Betty White (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian known for her roles on television. White worked longer in the television industry than anyone else and earned herself a Guinness World Record in 2013.
Her roles on television including 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 gained renewed popularity after her appearance in the romantic comedy film The Proposal (2009) with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, and went on to host Saturday Night Live in 2010 gaining her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She had also been a staple on many game shows since the mid-1950s.
White died on December 31, 2021, aged 99, which was due to be celebrated in a televised special on January 17, 2022. It contained an interview from White, filmed just ten days prior to her death. The decision was made to continue with the televised celebration posthumously, thus ending White's record-breaking, 73-year career on television in 2022.
Film Year Title Role Notes 1945 Time to Kill Lou's Girl Short film 1951 The Daring Miss Jones Unknown 1962 Advise & Consent Senator Bessie Adams 1986 Big City Comedy Herself 1989 Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration 1996 The Story of Santa Claus Gretchen Claus Voice 1998 Hard Rain Doreen Sears Dennis the Menace Strikes Again Martha Wilson Direct-to-video Holy Man Herself 1999 Lake Placid Mrs. Delores Bickerman The Story of Us Lillian Jordan 2000 Whispers: An Elephant's Tale Round Voice Tom Sawyer Aunt Polly 2001 The Retrievers Mrs. Krisper The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie Grandma Sophie Voice 2003 Bringing Down the House Mrs. Kline Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt Cameo 2005 The Third Wish Lettie 2006 Where's Marty? Herself 2007 Your Mommy Kills Animals Documentary In Search of Puppy Love 2008 Ponyo Yoshie Voice 2009 Love N' Dancing Irene The Proposal Grandma Annie Part Two: The Warm Mission Betty Short film 2010 You Again Grandma Bunny Byer Prep & Landing: Operation: Secret Santa Mrs. Claus Voice 2011 Betty White: Champion for Animals Herself Documentary 2012 The Lorax Grammy Norma Voice 2013 Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy Narrator Documentary Betty White Goes Wild Herself 2019 Toy Story 4 Bitey White Voice Trouble Mrs. Sarah Vanderwhoozie 2022 Betty White: A Celebration Herself / Archive footage Docu-movie; posthumous release; final film role
Television Year Title Role Notes 1949–53 Hollywood on Television Herself 1952–54 The Betty White Show 1953 The Eddie Albert Show 1953–55 Life with Elizabeth Elizabeth Lead role, 65 episodes 1955–56 What's My Line? Herself 8 episodes 1956 The Millionaire Virginia Lennart Episode: "Millionaire Virginia Lennart" 1957–58 Date with the Angels Vickie Angel Lead role, 33 episodes 1958 The Betty White Show Herself Lead role, 14 episodes 1958–62 The Tonight Show with Jack Paar Recurring role, 36 episodes 1958–2001,2016 To Tell the Truth Guest on CBS (Collyer), NBC (Moore), and ABC (Anderson). Main panelist (2016) 1961–2008 (Super) (Million Dollar) Password (All Stars), (Plus) Recurring panelist; appeared on all versions of the show 1962 The United States Steel Hour Episode: "Scene of the Crime" 1963–82,1990–91 Match Game Herself Recurring panelist Appeared on the first 3 versions of the show 1963–75 You Don't Say! Recurring panelist, 10 episodes 1968 That's Life Episode: "Buying a House" 1969 Petticoat Junction Adelle Colby Episode: "The Cannonball Bookmobile" 1971 The Pet Set Herself Recurring role, 31 episodes Vanished NBC TV mini series 1972 O'Hara, U.S. Treasury Episode: "Operation: Lady Luck" The Odd Couple Episode: "Password" 1973–77 The Mary Tyler Moore Show Sue Ann Nivens Main cast, 46 episodes 1975 Lucas Tanner Lydia Merrick Episode: "The Noise of a Quiet Weekend" Ellery Queen Louise Demery Episode: "The Adventure of Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance" The Carol Burnett Show Various Recurring role, 3 episodes 1976–77 The Sonny and Cher Show Herself Guest role, 2 episodes 1976–79 Liar's Club Recurring panelist, 48 episodes 1977–78 The Betty White Show Joyce Whitman Lead role, 14 episodes 1978 The Hanna-Barbera Happy Hour Voice teacher 1 episode Snavely (aka Chateau Snavely) Gladys Snavely 1 episode (pilot only)With This Ring Evelyn Harris TV film 1979 The Best Place to Be Sally Cantrell Before and After Anita 1980 The Gossip Columnist Herself The Love Boat Various Guest role, 5 episodes 1981 Best of the West Episode: "Mail Order Bride" 1982 Eunice Ellen TV film The $25,000 Pyramid Herself Recurring panelist, 85 episodes Love, Sidney Charlotte Episode: "Charlotte's Web" Madame's Place Herself Episode: "I Am What I Am" 1983 Just Men! Herself Host, 65 episodes Fame Catherine Episode: "Sunshine Again" 1983–84, 