php#/0 |title=Multitalented Bette Midler has all kinds of plans for the future |work=Houston Chronicle |date=April 28, 2014 |access-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref> The album spans seven decades of famous girl groups, from 1930s trios [[The Boswell Sisters]] and [[The Andrews Sisters]] to 1990s R&B legends such as [[TLC (band)|TLC]] and their single "[[Waterfalls (TLC song)|Waterfalls]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6259227/bette-midler-its-the-girls-album-exclusive|title=Exclusive: Bette Midler Announces 'It's The Girls,' Her First Album Since 2006|work=Billboard}}</ref> In March 2017, she began playing the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi, continuing through January 2018, in the Broadway revival of ''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' for which she won her second [[Tony Award]].<ref name=Playbill/><ref>Gordon, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/hello-dolly-marquee-bette-midler-broadway_79578.html "Bette Midler in 'Hello, Dolly!' Gets Its Broadway Marquee"], theatermania.com, January 5, 2017</ref> In 2017 she also appeared in the role of Muv in the 2017 film ''[[Freak Show (film)|Freak Show]]''. Midler returned to ''Hello, Dolly!'' on July 17, 2018 to close out the run of the successful revival. Midler performed the song, ''[[The Place Where Lost Things Go]]'' from ''Mary Poppins Returns'' at the 91st Annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019, ceremony.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/bette-midler-will-perform-on-the-academy-awards|title=Bette Midler Will Perform on the Academy Awards|last=Peikert|first=Mark|date=February 17, 2019|website=Playbill|language=en|access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref> In 2020, Midler starred in ''[[The Glorias]]'' a biographical film revolving around the life of [[Gloria Steinem]] portraying the role of [[Bella Abzug]], directed by [[Julie Taymor]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/bette-midler-gloaria-steinem-julianne-moore-julie-taymor-glorias-afm-filmnation-1202493835/|title=Bette Midler Set To Join Julie Taymor's Gloria Steinem Movie; Steinem & Taymor Check In For Buzzy AFM Buyers Session|first1=Andreas|last1=Wiseman|date=November 1, 2018}}</ref> She also starred in the second season of ''[[The Politician (TV series)|The Politician]]'' after previously guest starring in the first.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/06/the-politician-season-2-trailer-netflix-2020-watch.html|title=The Politician Season 2 Trailer: Bette Midler Is Here Now|website=[[Vulture (magazine)|Vulture]]|first=Devon|last=Ivie|date=June 15, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020}}</ref> Midler has written several books, including ''Saga of Baby Divine'', ''A View from A Broad, Bette Midler Greatest Hits: Experience the Divine, The Wind Beneath My Wings.''<ref>{{Cite web|last=ThriftBooks|title=Bette Midler Books {{!}} List of books by author Bette Midler|url=https://www.thriftbooks.com/a/bette-midler/226496/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=ThriftBooks|language=en}}</ref> In 2020 she published a children's book entitled ''"The Tale of the Mandarin Duck,"'' based on the story of a rare duck seen in [[Central Park]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bette Midler writes kids' book about Central Park duck 'that had enchanted an entire city'|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2020/08/14/bette-midler-writes-kids-book-central-park-duck-new-york/3373426001/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}</ref> She played Miriam Nessler, a retired teacher from New York, in HBO's ''[[Coastal Elites]]'' by [[Paul Rudnick]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nast|first=Condé|title=Bette Midler on "Coastal Elites"|url=https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/the-new-yorker-radio-hour/bette-midler-on-coastal-elites|access-date=2020-09-21|website=The New Yorker|language=en-us}}</ref> ==Personal life== Midler married artist [[Martin von Haselberg]] on December 16, 1984. Their daughter, actress [[Sophie von Haselberg]], was born on November 14, 1986.