As teenager was member of folksinging trio that toured Hawaiian army bases

Worked in a pineapple cannery in Hawaii after leaving college

Moved to Hollywood for final shooting on "Hawaii"

Film debut in a bit part as a missionary's wife in "Hawaii"

Moved to New York City; worked as a go-go dancer in a Union City, New Jersey club

Made New York stage debut in "Miss Nefertiti Regrets"

Answered open call for a national company of "Fiddler on the Roof"; hired for the chorus of the Broadway production; took over the role of Tzeitel in February 1967 and remained in role for three years

Performed at the Improvisation, a New York club that showcased new talent

Appeared in the Off-Broadway musical, "Salvation"

Began appearing at NYC's Continental Bathhouse with accompanist Barry Manilow

Signed contract with Atlantic Records

Performed in the Who's rock opera "Tommy" with the Seattle Opera Company

Released first major album, The Divine Miss M; produced by Barry Manilow

Provided the voice of Woody the Spoon on the PBS educational series "Vegetable Soup"

Appeared on Broadway in "Bette! Divine Madness"

Played the title role of a 1960s drug-addicted rock star, modeled after Janis Joplin, in Mark Rydell's "The Rose"; received first Best Actress Academy Award nomination

Made a concert film of her Broadway show, "Divine Madness"

Fired her entire musical entourage, including her backup group, the Harlettes, after the close of "Divine Madness"; was successfully sued for $2 million

Played Rip Torn's lounge-singer wife in "Jinxed!"; Midler reportedly clashed with co-star Ken Wahl and director Don Siegal

Reportedly suffered a nervous breakdown

TV producing debut, the HBO concert "Bette Midler: Art or Bust"

Returned to films after a four-year absence to star in the popular comedy "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"

Continued her comeback with comic leads in "Ruthless People" (1986), "Outrageous Fortune" (1987) and "Big Business" (1988)

Formed production company, All Girl Productions with Bonnie Bruckheimer-Martell and Margaret Jennings South

Produced first feature, "Beaches"; also co-starred as singer CC Bloom and performed the song "Wind Beneath My Wings"

First Number One hit on the pop charts, "The Wind Beneath My Wings" (from soundtrack of "Beaches")

Re-teamed with director Mark Rydell to play a USO entertainer in "For the Boys"; also produced; received second Best Actress Academy Award nomination

Saluted a retiring Johnny Carson on the final episode of "The Tonight Show" (NBC), during which she sang "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)"; won an Emmy for the appearance

Performed her first concert tour in ten years, "Experience the Divine"; set a record-breaking 30-night stand at NYC's Radio City Music Hall

Portrayed Mama Rose in the CBS TV remake of the stage musical "Gypsy"

Made hilarious uncredited appearance in "Get Shorty"

Teamed with Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton for the hit comedy "The First Wives Club"

With co-star Dennis Farina play two middle-aged former spouses who rekindle their romance in "That Old Feeling"

Headlined the Emmy winning HBO special "Bette Midler in Concert: Diva Las Vegas"

Earned an Emmy nomination for her guest appearance on the final episode of "Murphy Brown" (CBS)

Co-starred in the comedy-mystery "Drowning Mona" opposite Danny De Vito

Starred in her own short-lived CBS sitcom "Bette"

Toured her new show "Kiss My Brass" to sell-out crowds in the US; toured Australia in 2005

Teamed with Barry Manilow after a long-standing feud to record Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook

Starred in the Frank Oz remake of Bryan Forbes' 1975 cult classic, "The Stepford Wives"

Received a Grammy nomination for Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook; again produced by Barry Manilow

Signed a two-year deal to headline at Las Vegas' Caesar Palace, replacing Celine Dion

Performed "Bette Midler: The Showgirl Must Go On" at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

Starred in "Then She Found Me" directed by Helen Hunt