Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, comedian, and producer whose career spans recordings, stage performances, film, and television.
The Rose: A 1979 musical drama starring Bette Midler as a rock singer whose career is shaped by addiction and pressure. Midler’s breakthrough film role earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Barry Manilow: An American singer, songwriter, and pianist known for pop hits and theatrical performance. Manilow produced Midler’s debut album and helped shape its sound.
Continental Baths: A gay bathhouse in New York City that operated from 1968 to 1976 and hosted live entertainment. Midler built an early following through performances there, accompanied by Barry Manilow.
Academy Awards: Annual awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for achievements in film. Midler received two Academy Award nominations, including one for The Rose.
Beaches: A 1988 drama film about the lifelong friendship between two women, starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey. Its song “Wind Beneath My Wings” became one of Midler’s signature recordings.
Janis Joplin: An American rock singer known for her blues-influenced voice and performances with Big Brother and the Holding Company. Midler has cited Joplin as an influence on her forceful singing style.
Off-Off-Broadway: An experimental theater movement in New York City that developed outside commercial Broadway and Off-Broadway venues. Midler’s early stage work grew within New York’s small-theater scene.
Grammy Awards: Annual awards recognizing achievement in recorded music, presented by the Recording Academy. Midler won three Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year for “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Hocus Pocus: A 1993 fantasy comedy film starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker as resurrected witches. Midler’s comic performance as Winifred Sanderson became a lasting part of the film’s appeal.
Kathy Najimy: An American actress and comedian known for film, television, and stage roles. Najimy co-starred with Midler in Hocus Pocus and later performed with her onstage.