Betty White | |
|---|---|
.jpg) White at the 1988 Emmy Awards | |
| Born | Betty Marion White January 17, 1922 Oak Park, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | December 31, 2021 (aged 99) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Other names | Betty Marion White Ludden |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1939–2021 |
| Works | Filmography |
| Spouses | Dick Barker
(m. 1945; div. 1945)Lane Allen
(m. 1947; div. 1949) |
| Awards | Full list |
Betty Marion Ludden (née White; January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian.[1][2] A pioneer of early television with a career spanning almost seven decades, she was noted for her vast number of television appearances acting in sitcoms, sketch comedy, and game shows. She produced and starred in the series Life with Elizabeth (1953–1955), thus becoming the first woman to produce a sitcom.[3]
After moving from radio to television, White became a staple panelist of American game shows such as Password, Match Game, Tattletales, To Tell the Truth, The Hollywood Squares, and The $25,000 Pyramid. Dubbed "the first lady of game shows", she became the first woman to receive the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host for the show Just Men! in 1983.[4] She then became more widely known for her guest and recurring appearances on shows such as The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, The Bold and the Beautiful and Boston Legal.
White's biggest roles include Sue Ann Nivens on the CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–1977), Rose Nylund on the NBC sitcom The Golden Girls (1985–1992), and Elka Ostrovsky on the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland (2010–2015). She had a late career resurgence when she starred in the romantic comedy film The Proposal (2009) and hosted Saturday Night Live the following year, garnering her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. The 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television detailed her life and career.[5][6]
For her lengthy work in radio, television, and film, White twice earned the Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer in both 2014 and 2018.[7][8] She received various awards and nominations, including seven Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award.[9] She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.[10]
- ^ Tenz, Courtney (January 17, 2017). "Betty White, comedian and actress, turns 95". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
- ^ "Happy birthday! Actress and comedian Betty White turns 95". FOX59. January 17, 2017. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
Popular actress and comedian Betty White turns 95 on Tuesday.
- ^ "Pioneers of Television: Sitcoms: TV Programs on Iowa Public Television". Iptv.org. Archived from the original on January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ^ Stacy Conradt, Mental Floss (February 23, 2010). "10 reasons we love Betty White". CNN. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- ^ McFarland, Melanie (December 31, 2021). "Remembering Betty White, America's grandmother and the first lady of television, dead at 99". Salon. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ "Betty White, 'first lady of television', dies days ahead of her 100th birthday". Hindustan Times. January 1, 2022. Archived from the original on January 1, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Dawn, Randee (September 6, 2013). "Betty White, 'Breaking Bad' earn 'Guinness World Records' titles". Today.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ "Longest TV career by an entertainer (female)". Guinness World Records. February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 27, 2018. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ "Betty White". emmys.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ^ "Hollywood Star Walk". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 27, 2023.