Who was Allen Ludden? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Allen Packard Ellsworth, Allen Ellsworth Ludden

Died At Age: 63

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Betty White (m. 1963–1981), Margaret McGloin (m. 1943–1961)

father: Elmer Ellsworth

mother: Leila M. Allen

children: David Ludden, Martha Ludden, Sarah Ludden

Game Show Hosts American Men

Height: 5'8" (173 cm), 5'8" Males

Died on: June 9, 1981

place of death: Los Angeles

U.S. State: Wisconsin

Cause of Death: Cancer

More Facts

education: University of Texas at Austin

awards: Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host
Bronze Star Medal
Horatio Alger Award

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Career

Allen Ludden initially served in the U.S. Army where he was the officer in charge of entertainment for the Pacific theatre. In 1946, he got discharged from the army with the rank of captain. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Ludden served as an adviser for youth and worked with teen magazines and radio. After this, he started hosting game shows like ‘GE College Bowl’, ‘The Joker's Wild’ and ‘Password’. He hosted many different versions of ‘Password’ such as ‘Password Plus’.

He also hosted the talk show ‘Allen Ludden's Gallery’ and even served as a panellist on ‘The Gong Show’. The American personality was a writer as well; he wrote and published a handful of books and novels. As a singer, he released the album ‘Allen Ludden Sings His Favorite Songs’ through RCA Records in the year 1964. Ludden was also an occasional actor who performed in a few plays and other acting projects.

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Personal Life

Allen Ludden was born as Allen Packard Ellsworth on October 5, 1917 in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, USA. His father, Elmer Ellsworth, was an ice dealer, and his mother Leila M. Allen was a housewife. His father died at the young age of 26 in the Spanish flu epidemic after which his mother remarried electrical engineer Homer Ludden, Jr. Allen was given his stepfather's surname and thus he became Allen Ellsworth Ludden. He studied at the University of Texas.

Coming to his love life, Ludden married Margaret McGloin in 1943. The couple had two daughters, Sarah and Martha, and a son, David. McGloin died from cancer in 1961 after which Ludden went on to marry the twice-divorced Betty White. The couple wed on June 14, 1963 and stayed together until Ludden's death.

In early 1980, Ludden was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He died the following year, on June 9, 1981 at the age of 63. He was buried at the Graceland Cemetery in Mineral Point, Wisconsin beside his father.

Allen Ludden Biography