<ref name="JWA">{{cite web| url=http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/midler-bette| title=Bette Midler| publisher=Jewish Women's Archive| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> ==Charity work== In 1991, Midler was an early sponsor of the [[Adopt-a-Highway]], paying $2,000 a month for a crew to clean up a {{convert|2|mi}} section of the [[Ventura Freeway]] in [[Burbank, California]]. Signs at both ends of the section read "Litter Removal Next 2 Miles, Bette Midler."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bootlegbetty.com/2010/04/29/betteback-midler-begins-adopt-a-highway/ |title=BetteBack: Midler Begins Adopt-A-Highway |publisher=BootLeg Betty |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> The location was so prominent that it became fodder for her 1993 guest appearance on the ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Krusty Gets Kancelled]]", where she is seen picking up trash along a stretch of highway she has adopted, and causes car crashes for drivers who deliberately litter. In 1995, she carried the same idea to the east coast, adopting a section of the [[Long Island Expressway]] and [[Bronx River Parkway]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Russo |first=Tom |url=https://www.ew.com/article/1995/06/16/bette-midler-has-adopted-highway |title=Bette Midler has adopted-a-highway |website=EW.com |date=June 16, 1995 |access-date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> Midler founded the [[New York Restoration Project]] (NYRP) in 1995, a non-profit organization with the goal of revitalizing neglected neighborhood parks in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods of New York City.<ref name=tca/> These include [[Highbridge Park]], [[Fort Washington Park (New York)|Fort Washington Park]], and [[Fort Tryon Park]] in upper Manhattan and [[Roberto Clemente State Park]] and ''Bridge Park'' in the [[Bronx]].<ref name="NYRP">{{cite web| title=About NYRP| publisher=New York Restoration Project| url=http://www.nyrp.org/About/our_mission_and_strategic_plan_| access-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref> When the city planned in 1991 to auction 114 [[community gardens]] for commercial development, Midler led a coalition of greening organizations to save them. NYRP took ownership of 60 of the most neglected plots. Today, Midler and her organization work with local volunteers and community groups to ensure that these gardens are kept safe, clean and vibrant. In 2003, Midler opened Swindler Cove Park, a new {{convert|5|acre|m2|adj=on}} public park on the [[Harlem River]] shore featuring specially designed educational facilities and the Peter Jay Sharp Boathouse, the first community [[Sport rowing|rowing]] facility to be built on the Harlem River in more than 100 years. The organization offers free in-school and after-school [[environmental education]] programming to students from high-poverty [[Title I]] schools.<ref name="NYRP"/> In 2001 after 9/11, she established programs run by her foundation which helps wounded service members and their families by providing them resources, including custom homes. One of these programs helps service members recovering from trauma, injury and loss. Also, ever since the first Gulf War she goes to the USO and on bases to show her gratitude to military members by serving them meals just before deployment.<ref>{{cite news|author=CNN LibraryUpdated 7:56 AM ET, Thu December 1, 2016 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/26/us/bette-midler-fast-facts/ |title=Bette Midler Fast Facts |website=CNN.com |access-date=December 1, 2016}}</ref> In 2021, Bette announced she is starting a new charity called Holes for Souls. This charity aims to provide a dozen donut holes to anybody willing to sign over a "soul contract", in which the rest of their lives mortal and immortal, they shall focus their lives on learning every word to all of Bette's work. She claims this will cause world peace. ==Discography== {{Main|Bette Midler discography}} ;Studio albums {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *1972: ''[[The Divine Miss M]]'' *1973: ''[[Bette Midler (album)|Bette Midler]]'' *1976: ''[[Songs for the New Depression]]'' *1977: ''[[Broken Blossom]]'' *1979: ''[[Thighs and Whispers]]'' *1983: ''[[No Frills (Bette Midler album)|No Frills]]'' *1990: ''[[Some People's Lives]]'' {{col-2}} *1995: ''[[Bette of Roses]]'' *1998: ''[[Bathhouse Betty]]'' *2000: ''[[Bette (album)|Bette]]'' *2003: ''[[Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook|Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook]]'' *2005: ''[[Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook|Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook]]'' *2006: ''[[Cool Yule]]'' *2014: ''[[It's the Girls!]]'' {{col-end}} ==Tours== {{div col|colwidth=30em}} *1970–72: ''[[Continental Baths]] Tour'' *1972: ''Cross Country Tour'' *1973: ''The Divine Miss M Tour'' *1975: ''Clams on the Half Shell Revue'' *1975–76: ''The Depression Tour'' *1977–78: ''An Intimate Evening with Bette'' *1978: ''The Rose Live in Concert'' *1978: ''World Tour'' *1979–80: ''Bette! Divine Madness'' *1980: ''Divine Madness: Pasadena'' *1982–83: ''De Tour'' *1993: ''Experience the Divine'' *1994: ''Experience the Divine Again!'' *1997: ''[[Diva Las Vegas]]'' *1999: ''Bathhouse Betty Club Tour'' *1999–2000: ''The Divine Miss Millennium Tour'' *2003–04: ''[[Kiss My Brass]]'' *2005: ''Kiss My Brass Down Under *2008–10: ''[[The Showgirl Must Go On]]'' *2015: ''[[Divine Intervention Tour]]'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://bettemidler.com/event/divine-intervention/|title=Upcoming Events – Divine Intervention! – Bette Midler|work=Bette Midler}}</ref> {{div col end}} ==Filmography== ===Film=== <!-- Please note: do NOT use "rowspans" per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 1966 | ''[[Hawaii (1966 film)|Hawaii]]'' | Passenger | Uncredited |- | 1968 | ''[[The Detective (1968 film)|The Detective]]'' | Girl at Party | Uncredited |- |1969 | ''[[Goodbye, Columbus (film)|Goodbye, Columbus]]'' | Wedding Guest | Uncredited |- | 1971 | ''{{sortname|The|Thorn}}'' | Virgin Mary | Also known as ''The Divine Mr. J'' |- | 1972 | ''Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers'' | Lullabye Singer (voice) | |- | 1979 | ''{{sortname|The|Rose|dab=film}}'' | Mary Rose Foster | |- | 1980 | ''[[Divine Madness (film)|Divine Madness!]]'' | Herself / Divine Miss M. | Concert film |- | 1982 | ''[[Jinxed! (1982 film)|Jinxed!]]'' | Bonita Friml | |- | 1986 | ''Women in Rock'' | Herself | Documentary |- | 1986 | ''[[Down and Out in Beverly Hills]]'' | Barbara Whiteman | |- | 1986 | ''[[Ruthless People]]'' | Barbara Stone | |- | 1987 | ''[[Outrageous Fortune (film)|Outrageous Fortune]]'' | Sandy Brozinsky | |- | 1988 | ''[[Big Business (1988 film)|Big Business]]'' | Sadie Shelton / Sadie Ratliff | |- | 1988 | ''[[Oliver & Company]]'' | Georgette (voice) | |- | 1988 | ''[[Beaches (1988 film)|Beaches]]'' | C. C. Bloom | Also producer |- | 1989 | ''{{sortname|The|Lottery|dab=1989 film}}'' | Music Teacher | Short film |- | 1990 | ''[[Stella (1990 film)|Stella]]'' | Stella Claire | |- | 1991 | ''[[Scenes from a Mall]]'' | Deborah Fifer | |- | 1991 | ''[[For the Boys]]'' | Dixie Leonard | Also producer |- | 1992 | ''Earth and the American Dream'' | Reader (voice) | Documentary |- | 1993 | ''[[Hocus Pocus (1993 film)|Hocus Pocus]]'' | Winifred 'Winnie' Sanderson | |- | 1994 | ''[[A Century of Cinema]]'' | Herself | Documentary |- | 1995 | ''[[Get Shorty (film)|Get Shorty]]'' | Doris Saphron | Uncredited |- | 1996 | ''{{sortname|The|First Wives Club}}'' | Brenda Cushman | |- | 1997 | ''[[That Old Feeling (film)|That Old Feeling]]'' | Lilly Leonard | |- | 1999 |''[[Get Bruce]]'' | Herself | |- | 1999 | ''[[Fantasia 2000]]'' | Herself / Hostess | Segment: "Piano Concerto No. 2, Allegro, Opus 102" |- | 2000 | ''[[Drowning Mona]]'' | Mona Dearly | |- | 2000 | ''[[Isn't She Great]]'' | [[Jacqueline Susann]] | |- | 2000 | ''[[What Women Want]]'' | Dr. J.M. Perkins | Uncredited |- | 2004 | ''{{sortname|The|Stepford Wives|dab=2004 film}}'' | Bobbie Markowitz | |- | 2005 | ''The Divine Bette Midler'' | Herself | Documentary |- | 2007 | ''[[Then She Found Me]]'' | Bernice Graves | |- | 2008 | ''{{sortname|The|Women|dab=2008 film}}'' | Leah Miller | |- | 2010 | ''[[Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore]]'' | Kitty Galore (voice) | |- | 2012 | ''[[Casting By]]'' | Herself | Documentary |- | 2012 | ''[[Parental Guidance (film)|Parental Guidance]]'' | Diane Decker | |- | 2013 | ''[[20 Feet from Stardom]]'' | Herself | Documentary |- | 2017 | ''[[Freak Show (film)|Freak Show]]'' | Muv | |- | 2019 | ''[[The Addams Family (2019 film)|The Addams Family]]'' |[[Grandmama (The Addams Family)|Grandmama]] (voice) | |- | 2020 | ''[[The Glorias]]'' |[[Bella Abzug]] | |- |2021 |''[[The Addams Family 2]]'' |Grandmama (voice) | |- |TBD |''[[Hocus Pocus 2]]'' |Winifred 'Winnie' Sanderson |Pre-production |} ===Television=== <!