Iconic actress of film and TV, Betty White, has died at age 99. White began her career at an early age and rose to fame in the 1950s, starting with Life With Elizabeth, before moving on to a massive amount of film and TV projects and ending up with the longest-running TV career ever for a female. She also appeared in famed TV shows like The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Love Boat, Mama's Family, The Golden Palace, Ladies Man, That '70s Show, Boston Legal, The Bold and the Beautiful, Hot in Cleveland, and Bones, amongst many more.
White was best known for her role in The Golden Girls where she played the affable Rose Nylund from 1985-1992. The actress won multiple Emmys, Screen Actors Guild Awards, American Comedy Awards, and even a Grammy. Some of her notable film performances include the Ryan Reynolds/Sandra Bullock comedy The Proposal, Lake Placid, and the voice of Bitey White in Toy Story 4. White enjoyed a strong media presence into her later years and frequented many late-night talk shows
Sadly, just a month shy of her 100th birthday, White passed away in her home on December 31, 2021, as confirmed by her agent to People. The actress had been remaining safe and indoors during the pandemic. No cause of death has been announced at this time. Her agent, Jeff Witjas, shared his thoughts on her passing, saying:
"Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever. I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. I don't think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again."
White was set to celebrate her 100th birthday with a special theatrical event through Fathom Events on January 17, 2022. The event was to showcase highlights from her career, including The Golden Girls, Hot in Cleveland, The Proposal, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Past colleagues, including Ryan Reynolds, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, and more were expected to attend. In a profile in the latest issue of People, which preemptively honors her 100th birthday, White joked that Ryan Reynolds "can't get over his thing for me, but Robert Redford is The One." The two stars have had a comedic back-and-forth since starring together in The Proposal in 2009.
When it comes to legacies, Betty White has left a tremendous body of work in her wake. From radio to TV to film, the actress is the very definition of a Hollywood icon and has always presented herself with an air of wit, charm, and unspeakable kindness. Countless friends and colleagues have recounted stories of good times and pleasant experiences working with Betty White, many of which will surely be retold today and in the coming weeks, months, and years as her memory is solidified as a hallmark of the industry.
Source: People