Famous People Who Died Around Their Birthday

Publish date: 2024-05-02

Betty White's story runs parallel to that of American television. In the 1950s, White headlined on the early TV sitcom "Life with Elizabeth," and in the 1970s was among the cast of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" playing TV personality Sue Ann Nivens, a role which won her three Emmy Awards. Over in daytime TV, White frequently appeared on "Password" (presided over by her husband Allen Ludden) and hosted "Just Men!" 

From 1985 to 1992, White starred in the mega-hit "The Golden Girls" as deadpan dim-bulb Rose Nylund and picked up another Emmy. In the 2010s, White joined the sitcom "Hot in Cleveland" and hosted the prank show "Off Their Rockers," shortly after winning her fifth Emmy Award for hosting "Saturday Night Live" at age 88.

A month before White was set to turn 100 on January 17, 2022, "Betty White: 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration" was announced — the variety show would play in movie theaters on White's 100th. People Magazine released two special White-themed issues in advance of the day. By the time tickets had been sold to the theatrical special and the People issues were on their way to newsstands, White had died, at age 99. On December 31, 2021, White died during her sleep at her home in the Brentwood area of Los Angeles. "Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever," agent Jeff Witjas told People.

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