Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Photo:Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Bette Midlerand her husband,Martin von Haselberg, are celebrating nearly four decades of love.
Take a look back at photos from the Hollywood couple’s lasting romance, from their whirlwind start to their staunch teamwork in parenthood.
01of 10Vintage VibesBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyThe couple first met in 1981, but they didn’t kindle their romantic flame for another two years. PerVanity Fair, Midler gave von Haselberg her phone number when they reunited at a club, and within six weeks of their first official date, they were married.
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Vintage Vibes
Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
The couple first met in 1981, but they didn’t kindle their romantic flame for another two years. PerVanity Fair, Midler gave von Haselberg her phone number when they reunited at a club, and within six weeks of their first official date, they were married.
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Decades after their 1984 nuptials, the Emmy winner told Jimmy Kimmel thatshe was the one to propose.
03of 10Finding Their FootingBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyWhile they didn’t hesitate to marry,TheStepford Wivesstar didn’t automatically jump into a new, shared life with von Haselberg. Midler toldVanity Fairthat they waited a couple months to move in together — “I hardly knew him!” she said.And their whirlwind romance wasn’t always easy to navigate.“We had a lot of trouble the first couple of years,” she explained during the same 1991 interview withVanity Fair. “We had a tremendous amount of trouble. He couldn’t understand why I would get so upset about things and he couldn’t retaliate. But it’s all kind of evened out now.”
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Finding Their Footing
Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
While they didn’t hesitate to marry,TheStepford Wivesstar didn’t automatically jump into a new, shared life with von Haselberg. Midler toldVanity Fairthat they waited a couple months to move in together — “I hardly knew him!” she said.
And their whirlwind romance wasn’t always easy to navigate.
“We had a lot of trouble the first couple of years,” she explained during the same 1991 interview withVanity Fair. “We had a tremendous amount of trouble. He couldn’t understand why I would get so upset about things and he couldn’t retaliate. But it’s all kind of evened out now.”
04of 10’Making It Work’Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettySeconding Midler’s determination, von Haselberg added of their wedding: “Even though I didn’t know her at all, I remember consciously making the decision that no matter what happens I’m going to keep working at this to make it work. Even if it turns out that she’s not the person I think she might be, I’m just going to keep going through it and making it work," he toldVanity Fair.
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‘Making It Work’
Seconding Midler’s determination, von Haselberg added of their wedding: “Even though I didn’t know her at all, I remember consciously making the decision that no matter what happens I’m going to keep working at this to make it work. Even if it turns out that she’s not the person I think she might be, I’m just going to keep going through it and making it work," he toldVanity Fair.
05of 10Party PeopleBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyBorn in Argentina and raised in England and Germany, von Haselberg made his name as a performance artist in the Kipper Kids duo with Brian Routh. They began performing in 1970, but once both von Haselberg and Routh settled down, their comedic act slowed down.In recent years, the European artist has turned his focus to more contemporary visual work. He’s also spent time working in the finance world, a wholly opposite industry which von Haselberg liked to keep separate from his creative pursuits, as he once told theLos Angeles Times.
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Party People
Born in Argentina and raised in England and Germany, von Haselberg made his name as a performance artist in the Kipper Kids duo with Brian Routh. They began performing in 1970, but once both von Haselberg and Routh settled down, their comedic act slowed down.
In recent years, the European artist has turned his focus to more contemporary visual work. He’s also spent time working in the finance world, a wholly opposite industry which von Haselberg liked to keep separate from his creative pursuits, as he once told theLos Angeles Times.
06of 10’Rare' LoveBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyIn honor oftheir 30th anniversaryin 2014, Midler spoke to PEOPLE about her keys to keeping up a healthy Hollywood marriage, something she acknowledged as “rare."“I think the secret is giving each other a lot of lead and a lot of room and not being in each other’s faces all the time,” the singer, actress and comedian said. “Listening,” she added, is another required skill. “Listening is very hard. And compromise. Compromise is the hardest of all.”
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‘Rare’ Love
In honor oftheir 30th anniversaryin 2014, Midler spoke to PEOPLE about her keys to keeping up a healthy Hollywood marriage, something she acknowledged as “rare.”
