# RIP Betty White **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [December 31, 2021, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000 "2021-12-31T19:22:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/61 "2022-01-02T20:32:12Z")
Not a series regular, but Betty made a memorable character of Ellen, Eunice Higgins’ sister in the Family segments on _Carol Burnett_. She was a perfect mix of phony sweetness and viciousness. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2022, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/62 "2022-01-02T21:22:26Z")
I knew Betty was an animal lover. But, until I watched a documentary on her life, I didn’t realize just how extreme an animal lover she was. She devoted her entire life and a great deal of money to animal advocacy. Seeing her hand feeding and snuggling a large brown bear is a sight to see. [![](https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/13332/snapshot/885044_s_1634720234.png) ](https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/13332/snapshot/885044_s_1634720234.png) I like her even more. A total class act. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/63 "2022-01-03T00:24:42Z")
She was quite the pistol on the celebrity roast show. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/64 "2022-01-04T11:27:51Z")
Her agent has stated that she passed away in her sleep. A peaceful end to a long, long life. We should all be so blessed. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/65 "2022-01-04T12:06:22Z")
I made the mistake of watching the SNL tribute yesterday. Laughing and crying the whole damn time. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/66 "2022-01-04T14:00:51Z")
Are you referring to the 2010 episode on which she hosted? I saw that over the weekend as well. I think she was in literally every single bit. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/67 "2022-01-04T17:10:57Z")
I like to remember her snarky US Senator in Advise and Consent (1962). Some of the same qualities she brought to Sue Ann Nivens and Ellen. She really wasn’t doing that much as an actor before Mary Tyler Moore. She had a series in the early 50’s and an apparently forgettable one-year series in the late 50’s. The rest of her time seemed to be mostly game shows and a few guest spots. Which makes her casting as Sue Ann a masterstroke on someone’s part, both for the show and for her. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/68 "2022-01-04T17:53:03Z")
She did three musicals in St. Louis in the 1960s. I guess she was making the rounds as one of those celebrities who get cast in a road production to juice the box office. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/69 "2022-01-04T21:57:42Z")
Yes. I think that’s the tribute part. They cut out all the scenes that didn’t involve Betty White. Including the musical performance. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/70 "2022-01-04T22:58:35Z")
Betty and Lucy had a long friendship dating back to 1957. Betty never guested on any of Lucy’s shows. They did appear together on Password. [Inside Betty White And Lucille Ball's Relationship](https://www.thelist.com/722135/inside-betty-white-and-lucille-balls-relationship/) > [@](#): > > In true “Golden Girl” fashion, Betty White and Lucille Ball were there for each other during the most difficult times in their lives. When Ball’s marriage to Desi Arnaz began to crumble, the twice-divorced White offered words of wisdom. Ball subsequently provided “a meal and kind words” when White lost her third husband, “Password” host Allen Ludden in 1981 (via Closer Weekly). Then, in 1986, Ball was in the middle of taping a “Password” episode when she found out that Arnaz had died. White recalled to People in 1989, “Lucy was being real funny on the show, but during a break she said, ‘You know, it’s the damnedest thing. Goddamnit, I didn’t think I’d get this upset.’” ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2022, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/71 "2022-01-04T23:55:32Z")
> [Vicki] Lawrence said. “Carol [Burnett] wrote back and said, _‘I know, I know. I spoke to Betty’s assistant, who was with her when she passed, and she said the very last word out of her mouth was ‘Allen.’”_ [Cite](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/betty-white-last-words-vicki-lawrence_n_61d39221e4b04b42ab76d215) 😢 💞 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/72 "2022-01-05T03:39:40Z")
That’s beautiful. Their love for each other was so strong. ---
**Author:** ![Santos\_L\_Halper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/santos_l_halper/32/1_2.png) [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/73 "2022-01-05T06:46:21Z")
Betty was a huge animal lover and advocate. The plan going around social media is for people to donate to their local animal shelters and sanctuaries in her name on January 17 for her birthday. It’ll be a really amazing tribute to her if tons of people do this. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/74 "2022-01-05T16:16:17Z")
Great idea! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/75 "2022-01-05T16:23:35Z")
It would be even more amazing if it became an annual tradition. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/76 "2022-01-05T16:45:21Z")
Allen Ludden is from Wisconsin. His grave is in Mineral Point. Wonder if she will be laid to rest there. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/77 "2022-01-05T21:11:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [Vicki] Lawrence said. “Carol [Burnett] wrote back and said, _‘I know, I know. I spoke to Betty’s assistant, who was with her when she passed, and she said the very last word out of her mouth was ‘Allen.’”_ > > [Cite](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/betty-white-last-words-vicki-lawrence_n_61d39221e4b04b42ab76d215) > > 😢 💞 Ok that got me. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/78 "2022-01-06T04:44:34Z")
I found this on YouTube. Betty White’s Top Ten Tips for living a long and happy life as presented on _The Late Show with David Letterman_. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JgHXJ7x_Yb0/maxresdefault.jpg "Betty White Top Ten on David Letterman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHXJ7x_Yb0) This is why she was the First Lady of American television and so beloved. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/79 "2022-01-06T05:36:47Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#): > > Betty was a huge animal lover and advocate. The plan going around social media is for people to donate to their local animal shelters and sanctuaries in her name on January 17 for her birthday. > > It’ll be a really amazing tribute to her if tons of people do this. I work for an animal shelter and put up a fundraiser around 4 today and it’s already over $2,200 on Facebook donations alone. For a smallish rural shelter, that’s quite a lot in that amount of time, especially for something that was pretty much an impromptu thing rather than a big event or dramatic story. So people are definitely responding and it’s pretty incredible and heartwarming. Here’s my friend Cynthia, 12 and blind, who, if she understood what was going on, would be very thankful for Betty White: [![](https://i.imgur.com/3519kBN.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/3519kBN.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000/80 "2022-01-06T20:44:16Z")
I’m glad to hear of this. I’ll be sure to send something. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-betty-white/957000.md?page=5)