Just two weeks before turning 100, the great Betty White peacefully passed away. While the news was quite saddening, it spurred a global appreciation for one of the most accomplished figures in human history. Here are 10 interesting facts about the great Betty White to appreciate the late starlet.
Many folks in Hollywood don a stage name, and most people assume that “Betty” was short for “Elizabeth.” In truth, her legal name was always Betty White. Her parents chose Betty because they disliked all the other nicknames for Elizabeth.
White held a career in television for decades, but her first TV appearance was lost in time. White says she danced the waltz on an experimental TV show in downtown Los Angeles in 1939. The show never aired, and there are no known existing tapes.
Betty White was married three times in her life. The first marriage was with rural Ohio farmer Dick Barker in 1945, but it ended four months later. She married again in 1947 to Hollywood agent Lane Allen, although they severed ties by 1949. Her last marriage was in 1963, and she and TV fixture Allen Ludden stayed together until his death in 1981.
Her marriage with Allen Ludden was interesting, as they met on the set of the famous game show Password. White was the contestant, and Ludden was the long-time host. It took a few tries, but White eventually agreed to Ludden’s proposal.
Betty White was an avid animal lover and constantly fought for better treatment of animals on set. She founded the Morris Animal Foundation, an organization that fights for the humane treatment of animals. She claims she would have pursued a career as a zookeeper if acting didn’t pan out.
We all remember White’s legendary hosting of Saturday Night Live. The episode was a hit, and she instantly became the oldest host in the show’s long history. But did you know that a significant movement on Facebook called “Betty White To Host SNL…Please” helped book her the spot? White even won an Emmy for her performance.
Betty White racked up an impressive five Emmys over her career—just three shy of the all-time record for actresses. In 2014, she became the oldest person ever nominated for the television award. She was 92.
White’s career was only beginning in the early 40s, but the world war slightly paused her acting. During WWII, she joined the American Woman’s Voluntary Services and spent her days delivering supplies around the Hollywood area. At night, she danced in grandiose send-offs for the soldiers as they left for war.
In 2014, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized White for her impressive career. She holds the title for the longest TV career for an entertainer (female), with over 70 years in the business.
We all love Betty White’s character Rose Nylund in The Golden Girls, but she almost didn’t play that iconic role. The casting director initially cast her to play Blanche (Rue McClanahan) but then made the change during the audition process, and the rest is history!
These 10 interesting facts about the great Betty White can nearly do her career justice. She was a once-in-a-lifetime figure that we’ll remember forever. That is why people of all generations have planned celebrations to remember Betty White.
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