“I think the secret is giving each other a lot of lead and a lot of room and not being in each other’s faces all the time,” the singer, actress and comedian said. “Listening,” she added, is another required skill. “Listening is very hard. And compromise. Compromise is the hardest of all.”
07of 10Eyes for YouBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/GettyThroughout their relationship in the spotlight, von Haselberg has continuously showed up in support of his wife. He’s celebrated her many talents at a variety of award ceremonies from the Grammys to the Golden Globes, at film openings, at her annualHulaween Halloween Galaand beyond.In 1991, von Haselberg couldn’t take his eyes off his movie star spouse at the premiere ofFor the Boysin Beverly Hills.
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Eyes for You
Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Throughout their relationship in the spotlight, von Haselberg has continuously showed up in support of his wife. He’s celebrated her many talents at a variety of award ceremonies from the Grammys to the Golden Globes, at film openings, at her annualHulaween Halloween Galaand beyond.
In 1991, von Haselberg couldn’t take his eyes off his movie star spouse at the premiere ofFor the Boysin Beverly Hills.
08of 10Keeping CloseBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/GettyIn a 2014 interview withGood Morning Britain, theGypsystar got real about the ups and downs of their enduring relationship. Midler admitted that she and von Haselberg “used to fight bitterly,” but worked at their relationship in order to bring up their daughter,Sophie von Haselberg.“We never wanted to hurt that kid in any way and we stayed together until it got better, and it did get better and it was really fascinating,” the Tony winner said, perDigital Spy. “And both of us, we both look back and we just like wipe our brows and say, ‘What the hell was that?’ ”
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Keeping Close
In a 2014 interview withGood Morning Britain, theGypsystar got real about the ups and downs of their enduring relationship. Midler admitted that she and von Haselberg “used to fight bitterly,” but worked at their relationship in order to bring up their daughter,Sophie von Haselberg.
“We never wanted to hurt that kid in any way and we stayed together until it got better, and it did get better and it was really fascinating,” the Tony winner said, perDigital Spy. “And both of us, we both look back and we just like wipe our brows and say, ‘What the hell was that?’ ”
09of 10Sophie Makes ThreeBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagicThe pair welcomed their only child, Sophie, in November 1986, after just two years of marriage. When their daughter was younger, she steered cleared of the spotlight and matriculated into a sociology degree at Yale University. After graduation, however, she was drawn to the entertainment industry.Sophie (pictured with her parents in 2014) revealed why she had a change of heart in a 2017 interview withVanity Fair. “I wanted to carve my own path!” she explained. “I never wanted to be compared to [my mom], but I’ve since accepted it as something completely unavoidable.“Since her career pivot in 2014, Sophie has booked roles inAmerican Horror Story,Ask for JaneandPose, among other on-screen appearances.
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Sophie Makes Three
Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
The pair welcomed their only child, Sophie, in November 1986, after just two years of marriage. When their daughter was younger, she steered cleared of the spotlight and matriculated into a sociology degree at Yale University. After graduation, however, she was drawn to the entertainment industry.
Sophie (pictured with her parents in 2014) revealed why she had a change of heart in a 2017 interview withVanity Fair. “I wanted to carve my own path!” she explained. “I never wanted to be compared to [my mom], but I’ve since accepted it as something completely unavoidable.”
Since her career pivot in 2014, Sophie has booked roles inAmerican Horror Story,Ask for JaneandPose, among other on-screen appearances.
10of 10Team of TwoBette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Kevin Winter/GettyMidler and von Haselberg had even hands in raising their daughter to her full potential. The twice Oscar-nominated actress proudlypraised her husbandin her 2014 PEOPLE interview, dubbing him “probably the greatest father who ever lived.“She gushed, “He’s fantastic. He picked up the slack when I was on the road. He taught her a foreign language. He taught her to cook.”
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Team of Two
Bette Midler and husband Martin von Haselberg.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Midler and von Haselberg had even hands in raising their daughter to her full potential. The twice Oscar-nominated actress proudlypraised her husbandin her 2014 PEOPLE interview, dubbing him “probably the greatest father who ever lived.”
She gushed, “He’s fantastic. He picked up the slack when I was on the road. He taught her a foreign language. He taught her to cook.”
source: people.com
