Betty White, one of the most beloved stars of US television, passed away on December 31, 2021—just weeks before her 100th birthday

Born in Illinois in 1922, White moved to Los Angeles with her family during the height of the Great Depression to work as an actress. Her celebrated career spanned eight decades, earning achievements and awards while breaking glass ceilings for women in show business.

In 1952, White earned her first Emmy nomination for Best Actress. In 1983, she became the first woman to receive a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host. By 2018, she held a Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer, with 79 years in the business. She also held a total of eight Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three American Comedy Awards, a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame, and a well-deserved Grammy.

Apart from being a primetime legend, White is also a pioneer in advocacy of equal rights, racial justice, and animal welfare.

From 1952 to 1954, The Betty White Show went on air, which White hosted and produced. She went out of her way to hire female directors for the show—an unusual move for the time, as sexism was still rampant in the society and women were still not expected to give creative input. She also added Arthur Duncan, an African-American tap dancer as a regular cast member. TV stations in the South threatened to boycott the show, to which White responded: “Live with it”.

One of White’s most notable roles was in the sitcom Golden Girls, as the lovable Rose Nylund. The show ran from 1985 to 1992, and was so immensely successful that references and callbacks to the show are still heard today. Golden Girls also advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, included gay characters, and played scenes explaining the validity of equal marriage. Those ideas were almost unheard of in the 80s.

Betty White was an icon. She was a ray of positive energy that never dimmed for decades, using her voice and fame to advocate for progressive ideas and positive changes in our world. She will be remembered not only for the laughs and joy she brought to us through the screen, but also for her firmness and resilience against difficult opposition and men in charge. She is immensely loved, and she will be dearly missed.

Thank you for being a friend.