1986 Mama's Family Ellen Harper Jackson Recurring role, 15 episodes 1984 Hotel Wilma Klein Episode: "Outsiders" Trivia Trap Herself Celebrity Week 1985 St. Elsewhere Capt. Gloria Neal 2 episodes Who's the Boss? Bobby Barnes 1985–92 The Golden Girls Rose Nylund Main role, 180 episodes 1987 Alf Loves a Mystery Aunt Harriet TV film 1988 Santa Barbara Cameo Guest role, 3 episodes Another World Brenda Barlowe Special Guest Star Days of Our Lives Cameo Guest role 1989–92 Empty Nest Rose Nylund Guest role, 3 episodes 1990 Carol & Company Trisha Durant Episode: "Trisha Springs Eternal" 1991 Chance of a Lifetime Evelyn Eglin TV film Nurses Rose Nylund Episode: "Begone with the Wind" 1992–93 The Golden Palace Lead role, 24 episodes 1993 Bob Sylvia Schmidt Main role, 8 episodes 1994 Diagnosis: Murder Dora Sloan Episode: "Death by Extermination" 1995 The Naked Truth Herself 2 episodes 1995–96 Maybe This Time Shirley Wallace Main role, 18 episodes 1996 A Weekend in the Country Martha TV film Suddenly Susan Midge Haber Episode: "Golden Girl Friday" The John Larroquette Show Herself Episode: "Here We Go Again" 1998 The Lionhearts Dorothy (voice) 5 episodes L.A. Doctors Mrs. Brooks Episode: "Leap of Faith" Noddy Annabelle (Mrs. Santa Claus) Special: Anything Can Happen At Christmas 1999 Hercules Hestia (voice) Episode: "Hercules and the Tiff on Olympus" Ally McBeal Dr. Shirley Flott Episode: "Seeing Green" King of the Hill Dorothy / Ellen / Delia (voice) Guest role, 3 episodes 1999–2001 Ladies Man Mitzi Stiles Main role, 30 episodes 2000 The Wild Thornberrys Sophie Hunter (voice) 3 episodes Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Betty White" The Simpsons Herself (voice) Episode: "Missionary: Impossible" 2001 The Ellen Show Connie Gibson Episode: "Missing the Bus" 2002 Teacher's Pet Granny (voice) Episode: "The Turkey That Came for Dinner" Yes, Dear Sylvia Episode: "Kim's New Nanny" Providence Julianna Episode: "The Heart of the Matter" 2002–03 That '70s Show Bea Sigurdson Recurring role, 4 episodes 2003 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Mrs. Doolin (voice) Episode: "Who Killed Who?" Gary the Rat Gary's Mother (voice) Episode: "This Is Not a Pipe" I'm with Her Herself Episode: "Meet the Parent" Stealing Christmas Emily Sutton TV film 2003–04 Everwood Carol Roberts 2 episodes 2004 The Practice Catherine Piper 3 episodes My Wife and Kids Mrs. June Hopkins Episode: "The Maid Malcolm in the Middle Sylvia Episode: "Victor's Other Family" 2004 Father of the Pride Grandma Wilson Episode 8: "Donkey" 2004–05 Complete Savages Mrs. Riley 2 episodes 2005 Joey Margaret Bly Episode: "Joey and the House" Annie's Point Annie Eason TV film 2005–08 Boston Legal Catherine Piper Recurring role, 16 episodes 2006 My Name Is Earl Mrs. May Rose Weezmer Episode: "The Witch Lady" Family Guy Herself (voice) Episode: "Peterotica" Game Show Marathon Herself (Panelist) Episode: "Match Game" 2006–09 The Bold and the Beautiful Ann Douglas Recurring role, 23 episodes 2007 Higglytown Heroes Grandmama (voice) Episode: Calling All Heroes Ugly Betty Herself Episode: "Bananas for Betty" The Simpsons Herself (voice) Episode: "Homerazzi" 2009 30 Rock Herself Episode: "Stone Mountain" Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List Herself Episode: "Maggie's Bucket List" 2009–10 Glenn Martin DDS Grandma Shelia Martin (voice) Guest role, 2 episodes 2010 The Middle Mrs. Nethercott Episode: "Average Rules" Community Professor June Bauer Episodes: "Anthropology 101" & "The Psychology of Letting Go"2010, 2015 Saturday Night Live Host, Various roles Episodes: "Betty White/Jay-Z", "Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special" 2010–15 Hot in Cleveland Elka Ostrovsky Main role, 128 episodes 2010–13 Pound Puppies Agatha McLeish (voice) Main role, 13 episodes 2011 The Lost Valentine Caroline Thomas TV film 2012–17 Betty White's Off Their Rockers HerselfHost 2012 The Client List Ruth Hudson Episode: "Past Is Prologue" 2013 Save Me God Episode: "Holier Than Thou" Mickey Mouse Old Lady (voice) Episode: "New York Weenie" 2014 The Soul Man Elka Ostrovsky Episode: "All the Way Live" 2015–18 Fireside Chat with Esther Rose / Lady Bette 3 episodes 2015–17 Bones Dr. Beth Mayer 2 episodes 2015 Betty White's Smartest Animals in America Herself Host 2016 SpongeBob SquarePants Beatrice (voice) Episode: "Mall Girl Pearl" Crowded Sandy Episode: "The Fixer" 2017 Young & Hungry Ms. Bernice Wilson 2 episodes If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast Herself TV film 2018 Betty White: First Lady of Television Documentary 2019 Forky Asks a Question Bitey White (voice) Episode: "What Is Love?"Remembering Disney Legend Betty White The Walt Disney Company (Press release)
See also
List of awards and nominations received by Betty White
References