1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Betty White Biography (1922-)

Full name, Elizabeth Marion White; born January 17, 1922, in Oak Park, IL; daughter of Horace (an electrical engineer and traveling salesperson) and Tess(a homemaker) White; married Dick Barker (a chicken farmer and military pilot), 1945 (marriage ended, c. 1945); married Lane Allen (an agent), 1947 (divorced, 1949); married Allen Ludden (a television host), 1963 (died June 9, 1981); stepchildren: (third marriage) David, Martha, Sarah.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Occupation

Actress, writer

Birth Details

January 17, 1922

Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Stage Appearances
• Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), Theatre at Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990
• Made stage debut at Bliss Hayden Little Theatre, Beverly Hills, CA; appeared in summer stock productions, including Any Wednesday, Bells AreRinging, Brigadoon, Critics' Choice, Guys and Dolls, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I, South Pacific, TakeMe Along, and Who Was That Lady?.
• Film Appearances
• Senator Bessie Adams, Advise and Consent, Columbia, 1962
• Maid in motel, Rockin' Road Trip, Troma, 1986
• Herself, Holy Man, Buena Vista, 1998
• Doreen, Hard Rain (also known as Flood), Paramount, 1998
• Mrs. Wilson, Dennis the Menace Strikes Again, Warner Bros., 1998
• Lillian Jordan, The Story of Us, Warner Bros., 1999
• Mrs. Delores Bickerman, Lake Placid, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1999
• Voice of Aunt Polly, Tom Sawyer (animated), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2000
• Voice of Round, Whispers: An Elephant's Tale, Buena Vista, 2000
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Phone girl, Hollywood on Television, 1949
• Elizabeth White, Life with Elizabeth, syndicated, c. 1952-1954 renamed The Betty White Show, NBC, 1954-1955
• Herself, The Betty White Show, NBC, 1954
• Panelist, Make the Connection, NBC, 1955
• Vickie Angel, A Date with the Angels, ABC, 1957-1958
• The Betty White Show, ABC, 1958
• Resident liar (celebrity panelist), Liars Club, syndicated, 1969
• Host, The Pet Set, syndicated, 1971
• Sue Ann Nivens (The Happy Homemaker), The Mary Tyler Moore Show, CBS, 1974-1977
• Host, Password (also known as Password Allstars and Password Plus), ABC, c. 1975
• Panelist, Liars Club, syndicated, 1976-1977
• Joyce Whitman, The Betty White Show, CBS, 1977-1978
• Host, Just Men! (game show), NBC, 1983
• Ellen Harper Jackson, Mama's Family, NBC, 1983-1986
• The Love Report, ABC, 1984
• Rose Lindstrom Nylund, The Golden Girls, NBC, 1985-1992
• Celebrity Double Talk, ABC, 1986
• Animal Crack-Ups, ABC, 1988
• Liars Club (also known as The New Liars Club), syndicated,1988
• Sweethearts, syndicated, 1988
• Rose Lindstrom Nylund, The Golden Palace, CBS, 1992-1993
• Sylvia Schmidt, Bob, CBS, 1993
• Shirley, Maybe This Time, ABC, 1995-1996
• Voice of Dorothy, The Lionhearts (animated), syndicated, beginningin 1998
• Voice of Hestia (goddess of the hearth and home), Hercules (animated; also known as Disney's Hercules), ABC and syndicated, 1998-1999
• Me & George, beginning in 1998
• Mitzi Stiles, Ladies Man, CBS, 1999-2001
• Television Work
• Producer; Series
• (With others) Life with Elizabeth, syndicated, c. 1952-1954 renamed The Betty White Show, NBC, 1954-1955
• A Date with the Angels, ABC, 1957-1958
• Television Appearances
• Movies
• Vanished, NBC, 1971
• Evelyn Harris, With This Ring, ABC, 1978
• Anita, Before and After, ABC, 1979
• Sally Cantrell, The Best Place to Be, NBC, 1979
• The Gossip Columnist, syndicated, 1980
• Evelyn Eglin, Chance of a Lifetime (also known as A Change of Heart and Heather's Journey), NBC, 1991
• Martha, A Weekend in the Country, USA Network, 1996
• Mrs. Krisper, The Retrievers, Animal Planet, 2001
• Specials
• Host (with others), The Tournament of Roses Parade, NBC, annually,1970-1990
