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Entertainment August 2, 2017
Meet America's favorite sassy senior.
Betty White has been adored by viewers all over the United States since her on-screen debut in 1939. And her star status has only increased since then.
White was a talented comedian before women in comedy was even a thing. Throughout her career, she made her mark in the entertainment world as a producer, actor and game show host.
And to celebrate her incredible legacy, we’ve compiled a list of five reasons Betty White is a role model for women of all ages.
Betty White was not only one of the first actresses in Hollywood, she was also one of the first women to produce a sitcom.
She is known for playing Sue Ann Nivens on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” from 1973 to 1977, and Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls” from 1985 until 1992. White earned Emmy awards for these roles and both of the sitcoms made The Writers Guild of America’s list for the 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time.
After those acting gigs, Betty White just kept moving up. Over her extensive career, she has earned a Grammy, eight Emmy awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards and three American Comedy Awards.
Also, they don’t call her the “First Lady of Gameshows” for nothing. According to ThoughtCo, Betty White has guest starred on twenty different game shows over the years. In 1983, she was the first woman to receive an Emmy Award for “Outstanding Game Show Host” for the show “Just Men!” In addition, White’s quick wit was well-received by audiences on popular game shows, including “What’s My Line”, “Password” and “The Match Game.”
Betty White has always been outspoken about her love of men. She even told People that men are “kind of a hobby” of hers. But even though White is known for her hilariously flirtatious commentary, she’s still a romantic deep down.
White had two short-term marriages in her early twenties that only lasted two years each. But in 1963, she met her late husband, Allen Ludden.
She told Joy Behar in 2011 that if she could repeat one decision in her life it would be marrying Ludden. “He was something special,” she added.
Ludden proposed to White several times over the period of a year before she accepted. She saw herself as a West Coast girl and had no interest in moving to New York. She told Oprah Winfrey that one of her biggest regrets was “wasting” a year that the couple could have spent together.
And in an interview with Anderson Cooper in 2001, she stated, “I had the love of my life.” When Anderson asked if she would consider dating again, White responded, “If you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?”
We hear you 100 percent, Betty. Although, it would be amazing to see her on Tinder.
Despite being born in the 1920s, Betty White is relatable to many millennial women.
She defies traditional gender roles, she’s open-minded about sexuality and she’s a hard working woman. Basically, this is what you want your 90s to look like.
When we think of the baby boomer generation, the words “traditional” or “conservative” typically come to mind. We think of a docile housewife in the ’50s who whips up delicious meals and raises children. However, one of the reasons we love Betty White is because she doesn’t fit that mold.
White has no children and attests that she has never regretted that decision. She has said that her career is her primary focus and she doesn’t believe that she could manage motherhood and Hollywood at once.
Do women really belong in the kitchen? According to Betty White, not at all. One of our favorite Betty White quotes reads, “I go out to the kitchen to feed the dog, but that’s about as much cooking as I do.”
Unlike her happy homemaker role as Sue Ann Nivens, Betty White is all about that take-out life.
And typically, the expectation for older women is modesty. But Betty White doesn’t follow those rules. She has been very open about her own sexuality.
For example, she once told The Insider that the one thing she has always wanted to do in the business is Robert Redford. White has also openly supported gay marriage and said, “I really don’t care with whom you sleep. I just care what kind of a decent human being you are.”
Betty White’s two greatest loves are show business and her furry friends. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she said, “I love children, the only problem with children: they grow up to be people, and I just like animals better than people. It’s that simple.” We hear you loud and clear, girl.
White has been passionate about critters since she was a young girl. She grew up with dreams of becoming a zookeeper and, in a way, her dreams have come true. White has worked with the Los Angeles Zoo for over 45 years. She is also a member of the Morris Foundation, which funds health studies for animals.
In an interview, White stated, “Animals are near and dear to my heart, and I’ve devoted my life to trying to improve their lives.” The animal kingdom thanks you, Betty.
Betty White seems to be loved and idolized more and more with each coming day. She’s the feisty yet endearing grandmother we wish we had to deliver perfectly timed one-liners at the family dinner table.
Betty White has the longest-running television career of any woman in history. Her career in entertainment spans over 75 years, and it hasn’t slowed down one bit.
From 2010 to 2015, White starred in the comedic television series, “Hot in Cleveland” as the sassy elderly Polish woman, Elka Ostro. Just like Betty herself, her character is outspoken about taboo topics such as sex and drinking. Now, she plays Dr. Beth Mayer on the TV Series, “Bones.” The woman may be 95, but she stays busy at all times.
But despite her massive success, Betty White exudes humility and gratefulness. The longevity of White’s career was brought up in an interview and she responded, “I’m the luckiest broad on two feet, I’ll tell you that. They say once a woman passes 40 she doesn’t get any good parts, so I’m blessed.”
If the fans have anything to say about it, we are all equally lucky to have her sass and charm to still light up our TV screens.
Cheers to you, Betty!
To put it simply, Betty White is basically the best. She was one of the first women in comedy, game shows and television in general.
When she isn’t cracking us up, White is also a spokesperson for animal health and protection issues. Plus, the love story of her and Allen Ludden is what we call real #relationshipgoals.
To top all that off, she speaks her mind unapologetically with class and humor, and she defies all expectations for older women.
Now it’s time to plan how we can immortalize Betty White. Any ideas?
