Betty Lou Bredemus Biography

Betty Lou Bredemus’s Marital History

Betty Lou Bredemus was the mother of the famous actress Julia Roberts. She was also an actress and an acting coach herself. She had a turbulent marital history, as she married and divorced twice in her life.

Julia Roberts alongside her mother, Betty Lou Bredemus.  

The late American actress faced financial difficulties in both of her marriages, and she candidly admitted that her second marriage was a significant mistake.

First Marriage with Walter Grady Roberts

Bredemus previously tied the knot with Walter Grady Roberts in the year of 1933. Walter had a short-lived career as an actor and playwright, and their paths crossed during the performance of the play George Washington Slept Here for the Armed Forces.

Walter and Betty embarked on a journey together, offering acting lessons and participating in seminars. Likewise, they joined forces on a well-received local children's program titled Bum Bum and His Buddies.

The former couple had a hard time making ends meet. They also faced a financial crisis when their daughter Julia was born. One of their students, Coretta Scott King, kindly offered to pay the hospital bill. Betty filed for divorce in 1971 after the acting class ended and it was finalized in 1972. Sadly, her first husband passed away from Throat Cancer in 1977.

Second Marriage with Michael Motes

Betty quickly moved on from her divorce with Walter, she married Michael Motes in 1972. Soon after Bredemus realized that marrying Motes was a terrible decision. He was a violent alcoholic who often fought with Betty and the kids.

Julia and her siblings despised and feared Michael. So, Betty Lou ended her second marriage in 1983, claiming he treated her cruelly. However, Motes claims he is writing a book that will reveal his side of the story.

As some reports, Michael publicly revealed his sexual orientation as gay and currently shares his life with a male partner. Further, he holds the role of a minister in his local church. 

Mother of Four Children

Betty Lou Bredemus was a mother of four children, all from different walks of life. Her first three children, Eric Roberts, Lisa Roberts, and Julia, were born from her marriage to Walter Grady Roberts, an actor and playwright. They followed in their parent’s footsteps and became successful actors and producers in Hollywood.

Julia Roberts alongside Lisa Roberts Gillan. 

Her fourth child, Nancy Motes, was the result of her second marriage. Unlike her siblings, Nancy struggled with addiction and obesity and eventually died of a drug overdose at the age of 37. Betty also had six grandchildren, three of whom are Julia Roberts’ children with her husband Daniel Moder.

Betty Lou Bredemus's Causes of Death

Julia’s mother was born on August 13, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to parents Wendell John Bredemus, a football player, and Elizabeth Ellen Billingsley. She died of lung cancer at 80 in Los Angeles on February 19, 2015. Julia, who lost her father to cancer when she was 10, was very close to her mother.

Julia was filming The Secret In Their Eyes when her mother passed away. Her mother’s death was mourned by many fans and celebrities. Neither Robert’s husband Danny Moder nor his son Henry attended Bredemus’s funeral.

The Wealth of Betty Lou Bredemus at the Time of Her Death

Betty Lou Bredemus was a talented actress and acting coach who had a passion for the performing arts. She taught acting at the Inner City Cultural Center in Los Angeles, where she inspired many young actors to pursue their dreams.

Although her net worth is not publicly disclosed, it is likely that Betty Lou Bredemus earned a good amount of money from her career. She also had a famous daughter, Julia Roberts, who is one of the richest actresses in the world with a net worth of $250 million. Julia often expressed her love and gratitude for her mother, who supported her throughout her life.

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Julia Roberts Honors The Memory Of Her Mother

Betty Lou Bredemus left this world nearly a decade ago, yet Julia Roberts, the Oscar-winning actress, continues to cherish her memory and feel the absence of her mother.

Betty Lou Bredemus pictured with her daughter, Julia Roberts.  

On her mother Betty's birthday, August 13th, 2023, Roberts sent birthday wishes. "Happy Birthday, beautiful Betty," she wished.

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