Martha Ludden: Meet One of Allen Ludden’s Kids and Betty White’s Step-Daughter

Martha Ludden is the step-daughter of Betty White, the iconic Hollywood actress who passed away in 2022. Her father is the late Allen Ludden, a TV host whom Betty White married in 1963. The American attorney was born in 1950, and is 74 years old.

At the time of Allen and Betty’s marriage, Martha Ludden was about 13 years old, and like any typical teenager, she wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about her father’s remarriage. She gave her famous stepmom a tough time for some period, but they later became great pals as the years passed by. The great relationship continued even after her father passed away in 1980, and she remained close to Betty White until her demise in 2022.

Summary of Martha Ludden’s Biography

  • Full name: Martha Ludden
  • Gender: Female
  • Date of birth: 1950
  • Martha Ludden’s Age: 74 years old
  • Ethnicity: Caucasian
  • Nationality: American
  • Marital Status: single
  • Martha Ludden’s Parents: Allen Ludden and Margaret McGloin
  • Siblings: David and Sarah McGloin
  • Martha Ludden’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 7 inches
  • Martha Ludden’s Height in Centimetres: 165 cm
  • Martha Ludden’s Weight: 57 kg
  • Martha Ludden’s Net worth: $1 million
  • Famous for: Betty White’s stepdaughter
  • Twitter: @marthaludden
  • Facebook: @marthaludden

Martha Ludden is One of Three Children Born to Allen Ludden, the Late Game Show Host

Martha Ludden was born in New York in 1950. Her nationality is American while her ethnicity is Caucasian. She is the second child of Allen Ludden, the late TV game show host. Allen Ludden was a native of Wisconsin who studied English and drama during his college days in the 40s. He later served in the US Army and was discharged in 1946.

Following his discharge, Allen built an illustrious career as a TV and radio host. He tasted much success and is best known for hosting game shows such as College Bowl and Password. He passed away as a result of stomach cancer in June 1981.

Martha Ludden’s Mother is the Late Margaret McGloin

Martha Ludden’s biological mother is Margaret Frances McGloin. She was a native of Corpus Christi, Texas, born on the 27th of November 1915. Her father’s name is Gilbert James McGloin while her mother’s name is Cyrene Ameta. She had four siblings who are all late now, namely Kathleen, Barbara, John, and Gilbert James.

Margaret McGloin spent her formative years in Texas and it was there that she met her late husband, Allen Ludden.

Martha Ludden’s Parents were Married from 1941 to 1961

Martha Ludden’s parents first met each other in Texas in the early 40s and began a relationship. They later tied the knot on the 11th of October 1943. The couple variously lived in cities such as Texas and New York City and welcomed three children together.
They include a son, David (b. 1948), a daughter – Martha (b. 1950), and another daughter – Sarah (b. 1952).

Martha Ludden’s parents provided a wonderful life for her and her siblings. Beyond the material possessions, their family was one that was filled with a lot of love. They lived in bliss for several years until their mother was diagnosed with cancer in the early 60s.

Her Mother Died in 1961 and her Dad Remarried Betty White in 1963

Martha Ludden’s mother, Margaret, died of cancer in October 1961. Her death devastated the entire family but they had no choice but to move on with their lives. Martha and her siblings continued schooling while their dad, Allen, continued his TV hosting career. He also branched out to other areas and by 1962, he was selected to feature in the play, Critic’s Choice.

Allen’s co-star for the play was Betty White. At that time, White was already a popular actress and had guest starred on his game show back in October 1961. That earlier meeting meant that they were no longer strangers and they became instant friends. They later started dating as a result of their mutual attraction.

Right from the get-go, Allen Ludden loved Betty White and wanted to marry her. He, therefore, introduced her to Martha and her siblings and they bonded with her. He also asked her to marry him. The actress however refused initially. She turned down his proposal on two occasions before finally accepting it in December 1962. They thereafter tied the knot on the 14th of June 1963 at the Las Vegas Sands Hotel. Martha and her siblings were all in attendance.

Martha Ludden Initially Had a Frosty Relationship with Her Step Mother but They Later Became Close

When Martha Ludden’s dad was still dating Betty White, she and her siblings loved the actress. However, things dramatically changed when their father married her and they all had to live under the same roof. Ludden most likely did not want another woman replacing her late mom in the family and so she clashed with her father when he outlined his plans to marry Betty White.

She was also frosty towards the actress after the marriage. White, however, continued to treat her with love and her heart later softened. This marked the commencement of a significant relationship between Martha Ludden and Betty White and they sustained it even after Allen passed away in 1981. There was no quarrel over his estate and White administered the estate in such a way that it benefited Martha and her siblings.

They Remained on Amicable Terms until Betty White’s Demise in 2022

Marth Ludden continued to maintain a good relationship with her famous stepmother until the latter’s demise in 2022. Though time and distance may have affected that relationship, the most important thing was that there was no animosity between them.

In a 2012 interview, Betty White stated that her stepchildren were close and dear to her. She also subsequently described all her stepchildren as a great blessing on several occasions before her demise in 2022. White died without any biological children of hers and it is possible that Martha Ludden and her siblings will inherit some portion of her estate.

Martha Ludden
Martha Ludden with her siblings, dad, and her stepmom in 1975 Image Source

Martha Ludden is an Attorney and Works at the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)

Martha Ludden grew up in Chappaqua, New York, and attended Horace Greeley High School. She completed her diploma in the late 60s and thereafter enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program in English and literature at San Jose State University.

Martha completed her bachelor’s degree in 1974 and spent the next decade working various jobs and earning a living. By 1984, she enrolled at the Suffolk University Law School and finished in 1989. She is now an attorney and has volunteered her services at various organizations.

One of them is University Legal Services which helps psychiatric patients get care under state law. Martha Ludden currently works at the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), an organization that advocates and promotes the interest of elderly people. She has been with them since May 2016 till date.

She Lives in Washington D.C.

Marth Ludden presently lives in Washington D.C. There is no indication that she is married or has kids. She rather dedicates her energies to advocating for issues close to her heart. A look at Ludden’s Facebook and Twitter pages will show that she is a big lover of mother earth and advocates for sustainable living.

She is also a big supporter of the Democratic Party and uses her Twitter accounts to promote issues and candidates of the party. Martha Ludden is also on good terms with her siblings. Her elder brother, David, is a doctor and is married with at least one kid. Her younger sister, Sarah, is a dancer and runs a martial arts school for women with her partner.

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