Betty White
Biography
Betty Marion White Ludden (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian, with the longest television career of any entertainer, spanning 80 years. Regarded as a pioneer of television, she was one of the first women to have control both in front of and behind the camera and is recognized as the first woman to produce a sitcom (Life with Elizabeth), which contributed to her receiving the honorary title Mayor of Hollywood in 1955. White was known for her award-winning roles as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–77) and Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls (1985–92) – the Writers Guild of America has included both sitcoms in its list of the 101 Best Written TV Series of All Time – and Elka Ostrovsky on Hot in Cleveland (2010–15). A staple guest of many American game shows such as Password, Match Game, Hollywood Squares and The $25,000 Pyramid, White was dubbed the 'First Lady of Game Shows' and became the first woman to receive an Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host in 1983 for the show Just Men! She was also known for her appearances on Boston Legal, Mama's Family, and Saturday Night Live. White received eight Emmy Awards in various categories, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a Television Hall of Fame inductee.
Known For
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
The Simpsons
1989
The Daily Show
1996
Family Guy
1999
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
Bones
2005
Conan
2010
Saturday Night Live
1975
The Late Late Show with James Corden
2015
Filmography
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self - Guest Host · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
as Self - Guest · 1962
The Simpsons
as Betty White (voice) · 1989
The Daily Show
as Self · 1996
Family Guy
as Betty White (voice) · 1999
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self · 1961
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self - Co-Hostess · 1961
Bones
as Dr. Beth Mayer · 2005
Conan
as Self · 2010
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host · 1975
The Late Late Show with James Corden
as Self · 2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
as Self - Guest · 2015
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
as Self · 2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
as CBS Nurse · 2005
Hollywood Squares
as Self - Panelist · 1998
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
as Self - Guest · 1988
King of the Hill
as Dorothy / Ellen (voice) · 1997
King of the Hill
as Delia (voice) · 1997
Diagnosis: Murder
as Dora Sloan · 1993
The Merv Griffin Show
as Self · 1962
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
as Self - Guest · 1992
The Middle
as Mrs. Nethercott · 2009
The Love Boat
as Betsy Boucher · 1977
The Love Boat
as Louise WIllis · 1977
What's My Line?
as Self · 1950
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
as Self · 2003
The Practice
as Catherine Piper · 1997
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee · 1944
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Presenter · 1944
Malcolm in the Middle
as Sylvia · 2000
30 Rock
as Betty White · 2006
The Talk
as Self · 2010
Boston Legal
as Catherine Piper · 2004
That '70s Show
as Bea Sigurdson · 1998
Community
as Professor June Bauer · 2009
Match Game
as Self · 1973
St. Elsewhere
as Gloria Neal · 1982
Everwood
as Carol Roberts · 2002
My Name Is Earl
as Griselda Weezmer · 2005
Matlock
as Betty White · 1986
Hot in Cleveland
as Elka Ostrovsky · 2010
Intimate Portrait
as Self · 1993
Petticoat Junction
as Adelle Colby · 1963
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self - Guest / Various Characters · 1967
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self - Guest / Ellen / Various Characters · 1967
The Carol Burnett Show
as Self - Guest · 1967
The Golden Girls
as Rose Nylund · 1985
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
as Self · 2009
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
as Self - Guest Host · 1957
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
as Self · 1957
Hotel
· 1982
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
as Sue Ann Nivens · 1970
Who's the Boss?
· 1984
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
as Mrs. Doolin (voice) · 2001
The Wild Thornberrys
as Sophie Hunter (voice) · 1998
Ugly Betty
as Betty White · 2006
Dinah!
as Self · 1974
The Bob Hope Show
as Self · 1950
Providence
as Julianna · 1999
The Lorax
as Grammy Norma (voice) · 2012
The Odd Couple
as Betty White · 1970
The John Larroquette Show
as Betty White · 1993
Ally McBeal
as Dr. Shirley Flott · 1997
Toy Story 4
as Bitey White (voice) · 2019
The Oscars
as Self · 1953
Pound Puppies
as Agatha McLeish (voice) · 2010
To Tell the Truth
as Self - Panelist · 2016
The Naked Truth
as Betty White · 1995
SpongeBob SquarePants
as Beatrice (voice) · 1999
Joey
as Mrs. Bly · 2004
My Wife and Kids
· 2001
Empty Nest
as Rose Nylund · 1988
The Millionaire
as Virginia Lennart · 1955
Young & Hungry
as Ms. Wilson · 2014
The Proposal
as Grandma Annie · 2009
Mama's Family
as Ellen Harper-Jackson · 1983
Ellery Queen
as Louise Demery · 1975
The Soul Man
as Elka · 2012
The Client List
as Ruth Hudson · 2012
L.A. Doctors
as Mrs. Brooks · 1998
Donny & Marie
as Self · 1976
Suddenly Susan
as Midge Haber · 1996
Glenn Martin, DDS
· 2009
Madame's Place
as Self · 1982
Higglytown Heroes
as Grandma (voice) · 2004
The Golden Palace
as Rose Nylund · 1992
The Wonderful World of Disney
as Self · 1954
Comedy Central Roasts
as Self · 2003
Inside Comedy
as Self · 2012
Father of the Pride
as Grandma Wilson (voice) (uncredited) · 2004
The Match Game
as Self · 1962
The Early Show
as Self - Guest · 1999
I'm with Her
as Betty White · 2003
Bob
as Sylvia Schmidt · 1992
Complete Savages
as Mrs. Riley · 2004
Wordplay
as Self - Celebrity Panelist · 1986
Crowded
as Sandy · 2016
The History of Comedy
as Self · 2017
Ladies Man
as Mitzi Stiles · 1999
The Sonny and Cher Show
· 1976
Hard Rain
as Doreen Sears · 1998
Lake Placid
as Mrs. Delores Bickerman · 1999
The Pet Set
as Self - Host · 1971
Noddy
as Annabelle · 1998
Date with the Angels
· 1957
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
· 1948
You Again
as Grandma Bunny · 2010
Life with Elizabeth
as Elizabeth · 1953
The Big Show
as Self · 1980
Maybe This Time
as Shirley Sullivan · 1995
Carol & Company
as Trisha Durant · 1990
The Betty White Show
as Joyce Whitman · 1977
Trouble
as Mrs. Vanderhoozie (voice) · 2019
Best of the West
as Amanda Tremaine · 1981
The Jacksons
as Ella misma · 1976
The Story of Us
as Lillian Jordan · 1999
The Lionhearts
as (voice) · 1998
Bringing Down the House
as Mrs. Kline · 2003
Forky Asks a Question
as Bitey White (voice) · 2019
Million Dollar Password
· 2008
Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!
