White grew up in Los Angeles. In the 1940s she acted on various radio shows, and in 1949 she began regularly appearing on television, working as a “girl Friday” on Hollywood on Television. She later became host of the show, and in 1952 she cofounded Bandy Productions to develop her own projects.

What did Betty White do before acting?

After the war, White made the rounds to movie studios looking for work, but was turned down because she was "not photogenic". She started to look for radio jobs, where being photogenic did not matter. Her first radio jobs included reading commercials and playing bit parts, and sometimes even doing crowd noises.

What was Betty White's last job?

White gave her final performance in an animated film — or any film, according to IMDb — for the 2019 movie “Trouble” (also known as “Dog Gone Trouble” on Netflix). Her character, the wealthy Mrs. Sarah Vanderwhoozie, dies before uttering a single line of dialogue.

What did Betty White do for others?

For over four decades, White worked with closely with the Los Angeles Zoo. It was during this time that White also participated in the advancement of animal health during her tenure with the Morris Animal Foundation.

Was Betty White a pilot?

At the height of World War II, in the fall of 1942, America desperately needed pilots. With most male pilots overseas, the military put out a call for women to join up. Betty Dybbro (then Betty White) was 20 when a magazine article inspired her to swap Indiana farm life for one in the skies.

15 Things You Didn't Know About Betty White

Was Betty White a truck driver?

Although a newly licensed driver, White was assigned to a post exchange (PX) truck and drove to various gun emplacements and other military positions in the hills of Hollywood and Santa Monica, California, dispensing goods like candy, soda and toiletries.

Did Betty White drive a car?

Betty White drove Cadillacs.

What else did Betty White do?

Although much of her work was for television, White also appeared in several movies. In 1962 she made her feature-film debut in Advise & Consent, and her later movies included the thriller Lake Placid (1999) and the romantic comedies The Proposal (2009) and You Again (2010).

Was Betty White in the military?

"Not only was she an amazing actress, she also served during WWII as a member of the American Women's Voluntary Services. A true legend on and off the screen."

Who was the first female ever on TV?

Known as the "first lady of television" and "queen of the small screen," Betty White made her debut in 1939. She was the first woman to produce a national TV show and to star in a sitcom, both for her variety show, "Life with Elizabeth" (1953-1955).

Who did Betty White's fortune go to?

White, who died in late December 2021 at nearly 100 years old, left most of her estate, estimated to be worth $75 million, to a trust benefiting animal charities — many of the same animal welfare services she supported throughout her life, according to The Daily Star. However, she did have pets of her own.

Did Betty White have any kids?

While Betty White never had kids of her own and didn't regret it, by marrying Allen Ludden she gained three stepchildren, David Ludden, Martha Ludden, and Sarah Ludden. In an interview with People in 2009, Sandra Bullock recounted a conversation with White about being a stepmom.

What did Betty White do in the 60s?

Betty White became a frequent guest on shows in the 1960s such as “To Tell the Truth,” “I've Got a Secret,” “The Match Game,” and “What's My Line.” She was most known for “Password” where she met Allen Ludden, the host. The two married in 1963 and remained so until 1981 upon Ludden's death.

How many husbands did Betty White have?

Over the course of her 99 years, White had a few marriages. In 1945, she married U.S. Army pilot Dick Barker, and then got hitched to Hollywood agent Lane Allen from 1947 until 1949. She met her third husband Allen Ludden when she appeared as a guest on his game show, Password, in 1961.

Are any of The Golden Girls still alive?

McClanahan passed away in 2010 at age 76 from a stroke. Arthur died from cancer in 2009 at age 86, and Getty, who suffered from Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disease, died in 2008 at age 84. The last surviving Golden Girls star, White died December 31, 2021, at 99.

Did Betty White have surgeries?

Actress Betty White is the latest Hollywood star to come out of the closet and admit to having plastic surgery. Despite years of denying that she had undergone facial plastic surgery, Betty now admits to “having a little work done” in 1976.

What did Betty White do in WWII?

When America found itself at war in December 1941, White put her dreams of show business on hold and joined the AWVS. Assigned to motor transport services, White became a driver for the entirety of the war until 1945.

Was Betty White a wrestler?

Well into her 90s, White continued to hold her place in the zeitgeist, with her self-deprecating humor about aging and 'forever young' antics. The legend Betty White has died at 99. That is, in fact, how she found her way to World Wrestling Entertainment in 2014.

Who inherited Betty White's estate?

Betty White was not married, did not have any biological children, but had stepchildren and had a special love and passion for her pets. Who she left her estate to is unknown for now. Only time will tell if the public is able to find out the details of her estate.

Which golden girl died first?

Off-screen, however, Estelle was even younger than Betty and Bea, at 62-years-old. Even still, Estelle was the first Golden Girl to pass away at 84-years-old in 2008 from Lewy body dementia. While none of the Golden Girls are still alive today, they'll always remain alive in our hearts.

Who was the first woman to have her own TV show?

BETTY WHITE: FIRST LADY OF TELEVISION

She was the first woman to produce a national TV show, the first woman to star in a sitcom, the first producer to hire a female director, and the first woman to receive an Emmy nomination.

Who was Betty White's best friend?

“Betty was private with her private life,” her close friend Patty Sullivan, author of Betty White's Pearls of Wisdom, explains. Born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922 and raised in California, Betty was an only child who had a close relationship with her parents, Tess and Horace.

Did Betty White have a cat?

Throughout her life, Ms. White owned many dogs and cats. Her love, however, didn't stop with her own companion animals. She served on the Los Angeles Zoo's board for over 50 years, advocating and raising funds for state-of-the-art gorilla and orangutan exhibits for all to enjoy.

Was Betty White a dog lover?

Her devotion to pets was such that she declined a plum role in the hit 1997 movie "As Good As It Gets." She objected to a scene in which Jack Nicholson drops a small dog down a laundry chute. In her 2011 book "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)," White explained the origins of her love for dogs.