Beloved comedian and actor , Betty White died on Dec. 31 , 2021 , about two week before her hundredth birthday . The former " Golden Girls " star and — let ’s be real — national treasure , died peacefully in her sleep , mass clip reported .
White was a pioneer of television , first as an thespian in the 1940s and then as one of the first women to successfully produce and write her own television receiver show , " Life with Elizabeth , " in the 1950s . Over the form of her decades - recollective calling , White invite eightEmmy Awardsin various categories , three American Comedy Awards , three Screen Actors Guild awards and aGrammy . But she was also recognize for her beloved and well - being of animals . She served first as a trustee and later as a President Emerita for theMorris Animal Foundation , a skill - drive organization that fund research to find solutions to health issues affecting all brute .
White was have Jan. 17 , 1922 , in Oak Park , Illinois . The family moved to California when she was 2 years honest-to-goodness . White began working as an assistant for a local television place and got her scratch in the former fifties whenshe launch " Life with Elizabeth,“a series she modernize with George Tibbles . The show ran from 1953 until 1956 and clear White her first Emmy . Her life history was off and running .
White work regularly in television and her wit and timing made her a frequent guest onJack Paar ’s Tonight Showand pop daytimegame showssuch as " Password , " hosted by Allen Ludden . White meet Ludden in 1961 and the two get married in 1963 . Though she ’d married double antecedently , Ludden was the love of her life history . They remain married untilLudden ’s last in 1981 .
In 1973 , White ’s career skyrocket when she took the role ofSue Ann Nivenson " The Mary Tyler Moore Show . " piece - hungry Nivens was the perfect part for White , the perky on - tune " happy lady of the house " capable of delivering bite barb with a smile . What was supposed to be a one - prison term guest appearance turned into a two - time Emmy Award deliver the goods role for White .
She act as the exact reverse of Sue Ann Nivens in the 1980s when she teamed up with veteran role player Bea Arthur , Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty in the long - running situation comedy " The Golden Girls . " White scooped up two more Emmys playing sweet , befuddled Rose Nylund who did n’t often get the caper but whose heart was always in the correct space . When the show ended in 1992 , White uphold to work , first in a dead - lived spin - off , " Golden Palace , " then establish guest appearances , furnish voice work and doing recur roles on television . She had a endorse office in the 2010 moving picture " The Proposal , " starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds .
On May 8 , 2010 , after more than half a million fans rallied to a Facebook drive , White became theoldest person to host SNL . She was 88 at the clip . White won her seventh Emmy for her performance . White also returned to television , joining the mould of " red-hot in Cleveland , " which star Valerie Bertinelli , Jane Leeves , Wendie Malick and course for five year .
White’s Love for Animals
While her heat for television work never dimmed , neither did her dearest for beast , especially dogs . She and her parent own dogs throughout her life , most often stray that conform to them home . Most of the time , they hold back just three dog , though at one fourth dimension , they had 19 ! White was regard ahead of her time in encourage her devotee to adopt — rather than buy — sundry strain dogs .
" Some of the most healthy , most adorable dog-iron I ’ve ever known have been just plain mutts , " White said in a 1958interviewwith Radio TV Mirror magazine publisher .
In the seventies , White host her own series , " The Pet Set , " in which she visited with celebrity and their pets , as well as barbarian animal . The show was let go digitally and on DVD in February 2021 , one month after she turned 99 .
White deal every opportunity to advocate on behalf of animals and those care for them . She served as a trustee of theGreater Los Angeles Zoo Associationfor more than 50 years and write the book , " Betty & Friends : My liveliness at the Zoo . " She told AARP in a 2011interviewthat she wrote the account book to urge people to visit and actively take part in their local zoos .
White had a flick on her life sentence come out for her ask 100th birthday memorialization . " Betty White : 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration " was made and produced by Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein and follows White in her daily life history . The film shows behind - the - scenes on the circle of some of hermost famous show , including " The Golden Girls , " " red-hot in Cleveland , " and " The Mary Tyler Moore Show , plus her multiplication hosting " Saturday Night Live . " ( Who can forget her classic appearance on " Delicious Dish " ? ) It ’s still expected to be shown ( see sidebar for details ) .