-- Please note: do NOT use "rowspans" per WP:FILMOGRAPHY --> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |- | 1970 | ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' | Herself | 11 episodes |- | 1975 | ''[[Cher (TV series)|Cher]]'' | Herself | Episode: "#1.1" |- | 1976 | ''Vegetable Soup'' | Woody the Spoon (voice) | Unknown episodes |- | 1976 | ''[[The Bette Midler Show]]'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1977 | ''Ol' Red Hair is Back'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1977 | ''Bing! A 50th Anniversary Gala'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1977 | ''Rolling Stone Magazine: The 10th Anniversary'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1979 | ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' | Herself | Episode: "[[Buck Henry]]/Bette Midler" |- | 1984 | ''A Celebration of Life: A Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1984 | ''Superstars of Comedy Salute the Improv'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1984 | ''Art or Bust'' | Herself / Divine Miss M. | Television special |- | 1984 | ''[[1984 MTV Video Music Awards|MTV Video Music Awards]]'' | Herself / Co-Host | Television special |- | 1988 | ''The Mondo Beyondo Show'' | Mondo Beyondo | Television special |- | 1988 | ''[[Mickey's 60th Birthday]]'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1990 | ''Sinatra 75: The Best Is Yet to Come'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1990 | ''[[The Earth Day Special]]'' | Mother Nature | Television special |- | 1991 | ''Walt Disney World's 20th Anniversary Celebration'' | Herself | Television special |- | 1992 | ''[[Shelley Duvall|Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories]]'' | Narrator | Episode: "Weird Parents" |- | 1993 | ''[[Gypsy (1993 film)|Gypsy]]'' | [[Rose Thompson Hovick|Mama Rose]] | Television film |- | 1993 | ''{{sortname|The|Simpsons}}'' | Herself (voice) | Episode: "[[Krusty Gets Kancelled]]" |- | 1995 | ''[[Seinfeld]]'' | Herself | Episode: "[[The Understudy (Seinfeld)|The Understudy]]" |- | 1997 | ''[[Diva Las Vegas]]'' | Herself / Divine Miss M. | Television special; also executive producer |- | 1997 | ''[[The Nanny]]'' | Herself | Episode: "You Bette Your Life" |- | 1998, 2018 | ''[[Murphy Brown]]'' | Caprice Morton (née Feldman) | 2 episodes |- | 1999 | ''[[Jackie's Back]]'' | Herself | Television film |- | 2000–2001 | ''[[Bette (TV series)|Bette]]'' | Bette | 18 episodes; also executive producer |- | 2001 | ''Crossover'' | Herself | Television special |- | 2003 | ''A Barry Manilow Christmas: Live by Request'' | Herself | Television special |- | 2006–2007 | ''[[American Masters]]'' | Herself / Narrator | 2 episodes |- | 2009 | ''[[The Magic 7]]'' | Herself | Television film |- | 2009 | ''[[Loose Women]]'' | Herself / Guest Host | Episode: "#13.107" |- | 2009 | ''{{sortname|The|Royal Variety Performance}}'' | Herself | Television special |- | 2009 | ''{{sortname|The|Marriage Ref|The Marriage Ref (U.S. TV series)}}'' | Herself | Episode: "Episode Eleven" |- | 2009 | ''[[Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List]]'' | Herself | Episode: "Place Your Bette" |- | 2010 | ''{{sortname|The|Showgirl Must Go On}}'' | Herself | Television special; also director and producer |- | 2010 | ''[[Paul O'Grady Live|Paul O'Grady's Christmas]]'' | Herself | Television special |- | 2013 | ''[[Project Runway]]'' | Herself / Guest Judge | Episode: "The Ultimate Hard and Soft" |- | 2014 | ''[[Inside Comedy]]'' | Herself | Episode: "Bette Midler & [[Richard Belzer]]" |- | 2014 | ''Bette Midler: One Night Only'' | Herself | Television special |- | 2016 | ''[[The Voice (U.S. TV series)|The Voice]]'' | Herself / Adviser | 6 episodes |- | 2018 | ''The Hocus Pocus 25th Anniversary Halloween Bash'' | Herself / Winifred Sanderson | Television special |- | 2019–2020 | ''[[The Politician (TV series)|The Politician]]'' | Hadassah Gold | 8 episodes |- | 2020 | ''[[Saturday Night Seder]]'' | Herself | Television special |- | 2020 | ''[[Coastal Elites]]'' | Miriam Nessler | Television special |} ==Stage== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"|Notes |- |1967 |''[[Fiddler on the Roof]]'' |Tzeitel |Broadway |- |1970 |''[[Salvation (musical)|Salvation]]'' |Betty Lou |Off-Broadway |- |1973 |''Bette Midler'' |Herself |Concerts |- |1975 |''Bette Midler's Clams on the Half Shell Revue'' |Herself |Revue |- |1979 |''Bette! Divine Madness'' |Herself |Concerts |- |2002 |''Short Talks on the Universe'' |Nora |Special Event |- |2011 |''[[Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (musical)|Priscilla, Queen of the Desert]]'' |{{n/a|Producer}} |Broadway |- |2013 | ''[[I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers]]'' |[[Sue Mengers]] |Broadway |- |2017–2018 |''[[Hello, Dolly! (musical)#2017 Broadway revival|Hello, Dolly!]]'' |[[Dolly Gallagher Levi]] |Broadway |} ==Awards and nominations== {{Main articles|List of awards and nominations received by Bette Midler}} ==Bibliography== *''Bette Midler: A View From a Broad'' (Simon & Schuster, 1980; Updated edition April 1, 2014). *''[[The Saga of Baby Divine]]'' (Crown Publishers, 1983). ==See also== {{Wikipedia books|Bette Midler}} *[[List of number-one hits (United States)]] *[[List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)]] *[[List of number-one dance hits (United States)]] *[[List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart]] {{clear}} ==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==Further reading== *''A View From A Broad'' (Simon & Schuster, 1980, Updated edition April 1, 2014) *''The Saga of Baby Divine'' (Crown Publishers, 1984), {{ISBN|978-0-517-55040-3}} *''Bette Midler, Outrageously Divine, an Unauthorized Biography'', by Mark Bego (New American Library, 1987), {{ISBN|0-451-14814-2}} *''Bette: An Intimate Biography of Bette Midler'', by George Mair (Birch Lane Press, 1995), {{ISBN|1-55972-272-X}} ==External links== {{sisterlinks|d=Q190631|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|s=no|wikt=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no}} *{{Official Website}} *{{IMDb name|541}} *{{IBDB name}} *{{Iobdb name|23651|Bette Midler}} *[https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/bette-midler/141779 Bette Midler] at TVGuide.com *{{YouTube|1SbJG7AcKjI|''The Films of Bette Midler''}}, film clips, 4.5 min. *''[https://bootlegbetty.com Bette Midler: Bootleg Betty – The Bette Midler Weblog]'' {{Bette Midler|state=collapsed}} {{Navboxes |title = [[List of awards and nominations received by Bette Midler|Awards for Bette Midler]] |list = {{Disney Legends Awards 2010s}} {{DramaDesk MusicalActress}} {{EmmyAward VarietyPerformance 1976–2000}} {{GoldenGlobeBestActressMotionPictureMusicalComedy 1961–1980}} {{GoldenGlobeBestActressTVMiniseriesFilm}} {{Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year Actress}} {{Grammy Award for Record of the Year 1990s}} {{Grammy Award for Best New Artist}} {{Hasty Pudding Woman of the Year}} {{Special Tony Award}} {{TonyAward MusicalLeadActress}} }} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Midler, Bette}} [[Category:Bette Midler| ]] [[Category:1945 births]] [[Category:20th-century American actresses]] [[Category:20th-century American singers]] [[Category:21st-century American actresses]] [[Category:21st-century American singers]] [[Category:Actresses from Honolulu]] [[Category:American dance musicians]] [[Category:American female pop singers]] [[Category:American pop singers]] [[Category:American film actresses]] [[Category:American stand-up comedians]] [[Category:American television actresses]] [[Category:American voice actresses]] [[Category:American women comedians]] [[Category:Atlantic Records artists]] [[Category:Audiobook narrators]] [[Category:Columbia Records artists]] [[Category:Best Miniseries or Television Movie Actress Golden Globe winners]] [[Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actress Golden Globe (film) winners]] [[Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners]] [[Category:Feminist musicians]] [[Category:French-language singers of the United States]] [[Category:Grammy Award winners]] [[Category:Jewish American actresses]] [[Category:Jewish American musicians]] [[Category:Jewish singers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Musicians from Honolulu]] [[Category:New Star of the Year (Actress) Golden Globe winners]] [[Category:Tony Award winners]] [[Category:Traditional pop music singers]] [[Category:University of Hawaii at Manoa alumni]] [[Category:Warner Records artists]] [[Category:Comedians from Hawaii]] [[Category:American Jews]] [[Category:20th-century American women singers]] [[Category:21st-century American women singers]] [[Category:Admiral Arthur W. Radford High School alumni]] [[Category:Las Vegas shows]]'