Allen Ellsworth Ludden (Allen Packard Ellsworth 1917-1981) was an American television personality, actor, singer, emcee, and best known as the congenial host of the game show Password in dark-framed eyeglasses and the husband to Betty White. The Wisconsin-born native was an English and dramatics major at the University of Texas (University of Texas at Austin), graduating with Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1940 and received his Master of Arts in English from the same university in 1941. He served in the United States Army as an officer in charge of entertainment in the Pacific theater and was discharged with the rank of captain in 1946. By the early 1950s, Ludden was an adviser for youth in teen magazine columns. His radio show for teenagers, Mind Your Manners, received an honorable mention Peabody Award in 1950.
Ludden hosted many game shows, including the College Bowl, but he become hugely popular and well-liked for hosting both the daytime and primetime versions of Password on CBS and ABC between 1961 and 1975. Notable was his opening catchphrase, "Hi doll," directed toward his beloved real-life mother-in-law, Tess White, mother of Betty. Ludden met White near the beginning of the Password craze and their romance blossomed while playing summer stock theatre together in the Critic's Choice in 1962. His ten television acting roles began in 1966 often splitting his time cast as a fictitious host within an episode. More memorable were the couple's appearances together in an episode of The Odd Couple in which Felix and Oscar appeared on Password and then as a couple on The Love Boat.
No comments:
Post a Comment