• The Paul Lynde Halloween Special, 1976
• Circus of the Stars #2, CBS, 1977
• The John Davidson Christmas Show, 1977
• Circus of the Stars #3, CBS, 1979
• Paul Lynde at the Movies, 1979
• Host (with others), Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, annually, 1980-1990
• Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Stand Up and Cheer for the National Football League's 50th Year, 1981
• Ellen, Eunice, CBS, 1982
• Those Wonderful TV Game Shows, 1984
• Joan Rivers and Friends Salute Heidi Abromowitz, 1985
• The Real Trivial Pursuit, ABC, 1985
• Host, Walt Disney World's 15th Birthday Celebration, ABC, 1986
• America Talks Back, NBC, 1986
• NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986
• The Television Academy Hall of Fame, NBC, 1986
• "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Barbara Walters Special, ABC, 1986
• Aunt Harriet, ALF Loves a Mystery, NBC, 1987
• Honoree, This Is Your Life, NBC, 1987
• Happy Birthday, Hollywood!, ABC, 1987
• Happy Birthday, Bob--50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC, NBC,1988
• The Hollywood Christmas Parade, syndicated, 1988
• The Magical World of Disney, NBC, 1988
• Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1988
• Bob Hope's Love Affair with Lucy, NBC, 1989
• Friday Night Surprise!, NBC, 1989
• Hanna-Barbera's 50th: A Yabba Dabba Doo Celebration, TNT, 1989
• The Valvoline National Driving Test, CBS, 1989
• The American Red Cross Emergency Test, ABC, 1990
• Night of 100 Stars III (also known as Night of One Hundred Stars), NBC, 1990
• Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special (also known as The Earth Day Special), ABC, 1990
• The Tube Test, ABC, 1990
• Doris Day: A Sentimental Journey, PBS, 1991
• Funny Women of Television: A Museum of Television and Radio Tribute, NBC, 1991
• Mary Tyler Moore: The 20th Anniversary Show, CBS, 1991
• The Meaning of Life, CBS, 1991
• The Walt Disney World Happy Easter Parade, ABC, 1991
• Bob Hope and Other Young Comedians: The World Laughs, Young and Old (also known as Comedy Olympics: Starring Bob Hope and Other Young Comedians), NBC, 1992
• Hats Off to Minnie Pearl: America Honors Minnie Pearl, The Nashville Network, 1992
• Star-athon `92: A Weekend With the Stars, syndicated, 1992
• Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade, ABC, 1992
• Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993
• The Ninth Annual Television Academy Hall of Fame, The Disney Channel, 1993
• Throwaway Pets, PBS, 1993
• Bob Hope's Birthday Memories, NBC, 1994
• Gretchen Claus, The Story of Santa Claus, 1996
• Presenter, The `70s: The Decade That Changed Television, ABC, 2000
• Awards Presentations
• The 38th Annual Emmy Awards, NBC, 1986
• Presenter, The 13th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1987
• The First Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1987
• The 39th Annual Emmy Awards, Fox, 1987
• The Second Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1988
• The Third Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1989
• The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1990
• The Fourth Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1990
• Presenter, The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1991
• The Fifth Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1991
• The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1991
• The 17th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1991
• Episodic
• "The Story of Virginia Lennert," The Millionaire, CBS, 1956
• Host, Modern Romances, NBC, 1958
• "Scene of the Crime," The United States Steel Hour, CBS, 1962
• "Buying a House," That's Life, ABC, 1968
• Adele Colby, "The Cannonball Bookmobile," Petticoat Junction, CBS,1969
• Herself, "Password," The Odd Couple, ABC, 1972
• Louise Demery, "The Adventure of Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance," Ellery Queen, NBC, 1975
• "The Adventure of the 12th Floor Express," Ellery Queen, NBC, 1975
