Five time Emmy winner and at the forefront of female-led television, Betty White lit up screens for more than seventy five years with her satirical wit and charm. Having been featured in countless roles in television, to film, to radio, White made a household name for herself in her outstanding and everlasting career. White is credited as the first woman to produce a sitcom and was included in some of the first ever women-categorized nominations at the Emmys. With the news of her passing, many are reflecting on her impact on the entertainment industry. In commemoration of her work, here is a list of her best performances, to name a few.
10
Advise & Consent
Noteworthy for being White’s debut to feature films, and the only to come for a couple decades in her career. Released in 1962, the film is an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winner, Advise and Consent, written by Allen Dury. The film was directed by Otto Preminger and received generally positive reviews from critics. White received positive reviews for her small role in the film as a Kansas senator, Elizabeth Ames Adams.
9
Toy Story 4
In 2019, at the age of 97, White voiced the role of Bitey White (a pun on her name), a toy tiger, in Toy Story 4. She performed alongside Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, and Carol Burnett as a set of toys in the film that reflected the personalities of their respective voice actors. White described her role as a tiger in the film as “just perfect” for her in an interview with USA Today.
8
The John Larroquette Show
White guest-starred as herself on The John Larroquette Show in an episode that reunites the cast of Golden Girls where Laroquette helps write White’s memoir. White’s guest appearance also acts as a parody of herself and retrospective on her role as Rose Nylund in Golden Girls. She received an Emmy in 1996 for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her role.
7
Saturday Night Live
After a Facebook campaign to get White to host Saturday Night Live with nearly 500,000 followers, White went on to host an episode on March 11, 2010. She became the oldest host on the series and won another Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. She acknowledged the campaign on Facebook in her opening monologue saying, “I didn’t know what Facebook was, and now that I do know what it is, I have to say, it sounds like a huge waste of time.”
6
The Betty White Show
White’s self-produced variety show was ahead of its time being directed by a female and leading a woman. This would be one of three attempts at a show titled “The Betty White Show”. This version, premiering in 1954, was boycotted for starring the first African American on a variety show. White defended him and her show by responding to the backlash with “I’m sorry. Live with it.”
5
Just Men!
White became known as the “First Lady of Game Shows” after starring in several popular game shows during the mid-twentieth century. In particular, White received a Daytime Emmy for her work on Just Men! in 1983. Though the show received low viewership, White was the first woman to receive this award.
4
Hot In Cleveland
Airing from 2010 to 2015, Hot In Cleveland is one of White’s most recent notable roles. The show revolves around three women from Los Angeles seeking change in Cleveland, Ohio after leasing a home through White’s character, Elka. Although she was nominated for an Emmy for her role, she did not win that year.
3
The Proposal
Released in 2009, The Proposal is a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. White plays the grandmother to Reynolds’ character, Andrew Paxton. The film received mixed reviews, but still received several awards with White receiving a couple nominations. For younger audiences, this film is one of the first that come to mind when they think of White, arguably outperforming the leading roles of Bullock and Reynolds.
2
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Considered one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, The Mary Tyler Moore Show was groundbreaking and extremely successful even with its feminist points. Arriving in the fourth season, White played the role of a host, Sue Ann Nivens, on The Happy Homemaker show, a show within the show. White considered this role one of the highlights of her career, with her complex and contrasting character becoming a fan favorite for the remainder of the series.
1
The Golden Girls
Most likely her most well known character and performance is that of Rose Nylund in Golden Girls, a naive, small town woman who has relocated to Miami after the death of her husband. The show has received a cult following for its well written comedy and iconic performances from White, Beatrice Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty. The show received numerous awards with each of the main actresses receiving an Emmy award for their performance on the show. The series dealt with various controversial topics and was critically acclaimed throughout its run. A spin-off of the series titled, The Golden Palace, is set to release in January 2022.