Betty White
Born: 1922-01-17 in Oak Park, Illinois, USA
Died: 2021-12-31
Known For: Acting
Biography
Betty Marion White Ludden (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian, with the longest television career of any entertainer, spanning 80 years. Regarded as a pioneer of television, she was one of the first women to have control both in front of and behind the camera and is recognized as the first woman to produce a sitcom (Life with Elizabeth), which contributed to her receiving the honorary title Mayor of Hollywood in 1955. White was known for her award-winning roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–77) and Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls (1985–92) – the Writers Guild of America has included both sitcoms in its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time – and Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland (2010–15). A staple guest of many American game shows such as Password, Match Game, Hollywood Squares and The $25,000 Pyramid, White was dubbed the 'First Lady of Game Shows' and became the first woman to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1983 for the show Just Men! She was also known for her appearances on Boston Legal, Mama's Family, and Saturday Night Live. White received eight Emmy Awards in various categories, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a Television Hall of Fame inductee.
Filmography
2025
- The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship as Self / Rose Nylund (archive footage)
- Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration as Self (archive footage)
2023
- Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2022
- Betty White: A Celebration as Self
- Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl as Self
- Golden Girls 3033 as Rose Nylund (voice) (archive sound)
- Betty White: Pure Gold as Self
2021
- The Golden Girls: Ageless as Self (archive footage)
- Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls as Rose Nylund
2019
- Toy Story 4 as Bitey White (voice)
- Trouble as Mrs. Vanderhoozie (voice)
- Forky Asks a Question: What Is Love? as Bitey White (voice)
2018
2017
- The History of Comedy as Self
- If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast as Self
2016
- To Tell the Truth as Self - Panelist
- Crowded as Sandy
2015
2014
- Young & Hungry as Ms. Wilson
2013
- Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Betty White Goes Wild as Self
2012
- The Lorax as Grammy Norma (voice)
- The Client List as Ruth Hudson
- Inside Comedy as Self
- The Soul Man as Elka
- Betty White's Off Their Rockers as Self - Host
- Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl as Self
- Betty White: Champion for Animals as Herself
2011
- The Lost Valentine as Caroline Thomas
2010
- Conan as Self
- Hot in Cleveland as Elka Ostrovsky
- Pound Puppies as Agatha McLeish (voice)
- You Again as Grandma Bunny
- Prep & Landing Stocking Stuffer: Operation: Secret Santa as Mrs. Claus (voice)
- The Women of SNL as Florence Dusty (archive footage)
2009
- The Middle as Mrs. Nethercott
- Community as Professor June Bauer
- The Proposal as Grandma Annie
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon as Self
- Glenn Martin, DDS
- Love n' Dancing
- Part Two: The Warm Mission as Betty (voice)
2006
- 30 Rock as Betty White
- Ugly Betty as Betty White
- Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner as Self - Roaster
- Gameshow Marathon
2005
- Bones as Dr. Beth Mayer
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson as Self
- My Name Is Earl as Griselda Weezmer
- Annie's Point as Annie Eason
- The Third Wish as Lettie
- Lipstick & Dynamite as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004
- Boston Legal as Catherine Piper
- Joey as Mrs. Bly
- Father of the Pride as Grandma Wilson (voice) (uncredited)
- Complete Savages as Mrs. Riley
2003
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show as Self
- Comedy Central Roasts as Self
- I'm with Her
- Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt as Woman in window
- Bringing Down the House as Mrs. Kline
- Stealing Christmas as Emily Sutton
- The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments as Self / Rose Nylund
- Celebrities Uncensored as Self
- The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series as Rose Nylund (archive footage)
2002
- Everwood as Carol Roberts
- The Ultimate Collection starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 70s and 80s
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special as Self
- The Mary Tyler Moore Reunion as Self
2001
- The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy as Mrs. Doolin (voice)
- My Wife and Kids
- The Retrievers as Mrs. Krisper
- The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie as Grandma Sophie (voice)
2000
- Malcolm in the Middle as Sylvia
- Tom Sawyer as Aunt Polly (voice)
- Whispers: An Elephant's Tale as Round (voice)
1999
- Family Guy as Betty White (voice)
- Providence as Julianna
- Lake Placid as Mrs. Delores Bickerman
- Ladies Man as Mitzi Stiles
- The Story of Us as Lillian Jordan
- The Early Show as Self - Guest
- Teen Choice Awards as Self
1998
- That '70s Show as Bea Sigurdson
- The Wild Thornberrys as Sophie Hunter (voice)
- Hollywood Squares
- Noddy as Annabelle
- Hard Rain as Doreen Sears
- Holy Man as Betty White
- L.A. Doctors as Mrs. Brooks
- Dennis the Menace Strikes Again! as Martha Wilson
- The Lionhearts as (voice)
- Noddy: Anything Can Happen at Christmas as Annabelle / Mrs. Santa Claus
1997
- King of the Hill as Dorothy / Ellen (voice)
- The Practice as Catherine Piper
- Ally McBeal as Dr. Shirley Flott
1996
- The Daily Show as Self
- Suddenly Susan as Midge Haber
- A Weekend in the Country as Martha
- The Story of Santa Claus as Gretchen Claus (voice)
- Treasury of Children's Stories
1995
- The Naked Truth as Betty White
- Maybe This Time as Shirley Sullivan
- Live from Broadway: Hello, Dolly!
