Bette Ford Biography
Bette Ford (born Harriet Elizabeth Dingeldein) is an American actress and model turned professional bullfighter. She was the first American woman to fight on foot in the Plaza México, the world’s largest bullfight arena.
Bette Ford Age
Harriet Elizabeth Dingeldein was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, U.S.
on 24th June, 1927 (91 years) as of 2018.
Bette Ford Family
She and her brother were raised by relatives after being abandoned, by their parents.
There is no other information regarding her family or her childhood.
Bette Ford Husband
She has been married thrice. She was first married to actor, David Ford, whose surname she kept although the marriage ended after nine months. After divorcing Ford, she married John Meston an American radio and television writer best known for co-creating (with Norman Macdonnell), the long-running radio/TV series, Gunsmoke. They got married in July 30, 1914 and divorced in March 24, 1979.
She is currently married to Scott Wolkoff who is two decades younger (born May 27, 1947). They met when Meston had been sent alongside other several writers to meet ford and discuss the full-length feature film, based on her life story. They got married soon after they met and then she retired as a bullfighter.
Bette Ford Career
After graduating from high school in 1945, she began her career as a model and actress in New York, her modeling and acting credits include stints as the Jantzen Bathing Suit Girl, the Camay Bride, the Parliament Cigarette Girl, and appearances as a regular on The Jackie Gleason Show and The Jimmy Durante Show.
Ford was introduced to the renowned matador Luis Miguel Dominguín and also watched him fight in the ring, while on a modeling photo shoot in Bogotá, Colombia. Soon after, she left New York for Mexico to train as a bullfighter. In 1954, Warner Bros made a documentary short about her training, Beauty and the Bull.
She has also appeared in feature films including the Clint-Eastwood-directed Sudden Impact and Honkytonk Man, and television series including Cheers, L.A. Law, Melrose Place, and Felicity.
Bette Ford Filmography
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Beauty and the Bull | Bette Ford |
| 1968 | Death Valley Days | Millie |
| 1977 | Emergency! | Juen Edwards |
| James at 15 | Mrs. Droste | |
| 1982 | Honkytonk Man | Lulu |
| 1983 | Falcon Crest | Prison Guard |
| Sudden Impact | Leah | |
| 1984 | Emerald Point N.A.S. | Mrs. Randolph |
| St. Elsewhere | Pat Kroll | |
| Cheers | Irene Blanchard | |
| 1985 | Crazy Like a Fox | |
| Hotel | Mrs. Fielding | |
| 1987 | Crime Story | Angie / Bartender |
| A Year in the Life | Jackie | |
| 1987-1988 | L.A. Law | Rusty Farrell |
| 1989 | Major Dad | Mom |
| 1990 | Hunter | Anna Scarlatti |
| The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Madame Chatchka | |
| Marked for Death | Kate Hatcher | |
| 1992 | The Commish | Irene Wallerstein |
| The Wonder Years | Aunt Muriel | |
| 1993 | Melrose Place | Mrs. Wilson |
| 1994 | Tales from the Crypt | Mrs. Peterson |
| Season of Change | Granny Upton | |
| 1995 | Thunder Alley | Wanda |
| Party of Five | Miss Corso | |
| It Was Him or Us | Maggie Shepard | |
| 1996 | A Face to Die For | Mrs. Berman |
| Nash Bridges | ||
| 1997 | Promised Land | Marie Jasper |
| A River Made to Drown In | Lady with Whip | |
| 1998 | The Landlady | Justine Welch |
| Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | Marge Ryecart | |
| My Engagement Party | Estelle Salsburg | |
| 1999 | Providence | Hildy |
| 2001 | ER | Princess Taffeta |
| Felicity | Professor May | |
| 2002 | The Division | Mrs. Sanders |
| 2003 | Final Flight of the Osiris | Old Woman ( voice) |
| The Animatrix | Old Woman (voice) |
Bette Ford Bull Fighter
