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Betty White

Also known as Betty Marion Ludden, Betty Marion White, Betty White-Ludden

Born
Jan 17, 1922
height
5'4" (or 162 cm)
nationality
American

Career

Active 1939 – 2021

Biography

About Betty White

Edited by the community

Standing at 5'4" (162 cm), Betty White was an American actress and comedian whose career in entertainment lasted more than seven decades. Born on January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, she became a pioneer of early television, noted for her vast number of appearances across sitcoms, sketch comedy, and game shows. White produced and starred in Life with Elizabeth (1953–1955), making her the first woman to produce a sitcom. After moving from radio to television, she became a staple panelist on game shows such as Password, Match Game, Tattletales, To Tell the Truth, The Hollywood Squares, and The $25,000 Pyramid. Dubbed "the first lady of game shows," she won the Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host for Just Men! in 1983, another first for a woman.

White is best remembered for her major roles: Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–1977), Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls (1985–1992), and Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland (2010–2015). She also appeared on The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Boston Legal. A late career resurgence came with the romantic comedy The Proposal (2009) and hosting Saturday Night Live in 2010, which earned her a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. The 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television detailed her life and work. She received seven Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award, and she was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995. She set Guinness World Records for the longest TV career by a female entertainer in 2014 and 2018. White passed away on December 31, 2021, at age 99. Her career was simply remarkable.

Record

Profile details

Personal

Died
Friday 31st of December 2021 (age 99)
Years Active
1939-2021 (started around 18 years old)
Birthplace
Oak Park, Illinois, United States
Ethnicity
Caucasian

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Frequently asked

What records did she set in television?

She earned the Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer twice, in 2014 and 2018.

In what ways did she make television history?

She was the first woman to produce a sitcom (Life with Elizabeth) and the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host (for Just Men!).

What were some of her most famous recurring roles?

She played Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls, and Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland.

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