Twenty Lesser-Known Details Regarding Betty White That Make Fans Adore The Actress More

Jun 10, 2021 by apost team

Betty White is one of the most beloved actresses of all time. Over the long course of her career, she has received plenty of awards and recognition for all of her hard work and immense talents. At 99 years old, White has shown no signs of slowing down, but it is more than just her talent that has made her such a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. White has a heart of gold and has never been afraid to speak her mind, which has made her a favorite among fans and critics alike. Here are 20 facts about the famous actress.

1. Her Real Name Is Betty

Most people who go by the moniker Betty are usually named Elizabeth, and picked Betty as a nickname. This is not the case for White, as she was actually born with the first name Betty.

2. A Lifetime In La La Land

White was born on Jan. 17, 1922, in Oak Park, Illinois, but she didn’t stay there for long. Her family relocated to Los Angeles, California when White was just 2 years old.

3. She Is A Guinness World Record Owner

White has accomplished a lot over the course of her extremely long career of over 80 years. In 2013, White earned the record for Longest TV Career for an Entertainer (Female) for all of her work in the industry.

4. She Is An Avid Animal Lover

White has a clear love and passion for animals and their well-being, so much so that she has even turned down roles if the script mentioned potential animal abuse, according to Factinate.

5. Repeating History

The 99-year-old actress has played the same character named Rose Nylund on four different television series over the course of her career. The shows she has portrayed the character on are “The Golden Place,” “The Golden Girls,” “Nurses” and “Empty Nest.” 

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6. She Was Almost Blanche

Despite being cast as Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls,” White had originally auditioned for the role of Blanche and Rue McClanahan was going to play the part of Rose. However, the director worried about type-casting, resulting in the two actresses switching roles.

7. Huge Social Media Presence

White has certainly never let her age stand in her way of facing new challenges, including conquering the world of social media. White currently has over 1.5 million followers on Twitter and over 1.6 million followers on Instagram.

8. A Real Star

With a lifetime of roles in movies and television shows, White has definitely been able to show off her many talents and has received plenty of awards and accolades for them, including her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 1960.

9. She Was A Mayor

In 1955, White became the honorary mayor of Hollywood, appointed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

10. Nothing But Love

While many people have grown to love White over the years because she has been a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, White has also had her fair share of love and romance. The actress has been married a total of three times. She married Dick Barker in 1945, Lane Allen in 1947 and Allen Ludden in 1963. Her first two marriages ended in divorce, and her third left her widowed after Ludden died in 1981.

11. Carrying On Her Legacy

Although White has no biological children of her own, she gained three step-children through her marriage to Ludden, as he had three children from a previous marriage. Even though they are not biologically related, White has shown an immense amount of love and appreciation for her step-children.

12. She Loves Her Scripts

Reality TV is a guilty pleasure with many people, but not White. According to Factinate, the actress is actually not a fan of the genre, which could be why she has continued to act in scripted movies and series for such a long time.

13. Proud Of Her Age

White made history on May 8, 2010, when she hosted “Saturday Night Live.” The actress was 88 years old at the time, and she became the oldest person to ever host the show, according to History.com.

14. Never-Ending Career

Making history has become second nature for the 99-year-old actress. White became the oldest person to be nominated for an Emmy in 2014 when she received a nomination for “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.” She was 92 at the time.

15. A Friend To Many

Working in the entertainment industry for as long as White has definitely comes with some perks, including famous friends. Some of White’s friends that have also made their own mark in the industry include Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur and Mary Tyler Moore.

16. Read It And Weep

White has authored and published many books over the years, and even some audiobooks. She actually received her first ever Grammy Award in 2012 for Best Spoken Word Recording for her audio recording of “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t).”

17. She Is Very Trustworthy

With so many friends in her personal life, it came to no surprise that White was viewed as incredibly trustworthy by many people. She was even voted as the most trusted celebrity in the United States by a Washington Times poll in 2011.

18. She Loves A Good Dog

One of White’s favorite foods is a hot dog. In April 2010, she partnered up with Pink’s hot dog stand in Universal CityWalk to create her own hot dog, The Betty White Naked Dog, which had no toppings or any enhancements.

19. Her Love For Junk Food

While hot dogs are definitely one of White’s favorite meals, she has also been known to enjoy some not-so-healthy snacks as well. During an interview with US Weekly in 2011, White’s “Hot in Cleveland” co-star Jane Leeves revealed all of the junk food that White would typically snack on. “She eats Red Vines, hot dogs, French fries and Diet Coke,” Leeves said. “If that’s key, maybe she’s preserved because of all of the preservatives.”

20. A Celebrity Crush

Although White has been single for some time now, she has made it known that she has a crush on fellow actor Robert Redford, according to Mental Floss. Despite both having extremely long and successful careers, they have actually never worked together.

What do you think was the most surprising fact about Betty White? Let us know, and be sure to send this to your family and friends.