1993
- Diagnosis: Murder as Dora Sloan
- Intimate Portrait as Self
- The John Larroquette Show as Betty White
1992
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- The Golden Palace as Rose Nylund
- Bob as Sylvia Schmidt
1991
- Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show as Herself
- Chance of a Lifetime as Evelyn Eglin
- Doris Day: A Sentimental Journey as Self
1990
- Night of 100 Stars III as Self
- Carol & Company as Trisha Durant
- The Earth Day Special as Rose Nylund
1989
- The Simpsons as Betty White (voice)
- Hanna-Barbera's 50th as Self
- Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy as Self
1988
- LIVE with Kelly and Mark as Self - Guest
- Empty Nest as Rose Nylund
- Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC as Self
- Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz as Betty White
- Mickey's 60th Birthday as Self
1987
- ALF Loves a Mystery as Aunt Harriet
- Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood as Self
1986
- Matlock as Betty White
- Wordplay as Self - Celebrity Panelist
- Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary as Self
1985
- The Golden Girls as Rose Nylund
1984
1983
- Mama's Family as Ellen Harper-Jackson
- Just Men!
1982
- Hotel
- St. Elsewhere as Gloria Neal
- Eunice as Ellen
- Madame's Place as Self
1981
- Best of the West as Amanda Tremaine
1980
- The Big Show as Self
- The Gossip Columnist as Betty White
1979
- The Best Place to Be as Sally Cantrell
- Before and After as Anita
1978
- Snavely as Gladys Snavely
- With This Ring as Evelyn Harris
- A Different Approach
1977
- The Love Boat
- The John Davidson Christmas Special as Herself
- The Betty White Show as Joyce Whitman
1976
- The Sonny and Cher Show
- Donny & Marie as Self
- The Paul Lynde Halloween Special as Miss Halloween
- The Jacksons as Ella misma
1975
- Saturday Night Live as Self - Host
- Ellery Queen as Louise Demery
1974
- Dinah! as Self
1973
- Match Game as Self
1971
- The Pet Set as Self - Host
- Vanished as TV Hostess
1970
- The Mary Tyler Moore Show as Sue Ann Nivens
- The Odd Couple as Betty White
1967
- The Carol Burnett Show as Self - Guest / Various Characters
1963
- Petticoat Junction as Adelle Colby
1962
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson as Self
- The Merv Griffin Show as Self
- The Match Game as Self
- Advise & Consent as Senator Bessie Adams
- Scene of the Crime as Betty Swan
1961
- The Mike Douglas Show as Self
1957
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar as Self - Guest Host
- Date with the Angels
- Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
1955
- The Millionaire as Virginia Lennart
1954
1953
- The Oscars as Self
- Life with Elizabeth as Elizabeth
1950
- What's My Line? as Self - Mystery Guest
- The Bob Hope Show as Self
1945
- Time to Kill as Lou's Girl
1944
- Golden Globe Awards as Self - Nominee