By Georgia McManus

After roughly 80 years of fame on television and radio shows, the adored actress Betty White suffered from a stroke and died in her home on December 31, 2021. White died at age 99, just three weeks shy of her 100th birthday, but her legacy as an ambitiously successful TV personality lives on. 

White visited the Smithsonian’s National Zoo in 2012. Photo credit: Smithsonian National Zoo.

Betty Marion White was known for having been a sweet and kind-hearted woman who was also incredibly witty. She was a passionate animal activist and had a soft spot for all animals. When asked what career she would have pursued if not acting, White said “Hands down, a zookeeper.” After her death, the Los Angeles Zoo even honored White’s life with a tribute on their main webpage, highlighting her support of the zoo. 

Fresh out of high school, White made her TV debut in 1939 before regularly appearing on Hollywood on Television in the late 1940s. Through the 1950s and 60s, White famously starred on Life with Elizabeth as the main character, Elizabeth. White’s next major role was in the 1970s on The Mary Tyler Moore Show starring as Sue Ann Nivens from 1970 through 1977. White then transitioned to starring in her own TV show, The Betty White Show, which quickly gained popularity and was generally very well-liked. From there, her career truly took off. White was perhaps most famous for her role on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992. This hilarious sitcom follows the lives of four elderly women all living together. Her character, Rose Nylund, was portrayed as somewhat oblivious and innocent, yet very funny and entertaining. White received Emmy nominations for best “Outstanding Lead Actress in A Comedy series” from 1986 through 1992, winning in 1986. 

White appeared on The Mary Tyler Moore Show as her character, Sue Nivens. Photo credit: pxhere.com

Although White’s marital path was complex, the love she shared with her third and final husband, Allen Ludden, was the most real and everlasting. The pair first met on the game show Password in 1961, in which White was a contestant and Ludden was the host. After two messy divorces, their relationship was refreshing and easygoing for White. White and Ludden quickly got married in 1963 and lived happily together until Ludden died of stomach cancer in 1981. As she aged, White found herself outliving many loved ones, which was sad and devastating to deal with and process. Nonetheless, White maintained an upbeat and positive persona, especially towards the public. 

Betty White on the red carpet during the 43rd Annual Emmy Awards on August 8, 1991. Photo credit: Alan Light.

White was a powerful and inspirational woman who paved the way for many female actresses to come. She was the first woman to produce and star in a national TV show, Life with Elizabeth, for which she won the Regional Emmy award for Outstanding Personality. White was also one the first women to be nominated for an Emmy, specifically for Best Actress in 1951 for her role on Life With Elizabeth.

While The Betty White Show was running on television, White received backlash for having an African-American dancer, Arthur Duncan, on stage in 1954. Although discrimination and segregation were far more normalized back then, White did not stand for the intolerance from her fans. Rather than firing Duncan and claiming he was bad for business, White famously said, “I’m sorry, but he stays… live with it.” She stood up for Duncan in a time when not many people would have. In fact, Duncan now credits much of his success as a TV personality and performer to White, as she enabled him to continue doing what he loved for thousands upon thousands of people. 

Betty White at the 1988 Emmy Award show. Photo credit: Alan Light.

Throughout her career, White won an extensive number of Emmys and received 21 total nominations for Emmys, along with various other awards. She won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Mary Tyler Moore Show in both 1975 and 1976, Outstanding Game Show Host on Just Men! in 1983, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on The Golden Girls in 1986, Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series on The John Larroquette Show in 1996, as well as on Saturday Night Live in 2010, and more. Amongst all of her awards, in 2013, White even broke the Guinness World Record for longest performing female entertainer, with her career spanning 75-80 years. 

After White died, America was devastated. White had originally planned to celebrate her birthday with a special movie event with her friends. They were going to watch Betty White: A Celebration, a documentary on White’s life, but unfortunately she was never able to see it. The movie is now available to see in nearly all theaters as of January 17, playing as scheduled, and streaming release dates are currently undetermined.

White was an entirely enthusiastic and entertaining woman who spread love and humor to many Americans over the past eight decades. She drew her audience into the screen through the vast number of TV shows, talk shows, and game shows that she regularly appeared on. White will be greatly missed by all of America, but her legacy will live on.

Featured image credit: Alan Light.