Betty White: Honoring her Legacy
Betty White, a longtime American actress and comedian, passed away at 99 years old on Dec. 31, 2021. Following her death, tributes from numerous organizations, celebrities and other public figures started to flow in on several social media outlets. Respected by many, White’s legacy and impact on multiple generations has left fans all over the world feeling sentimental (Global News). Even President Joe Biden issued a statement, sharing via Twitter that “Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans. She is a cultural icon who will sorely be missed.”
White was born in Oak Park, Illinois, on Jan. 17, 1922. White first worked various radio jobs until eventually securing her own sitcom, “The Betty White Show”, with the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1952. Following the success of this comedy, White made her feature film debut in 1962 with a role in the political drama film “Advise & Consent.” Arguably the most prominent role of White’s acting career was Rose Nylund in the television show “The Golden Girls,” which ran from 1985 until 1992.
Over the course of eight decades that White was involved in the show business, she won five Emmy awards for various television (TV) roles and one Grammy award for Best Spoken Word Recording in “If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t)”, while also becoming the first woman to produce her own sitcom, “The Betty White Show.” Although White’s recent passing has shocked a lot of fans, many are also looking back on White’s long career in the entertainment industry. Senior Armin Esfahani is one of the many impacted by White, as her work helped strengthen his relationship with his father.
“Late at night on TV, they would show ‘The Golden Girls’,” Esfahani said. “We would both sit down and watch the show, and seeing Betty White act on screen was what linked together valuable time with [my] dad.”
Though White was primarily known for her comedic roles, she is also remembered as an active philanthropist who supported many charitable causes. Throughout her life, White was an avid supporter of animal welfare and believed that animals should be treated with care, whether it be in zoos or in shelters (Today). In 1971, she raised money and awareness for animal charities by creating a TV show called “The Pet Set”, in which she would conduct interviews with other celebrities and their pets while also discussing proper animal care. After White’s passing, the hashtag #BettyWhiteChallenge was used on social media to spread awareness, prompting fans of White to donate money to any animal charity, shelter or nonprofit organization to honor White’s beliefs. Within the first few days, the challenge garnered attention from actors such as Mark Hamill and George Takei, who expressed their support of the challenge online. Senior James Terrell appreciates White’s efforts in raising awareness for animals worldwide.
“What White has done is really important to me,” Terrell said. “[I] have a dog myself, and [I] really feel for animals who are not being treated humanely and animals that are in shelters, so [White’s advocacy] hits close to home.”Over the years, White has accomplished much in her career while also clearly speaking out against racism and homophobia in the entertainment industry. Specifically, White spoke out against racial diversity issues when controversy surrounding her sitcom arose. In the 1950s, a Black dancer by the name of Arthur Duncan was set to perform on “The Betty White Show”; while White faced criticism from multiple news stations to take Duncan off the show due to the color of his skin, she declined and told NBC on “The Betty White Show” to “live with it.” Senior Grace Westervelt strongly appreciates and supports how White has used her platform.
