Tess Curtis White was the proud mother of Betty White, one of Hollywood’s most famous figures. Tess, a homemaker, was always the first to support her only child at every turn. Tess was always a helping hand, whether it was reading radio commercials, appearing in minor roles in plays, or Betty’s breakthrough in the industry with the sitcom Life With Elizabeth.
Quick Facts
| Name | Tess Curtis White |
| Birth name | Christine Tess Cachikis |
| Date of birth | 25 July 1899 |
| Place of birth | Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA |
| Age at death | 86 |
| Birth sign | Leo |
| Death | 11 November 1985 |
| Place of birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Gender | Female |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Hair colour | Blond |
| Eye colour | Blue |
| Religion | Christian |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Horace Logan White |
| Child | Betty White |
| Father | Nicholas Cachikis |
| Mother | Margaret Curtis Hobbs |
| Ancestry | English-Welsh |
| Sibling | Tomas R. Curtis |
| Occupation | Homemaker |
Tess Curtis White Age & Biography
Tess White was born in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA on July 25, 1899. Her maiden name was Cachikis or Christine before marrying into the White family. Her father was an ice cream salesman, and her mother, Maggie Curtis-Cachikis (Hobbs), aka Margaret Cachikis (Hobbs), was a housewife.
Tess and her brother Tom R. Curtis were Nicholas and Margaret’s only children. Her brother was eight years her junior and she was the eldest in the family. Tess had mixed ethnicity, English-Welsh, through her parents, despite being an American national.
Tess was ten years old when she moved in with her grandmother Margaret Hobbs, brother Tom, and parents. Her father worked as a wagon driver during this time.
Why Was Tess Curtis White Famous?
Tess Curtis is well-known as a celebrity mother. She was the mother of Betty White, a well-known Hollywood figure. Betty White began her career in commercials before moving on to comedy and acting. Tess, for her part, worked as a housewife.
Tess Curtis White’s Husband & Children
From February 1920 to November 1963, Horace Logan White (husband) and Tess Curtis were married for more than four decades. Horace was born on May 30, 1899, in Negaunee Township, Michigan, as an electrical engineer. Christen White and Etta White were his parents. He had an older sister named Emma James.
Horace and his wife had both graduated from high school. Her husband earned $5,000 per year as a sales representative in the electric industry. In 1925, the family was in California, but they relocated to Beverly Hills in 1938. They were married until Horace died on November 16, 1963, in Los Angeles, California.
Betty White (Daughter)
Betty, the couple’s first child, was born in Illinois in 1922. At the time, the couple was living in Oak Park. Betty was an only child who rose to fame in Hollywood. Betty began her career in radio, where she read commercials. She contributed to the industry in a variety of ways, including crowd noises and starring roles.
Betty used to make $5 per show in the beginning. She also appeared in a number of shows for free. She appeared in shows like This Is Your FBI, The Great Gildersleeve, and Blondie. Her show, The Betty White Show, was the pinnacle of her career.
Tess Curtis White’s Net Worth
Tess Curtis brought up a middle-class family. As of February 2024, her husband’s annual salary of $5,000 supported the family. Tess never made her own money because she didn’t have a job. Her daughter, on the other hand, made a fortune from her career. Betty White had a net worth of $75 million at the time of her death.