as Martha Wilson · 1998
Betty White's Off Their Rockers
as Self - Host · 2012
Vanished
as TV Hostess · 1971
Mickey's 60th Birthday
as Self · 1988
Gameshow Marathon
· 2006
The Women of SNL
as Florence Dusty (archive footage) · 2010
The Lost Valentine
as Caroline Thomas · 2011
Love n' Dancing
as Irene · 2009
Holy Man
as Betty White · 1998
Curse of the Chippendales
· 2021
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
as Self / Rose Nylund (archive footage) · 2025
Forky Asks a Question: What Is Love?
as Bitey White (voice) · 2019
Advise & Consent
as Senator Bessie Adams · 1962
The Earth Day Special
as Rose Nylund · 1990
Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt
as Woman in window · 2003
Back to the Grind
· 2007
The Ultimate Collection starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 70s and 80s
as Self (archive footage) · 2002
Letters to Jackie: Remembering President Kennedy
as Self - Narrator (voice) · 2013
Night of 100 Stars III
as Self · 1990
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
as Self · 2002
The Paul Lynde Halloween Special
as Miss Halloween · 1976
Tom Sawyer
as Aunt Polly (voice) · 2000
Celebrating Betty White: America's Golden Girl
as Self · 2022
The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie
as Grandma Sophie (voice) · 2001
Stealing Christmas
as Emily Sutton · 2003
Betty White: A Celebration
as Self · 2022
Whispers: An Elephant's Tale
as Round (voice) · 2000
Lipstick & Dynamite
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2005
Comedy Central Roast of William Shatner
as Self - Roaster · 2006
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
· 1985
Betty White: First Lady of Television
as Self · 2018
Prep & Landing Stocking Stuffer: Operation: Secret Santa
as Mrs. Claus (voice) · 2010
Eunice
as Ellen · 1982
ALF Loves a Mystery
as Aunt Harriet · 1987
Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited) · 2023
If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast
as Self · 2017
The Story of Santa Claus
as Gretchen Claus (voice) · 1996
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
as Self / Rose Nylund · 2003
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
as Self · 1987
Betty White Goes Wild
as Self · 2013
Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz
as Betty White · 1988
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
as Rose Nylund (archive footage) · 2003
Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl
as Self · 2012
Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade
as Self · 1992
Chance of a Lifetime
as Evelyn Eglin · 1991
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
as Self · 1988
Just Men!
· 1983
Hanna-Barbera's 50th
as Self · 1989
Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration
as Self (archive footage) · 2025
Live from Broadway: Hello, Dolly!
· 1995
The Golden Girls: Ageless
as Self (archive footage) · 2021
The Best Place to Be
as Sally Cantrell · 1979
A Weekend in the Country
as Martha · 1996
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
as Rose Nylund · 2021
The Unpredictable Pudgy!
as Herself · 1983
The Mary Tyler Moore Reunion
as Self · 2002
Golden Girls 3033
as Rose Nylund (voice) (archive sound) · 2022
The Gossip Columnist
as Betty White · 1980
With This Ring
as Evelyn Harris · 1978
The Retrievers
as Mrs. Krisper · 2001
Jingle All the Way! Christmas Stories Vol. 2
· 1957
The Third Wish
as Lettie · 2005
A Different Approach
· 1978
The John Davidson Christmas Special
as Herself · 1977
Part Two: The Warm Mission
as Betty (voice) · 2009
Doris Day: A Sentimental Journey
as Self · 1991
Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show
as Herself · 1991
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
as Self · 1986
Annie's Point
as Annie Eason · 2005
The Betty White Show
· 1954
Noddy: Anything Can Happen at Christmas
as Annabelle / Mrs. Santa Claus · 1998
Teen Choice Awards
as Self · 1999
Treasury of Children's Stories
· 1996
Snavely
as Gladys Snavely · 1978
Time to Kill
as Lou's Girl · 1945
Scene of the Crime
as Betty Swan · 1962
Before and After
as Anita · 1979
Betty White: Champion for Animals
as Herself · 2012
Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy
as Self · 1989
Betty White: Pure Gold
as Self · 2022
Celebrities Uncensored
as Self · 2003
Sea Tales
· 2007