Beth Howland was an American actress best known for her role as the anxious waitress Vera Louise Gorman on the sitcom “Alice,” which ran from 1976 to 1985. Though she passed away in 2015 at the age of 74, her legacy in television history remains significant. Let’s explore her financial journey and the wealth she accumulated throughout her impressive career.
Beth Howland Net Worth
At the time of her death, Beth Howland had an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million. This modest fortune came primarily from her television work, particularly her nine-season run on “Alice,” as well as various Broadway performances and other acting roles throughout her career.
Early Career and Financial Beginnings
Howland’s path to financial stability began on Broadway, where she first gained attention in the 1959 musical “Once Upon a Mattress.” Her breakthrough came when she originated the role of Corie in the Neil Simon play “Barefoot in the Park” and later appeared as Amy in the original Broadway cast of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company,” where her performance of the rapid-fire song “Getting Married Today” became legendary.
These early theater roles didn’t necessarily make Howland wealthy, but they established her reputation and opened doors to more lucrative opportunities. In those days, Broadway performers earned modest salaries compared to today’s standards, typically making between $200-500 per week – respectable but not fortune-building income.
Television Success and Peak Earnings
When Howland landed the role of Vera on “Alice,” her financial situation improved significantly. During the show’s peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s, she likely earned between $15,000-25,000 per episode. With 202 episodes over nine seasons, this represented the bulk of her wealth accumulation.
Television residuals also contributed to her net worth. Every time “Alice” aired in reruns, Howland received additional payments, creating a steady income stream that continued long after the show ended.
Later Career and Financial Management
After “Alice” concluded in 1985, Howland appeared in guest roles on shows like “Murder, She Wrote” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” though these appearances were sporadic. Her marriage to actor Charles Kimbrough (known for “Murphy Brown”) in 1986 likely provided additional financial stability through their combined assets.
Unlike many celebrities, Howland maintained a relatively modest lifestyle. She and Kimbrough shared a home in California, and she was known for being frugal and practical about her finances, ensuring her earnings from her peak years would sustain her comfortably throughout her life.
Legacy and Estate Planning
When Howland passed away in 2015 after a battle with lung cancer, her estate was likely distributed according to her will, with most assets presumably going to her daughter from her first marriage and to Kimbrough. The exact details of her estate planning weren’t made public, as Howland was known for valuing her privacy – her death wasn’t even announced until several months after it occurred.
Her financial legacy serves as a reminder that consistent work in entertainment, careful management of earnings, and a modest lifestyle can build lasting financial security, even without reaching the extraordinary wealth levels of Hollywood’s biggest stars.