• "The Noise of a Quiet Weekend," Lucas Tanner, NBC, 1975
• The Peter Marshall Variety Show, syndicated, 1976
• The Love Boat, ABC, 1980
• "Aunt Sylvia," The Love Boat, ABC, 1981
• Host, The Shape of Things, NBC, 1982
• "Charlotte's Web," Love, Sidney, NBC, 1982
• "Mail-Order Bride," Best of the West, ABC, 1982
• "My Friend, the Executrix," The Love Boat, ABC, 1982
• Catherine, "Sunshine Again," Fame, NBC, 1983
• "Authoress, Authoress," The Love Boat, ABC, 1984
• "Outsiders," Hotel, ABC, 1984
• Bobby Barnes, "Eye on Angela," Who's the Boss?, ABC, 1985
• Voice of Macy's parade host, "Thanksgiving at Mrs. Rossini's," Who's the Boss?, ABC, 1985
• "Close Encounters," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1985
• "Red, White, Black, and Blue," St. Elsewhere, NBC, 1985
• "Soap Star," The Love Boat, ABC, 1985
• "Election Week Madness," D.C. Follies, syndicated, 1987
• "The Network," Matlock, NBC, 1987
• Nurse, Days of Our Lives, NBC, 1988
• Waitress, Santa Barbara, NBC, 1988
• Woman in police station, Days of Our Lives, NBC, 1988
• Win, Lose, or Draw, syndicated, 1988
• Rose Nylund, "Rambo of Neiman Marcus," Empty Nest, NBC, 1989
• "The Impudence of Being Earnest," Empty Nest, NBC, 1989
• A Conversation with Dinah, The Nashville Network, 1989
• Win, Lose, or Draw, NBC, 1989
• Rose Nylund, "Dr. Weston and Mr. Hyde," Empty Nest, NBC, 1992
• Dora Sloan, "Death by Extermination," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 1994
• "Elvis Is Coming!" The Naked Truth, NBC, 1995
• "Star and Comet Collide! Giant Bugs Invade!" The Naked Truth, NBC,1995
• Midge Haber, "Golden Girl Friday," Suddenly Susan, NBC, 1996
• "Here We Go Again," The John Larroquette Show, NBC, 1996
• Intimate Portrait: Mary Tyler Moore, Lifetime, 1997
• Dr. Shirley Flott, "Seeing Green," Ally McBeal, Fox, 1999
• Voice of Dellia, "Escape from Party Island," King of the Hill (animated), Fox, 1999
• Voice of Grandma Sophie Hunter, "A Tiger by the Tail," The Wild Thornberrys (animated), Nickelodeon, 2000
• Voice characterization, "Missionary: Impossible," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 2000
• Intimate Portrait: Rue McClanahan, Lifetime, 2000
• Intimate Portrait: Estelle Getty, Lifetime, 2001
• Voice of Grandma Sophie Hunter, "The Anniversary," The Wild Thornberrys (animated), Nickelodeon. Appeared in multiple episodes of The MatchGame (also known as Match Game P.M.), CBS and syndicated. Appearedin multiple episodes of Password (also known as Password Allstars and Password Plus), CBS, syndicated, ABC, and NBC. Also appeared in episodes of Carol Burnett Show, CBS; Dick Haynes' Joke Shop (quiz show); Girl Talk, syndicated; Grab Your Phone (quiz show);I've Got a Secret, CBS and syndicated; The Jack Paar Tonight Show, NBC; The Merv Griffin Show, NBC, syndicated, and CBS; The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, CBS; The $10,000 Pyramid, CBS, ABC, and syndicated; Tom, Dick, and Harry; To Tell the Truth, CBS, syndicated, and NBC; and What's My Line?, CBS and syndicated; also appeared in episodes of other game shows.
• Pilots
• Betsy, The Love Boat, ABC, 1977
• Gladys Snavely, Snavely, ABC, 1978
• Agnes Dewey, Stephanie, CBS, 1981
• Radio Appearances
• Host of the radio program Ask Betty White, CBS; appeared on otherradio programs, including Blondie, The Great Gildersleeve, andThis Is Your F.B.I.
• WRITINGS
• Nonfiction
• (With Thomas J. Watson) Betty White's Pet-Love: How Pets Take Care ofUs, Morrow (New York City), 1983
• Betty White in Person (autobiography), Doubleday (New York City),1987
• (With Tom Sullivan) The Leading Lady: Dinah's Story, Bantam (New York City), 1991
• Here We Go Again: My Life in Television, Scribner Books (New YorkCity), 1995

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

• Los Angeles Times, July 13, 1999
• New York Post, December 8, 1963 October 31, 1977
• People Weekly, December 6, 1999, p. 93
• Washington Post, September 11, 1977