At the end of 2021 comes the news thatBetty White, a legend of the screen and one of the world’s most beloved celebrities, has passed away. Just weeks ahead of her 100th birthday, White had been getting a lot of love from friends and fans looking forward to celebrating the big day. Sadly, White reportedly died at her home on New Year’s Eve according to law enforcement sources. She was 99.
“I thought she would live forever," White’s agent Jeff Witjas told People, confirming the news. “I’ll miss her terribly. I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her husband. She believed she’d be with him again.”
White was preparing to celebrate turning 100 on January 17th. For one day only, Fathom Events was even hosting a theatrical celebration of her life and career accomplishments. The documentary, dubbedBetty White: 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration, includes many of White’s celebrity friends sharing stories of the actress including Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Carol Burnett, Jimmy Kimmel, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendy Malick, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Lin Manuel-Miranda. Betty also personally appears to reaveal inside stories of her amazing life and career. The documentary celebration now will serve as a memorial.
“Who doesn’t love a party?!? This one is gonna be great,” White had said of the upcoming theatrical celebration.
Betty White had been performing for the past eight decades, getting started with her career in 1939. Over the years, she performed frequently and especially excelled in comedy. One of her most popular roles is Rose Nylund on the classic sitcomThe Golden Girls, which also starred Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. White was the oldest of all four leads and was the longest-surviving star of the show. She also returned to the role forthe spinoff seriesThe Golden Palacewhich was recently announced to start streaming on Hulu on January 10th.
White has 115 acting credits to her name. She has appeared in a wide variety of programs across the past several decades, with memorable performances in shows likeThe Mary Tyler MooreShow,The Betty White Show,The Love Boat,Mama’s Family,Boston Legal,The Bold and the Beautiful, and so much more. In more recent years, she starred in the hit sitcomHot in Clevelandwhich put her back in the spotlight once again.
During the pandemic, White had largely kept to herself in the interest of staying safe. She spent a lot of time doing crossword puzzles and visiting her animal companions. On her99th birthdayin January, White said she celebrated with the ducks who she feeds every day. Last year, she toldETof her birthday plans, “You probably didn’t ask, but I’ll tell you anyway. What am I doing for my birthday? Running a mile each morning has been curtailed by COVID, so I am working on gettingThe Pet Setre-released, and feeding the two ducks who come to visit me every day.
Before the pandemic broke out, White had also been planning to star in another film. She was set to lead the cast of an untitled Christmas movie at Lifetime which would have starred White as a mysterious woman assisting Santa Claus impersonators with their training. The movie was postponed due to COVID and the project was never completed.
There will never be anyone else like the one-of-a-kind Betty White, and all over the world, the iconic actress will be badly missed. May she be forever celebrated as sherests in peace.
