Betty White, the accomplished and legendary actress and comedian, died on December 31, 2021, just a few weeks shy of her 100th birthday. During her lifetime, she was most known for her influential work on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and later on, “The Golden Girls.” Her success on both shows was further pronounced by the three Primetime Emmy Awards she received for them. Through her other works, she won two more Primetime Emmy Awards, boasting a sum of five Emmys and 21 Emmy nominations to her name. 

Throughout White’s career that spanned a generous seven decades, she appeared on game shows, radio shows, sitcoms and movies. Claire Chen ’24 noted that Betty White “was such a versatile actress” and that her passing “affected so many people of all generations.” Maansi Misra ’24 also commented on Betty White’s impact on younger generations. She recalled that White’s “hilarious SNL [Saturday Night Live] monologue” made her realize “how long she has been a part of the film industry.” White hosted SNL at the age of 88, making her the oldest person to ever host, even to this day. 

Aside from her truly memorable television career, White was a strong social advocate. She championed  LGBT equality, diversity and inclusion, and even animal welfare. Despite her passing, Betty White’s legacy will forever live on through her numerous works. Shivani Verma ’24 says, “she was truly an icon.”