NEW YORK – Hollywood is mourning the loss of beloved actress and cultural icon Betty White, who died just weeks before her 100th birthday.
The “Golden Girls” actress died Friday at her California home, TMZ, PEOPLE and Rolling Stone reported.
White, whose career spans over nine decades, became a TV sitcom star in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Golden Girls.” Her appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in 2010 earned her a new generation of admirers.
Celebrities and organizations grieved her loss on social media:
The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret. pic.twitter.com/uevwerjobS
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 31, 2021
Our national treasure, Betty White, has passed just before her 100th birthday. Our Sue Ann Nivens, our beloved Rose Nylund, has joined the heavens to delight the stars with her inimitable style, humor, and charm. A great loss to us all. We shall miss her dearly.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) December 31, 2021
1) Betty White. Where do I begin? I’ve known her long, but I think the first time I met her was when she was a guest star on Suddenly Susan in the late 90s. Everyone was very excited she was on the show. I had accidentally parked in her parking spot that day. She walks in…
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) December 31, 2021
Betty White: First Lady Of Television — and our hearts. Rest in Peace ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AInUQ80HHn
— Netflix (@netflix) December 31, 2021
What an exceptional life.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 31, 2021
I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White.
Sending love to her family, friends and all of us.
Y’all, with the passing of #BettyWhite we have lost one of the best humans ever!
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) December 31, 2021
We are heartbroken over the death of Betty White, a longtime friend of GLAAD and supporter of LGBTQ equality and acceptance. Our hearts go out to her loved ones and fans.
— GLAAD (@glaad) December 31, 2021
Thank you for being a friend, Betty. 💔 pic.twitter.com/m9nSJGb7o8
What a life and thank you Ms. White for all the laughs and love.. your job is done here. Rest well.🙏🏾🙏🏾 https://t.co/6NUafi1KWK
— Loni Love (@LoniLove) December 31, 2021
Betty White : I is very hard to absorb you are not here anymore.. But the memories of your deLIGHT
— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) December 31, 2021
are ..Thank you for yur humor , your warmth and your activism ..
Rest now and say Hi to Bill
Tonight we will raise MANY glasses to the WONDERFUL legacy of Betty White!!! ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) December 31, 2021
golden
— Dictionary.com (@Dictionarycom) December 31, 2021
adjective
1. bright, metallic, or lustrous like gold.
2. full of happiness, prosperity, or vigor.
3. highly talented and favored; destined for success.
4. Betty White. pic.twitter.com/uLiOr5j13X
Betty White. Oh noooooooo. I grew up watching and being delighted by her. She was playful and daring and smart. We all knew this day would come but it doesn’t take away the feeling of loss. A national treasure, indeed. Fly with the Angels. ❤️
— Debra Messing✍🏻 (@DebraMessing) December 31, 2021
Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans. She’s a cultural icon who will be sorely missed. Jill and I are thinking of her family and all those who loved her this New Year’s Eve.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 31, 2021
RIP Betty White, the only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party. A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) December 31, 2021
#DidYouKnow
— The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) December 31, 2021
In 1954, #BettyWhite was criticized after having Arthur Duncan, a Black tap dancer, on her show.
Her response: "I'm sorry. Live with it."
She then gave Duncan even more airtime. The show was canceled soon after.
Rest well, Betty. #ThankYouForBeingAFriend pic.twitter.com/3rQRTHOPe7
You know what's really great? We told Betty White that we loved her while she was still alive.
— Paula Poundstone (@paulapoundstone) December 31, 2021
Betty White broke barriers, defied expectations, served her country, and pushed us all to laugh. Barack and I join so many around the world who will miss the joy she brought to the world. I know our Bo is looking forward to seeing her up in heaven. pic.twitter.com/tVL7NUw2TT
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) January 1, 2022
She really was the best. A toast to Betty White tonight instead.
— dan levy (@danjlevy) January 1, 2022
I had the honor of working with Betty White on my series BOB & the finale of Hot in Cleveland. She was such a pro! My 1st standup TV appearance was April 1960 on Jack Paar & Betty was a guest. Today, we lost a giant.
— Bob Newhart (@BobNewhart) January 1, 2022
I met Betty White several times over the years, in many green rooms. She was a vanguard who paved the way for women in TV. Now we say goodbye to her irrepressible presence, and like millions of others, I will miss her. Thank you for all the joy and laughter, Betty ❤️ pic.twitter.com/XTxLaVFTlw
— Lynda Carter (@RealLyndaCarter) December 31, 2021
She made us laugh. Thank you Betty White. RIP. pic.twitter.com/d6XeLrlnm1
— Pete Souza (@PeteSouza) December 31, 2021
As if 2021 wasn’t bad enough. Rest In Peace, Queen Betty White. pic.twitter.com/BfxwP31km0
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) December 31, 2021
Sad news. No more Betty White. Too bad we couldn’t get another ten years of her always warm, gracious, and witty personality. She was one of a kind!
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) December 31, 2021
Much will be said today about what a brilliant performer Betty White was. And it’s all true. But I’ll always be so grateful that I actually got to work with her when she played my grandma on 70s Show. She was everything you wanted her to be in real life… pic.twitter.com/7WhYFJQTJE
— Topher Grace (@TopherGrace) January 1, 2022
thank you betty white for being so kind to this kid behind the scenes and for teaching me
— jenny lewis (@jennylewis) December 31, 2021
the most important life lesson
“ sometimes life just isn’t fair kiddo “
pic.twitter.com/XsNVvnaEug
A spirit of goodness and hope. Betty White was much beloved because of who she was, and how she embraced a life well lived. Her smile. Her sense of humor. Her basic decency. Our world would be better if more followed her example. It is diminished with her passing.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) December 31, 2021