FriJan 17

Betty White

Betty White, born on January 17, 1922, was a celebrated actress and comedian who lasted seven decades in Hollywood, which is more than most people live. White, best known for her role in “The Golden Girls,” started her career in the late 1940s after the war. However, she’s had inevitable bumps along the road. The first was being told she wasn’t “photogenic enough” for the big screen. This rejection made White source for radio jobs instead, which she was equally good at. Eventually, she transitioned to her true calling, film, and became the award-winning success we celebrate today.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Betty Marion White

Nickname:

First Lady of Television

Birth date:

January 17, 1922

Death date:

December 31, 2021 (age 99)

Zodiac Sign:

Capricorn

Height:

5' 4.2"

Net Worth:

$75 million

Betty's Social Media:

Background

Veteran actress Betty Marion White was born on January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois. Her parents, Christine Tess and Horace Logan White had just one child. She was a Capricorn with Danish, Greek, Canadian, English, and Welsh roots. Growing up, and although she was very young, White witnessed the war, causing her family’s migration to Los Angeles during the Great Depression. Like most families at that time, they barely had a dependable income. However, White developed an interest in writing at the Horace Mann School. She got an opportunity to write and star as the lead in the graduation play and did well. White’s earliest role models were Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy, who inspired her to pursue a career as an actress.

After the war, White made $5 a show at her first radio job. She appeared on multiple shows without pay before getting her own, “The Betty White Show” (1949). In the same year, White became Al Jarvis’ co-host on a live television show “Hollywood on Television.” In 1952, after Jarvis left the show, she became the show’s sole host. The stint lasted four years. Within the same time, White, together with George Tibbles and Don Fedderson, created the Los Angeles Emmy Award-winning “Life with Elizabeth” (1952). She was 28 at the time and still living with her parents. However, the show became syndicated from 1953 to 1955. In the ‘60s, White became the first lady of game shows with appearances on “Jack Parr”, “The Tonight Show”, and “Password”. This was where she met and married her third husband and the show’s host, Allen Ludden, in 1963.

White was the ‘First Lady of Game Shows,’ especially after her Daytime Emmy Award Win. In 1985, she played Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls.” The show was highly successful from 1985 through to1992. In 2009, she returned to the big screen with another success, “The Proposal,” alongside Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock. White shared her many accomplishments with her husband and step-children as she bore no kids of her own. She lived a full and rewarding life and passed away peacefully in her sleep on New Year’s Eve, 2021.

Career timeline

1949
“The Betty White Show”

White hosts her own radio show.

1951
Her First Emmy Nomination

White is a nominee for ‘Best Actress on Television.’

1952
White Hosts “Hollywood on Television”

She becomes the sole host of the live T.V. variety show for four years.

1973
She Joins “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”

White plays Sue Ann Nivens, the man-hungry character, in the show’s fourth season.

1983
A Daytime Emmy Award

She wins ‘Outstanding Game Show Host’ for N.B.C.'s “Just Men.”

2010
“Saturday Night Live”

White hosts the show on May 8.

Why We Love Betty White

  1. She was fearless

    White became a pioneer for hosting the African-American tap dancer Arthur Duncan as a regular cast member on “The Betty White Show” during segregation. She advised the public to “live with it” when she received boycott threats.

  2. She was a pioneer

    White wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or go for things at a time when women weren’t allowed to work. She pioneered multiple shows, awards, and projects.

  3. She was talented

    From radio to television, movies, and series, White had undeniable talent. She was bubbly and funny, and her legacy speaks for itself.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. She’s a Guinness World Record holder

    In 2014 and 2018, White earned recognition for the longest T.V. career as a female entertainer.

  2. Her real name is Elizabeth

    White had acknowledged that her legal name was Elizabeth before she shortened it to Betty.

  3. Her aspirations were ahead of her time

    In the early 1940s, White wanted to be a forest ranger, but women were not allowed at the time.

  4. A Daytime Emmy Award

    In 1983, White made history as the first woman to win this award.

  5. She had no kids

    Although she adored her step-children, White had no kids of her own.

Betty White FAQs

What is Betty White most famous for?

White’s most notable work is “The Golden Girls.”

Why was Betty White so beloved?

Besides her obvious talent, White had a disarming smile and an easy charm.

What was Betty White’s cause of death?

White died from a cerebrovascular accident following a stroke.

Betty White’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2025 January 17 Friday
2026 January 17 Saturday
2027 January 17 Sunday
2028 January 17 Monday
2029 January 17 Wednesday