15 Fascinating Facts About Betty White
1. Her Name Was Always Betty, Not Elizabeth
Born on January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, Betty Marion White was the only child of homemaker Christine Tess (née Cachikis) and lighting company executive Horace Logan White. In her autobiography If You Ask Me (And of Course You Won’t), she explained that her parents named her “Betty” because they didn’t like the common nicknames associated with “Elizabeth.”
2. A Guinness World Record Holder
In 2014, White was officially recognized by Guinness World Records for having the Longest TV Career for an Entertainer (Female)—spanning over 70 years. A year earlier, British television host Bruce Forsyth received the male counterpart of the award. Both started their careers in 1939, making them nearly tied in television longevity.
3. Her First TV Appearance Is Lost to History
Even Betty White herself couldn’t recall the name of the very first show she appeared on in 1939. In an interview with Guinness World Records, she reminisced about the experience: “I danced on an experimental TV show, the first on the West Coast, in downtown Los Angeles. I wore my high school graduation dress and danced the ‘Merry Widow Waltz’ with our Beverly Hills High student body president, Harry Bennett.”
4. World War II Delayed Her Rise to Stardom
Before her television breakthrough, White worked in theater, radio, and modeling. However, during World War II, she put her career on hold to volunteer for the American Women’s Voluntary Services. She spent her days delivering supplies and her nights at send-off dances for departing soldiers.
5. Her First Sitcom Hit Came in the Early 1950s
While co-hosting Hollywood on Television with Al Jarvis, White took a bold step and became one of the few female producers of her time. She co-created and starred in Life with Elizabeth, which earned her the first of her 21 Emmy nominations in 1951. She would go on to win five.
6. Betty White Was the Queen of Parades
From 1962 to 1971, White co-hosted NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside Bonanza star Lorne Greene. For two decades (1956–1976), she was also a commentator for NBC’s Tournament of Roses Parade—until her rising fame on CBS’s The Mary Tyler Moore Show led NBC to cut ties. White later admitted she was devastated by the decision, saying, “On New Year’s Day, I just sat home feeling wretched, watching someone else do my parade.”
7. Three Marriages, One True Love
White’s first marriage to Dick Barker ended quickly in 1945 after she struggled with farm life in rural Ohio. She then married agent Lane Allen in 1947, but they divorced in 1949 after he pressured her to leave show business. It wasn’t until 1963 that she found her true love—game show host Allen Ludden. The two remained together until his passing in 1981.
8. She Met Her Husband on Password
White was a staple on game shows, but in 1961, her life changed when she appeared on Password, hosted by Allen Ludden. Though she initially turned down his proposal, Ludden famously wore the engagement ring around his neck until she finally said yes. Today, their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame sit side by side.
9. She Almost Played Blanche on The Golden Girls
Producers originally considered White for the role of Blanche, given her previous portrayal of the flirtatious Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Meanwhile, Rue McClanahan was seen as a fit for Rose, based on her work as the naive Vivian on Maude. But director Jay Sandrich, wary of typecasting, had them swap roles, and TV history was made.
10. If Not an Actress, She Would Have Been a Zookeeper
White once confessed in an interview that if she hadn’t pursued acting, she would have been a zookeeper—without hesitation. A lifelong animal advocate, she served on the board of the Los Angeles Zoo and donated thousands to animal welfare causes.
11. She Rejected a Movie Role Over Animal Cruelty
White was offered a role in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets but turned it down because of a scene where Jack Nicholson’s character throws a dog down a garbage chute. White urged director James L. Brooks to remove the scene, but when he refused, she walked away from the project.
12. Facebook Made Her the Oldest SNL Host Ever
A 2010 Facebook campaign titled “Betty White to Host SNL… Please?” gained so much traction that it led to her hosting the show at age 88, making her the oldest host in Saturday Night Live history. The episode, which featured several returning SNL female alums, was a massive success, earning White an Emmy Award.
13. She Was Literally Older Than Sliced Bread
Ever heard the joke about Betty White being older than sliced bread? It’s true. She was born in 1922, while the first commercially sold pre-sliced bread didn’t hit the market until 1928.
14. Her Diet? Junk Food
Despite her longevity, White’s eating habits were anything but strict. Her Hot in Cleveland co-stars revealed that she loved Red Vines, hot dogs, French fries, and Diet Coke. Wendie Malick even joked, “She seems to exist on hot dogs and French fries.”
15. She Had a Crush on Robert Redford
White frequently joked that the one thing she hadn’t accomplished in her career was Robert Redford. “If you ask me what I’ve always wanted to do in this business, the answer is Robert Redford,” she quipped. Unfortunately, despite over 110 film and TV credits, she never worked with him.
