On December 31, 2021, Hollywood actress and star of such series as The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Betty White Show, and The Golden Girls passed away. She died at the age of 99, just two and a half weeks before her 100th birthday, in her sleep from natural causes. Following an outpouring of support from colleagues, public figures, and the general public, today we take a minute to remember the legendary life and career of Betty Marion White Ludden.

White was born in Oak Park, Illinois on January 17, 1922 to Christine Tess and Horace Logan White. Coming from humble beginnings, White lived in Los Angeles with her family at the height of the Great Depression as her parents struggled to make ends meet. Eventually, her family’s fortunes turned more favorably and she graduated from Beverly Hills High School in Beverly Hills California in 1939.

Her career began on the radio, with her taking singing, voice acting, and commercial roles. While seldom a major player, she did have smaller roles on such shows as the 1940s radio sitcom, Blondie, and the late 40s to early 50s radio crime drama, This is Your FBI. Her first television appearance came in 1949 as the co-host, and later solo host, of daytime talk show, Hollywood on Television.

White gained national notoriety for her self-titled talk and variety show, The Betty White Show. For this series, she had complete creative control and got to choose her own crew and guests to bring onto the show. This led to her hiring a female director, as well as an African American tap dancer by the name of Arthur Duncan as a member of the recurring cast. At the time, this was unheard of, especially in the Jim Crow era South, across which she faced the majority of her backlash. This gave rise to her famous quote, “I’m sorry. Live with it.”

White spent the 1960s and 1970s appearing on game shows such as What’s my Line, To Tell the Truth, and Match Game. She made her primary return to sitcoms in 1973, where she had a main role as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. She followed this up with her self-titled sitcom, The Betty White Show (not to be confused with her earlier talk show), and an ensemble role as one of the leads of The Golden Girls, running from 1985 to 1992 and giving her perhaps her most recognizable character, Rose Nylund.

White spent the tail end of her career primarily appearing on television in guest and recurring appearances. Her final long term role was as a main cast member of the early 2010s sitcom Hot in Cleveland. Prior to her death in 2021, a documentary titled Betty White: A Celebration was announced in preparation for her upcoming 100th birthday. Off the screen, White remained an advocate for many social causes such as animal welfare, racial justice, and LGBT rights. 

Her death was met with support and reverence from people across the board, including President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama and then First Lady Michelle Obama, actors Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, and others including sports’ stars and musicians.

Betty White may not have lived to see her 100th birthday, but she lives on through the millions that she inspired throughout her 99 years on Earth and more than 80-year career. From everyone here at Dodger Media Online, may Betty White rest in peace.