Betty White, actress, comedian, and pioneer of early television, beloved by millions not only in America but around the world, died Friday night at the age of 99, just 18 days before her 100th birthday.
White spoke often about the milestone of turning 100 and even had it promoted in a cover story on People magazine.
As she got older, she was often asked about what she believed gave her the longevity that The Golden Girls star enjoyed, especially since she continued working until the day she died, outliving many of her friends and colleagues. One of the things she said was, “Funny never gets old.”
White, whose saucy, up-for-anything charisma made her a television mainstay for over 60 years. Who didn’t love Betty White?
White’s death was confirmed Friday by Jeff Witjas, who was her longtime agent and a close friend.
“I truly never thought she was going to pass away,” Witjas told The Associated Press. “She meant the world to me as a friend. She was the most positive person I’ve ever known.”
“I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much,” he continued. “I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband, Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again.”
This was a woman who had no fear of playing any role, and she was wonderful at playing all of them.
In a Snickers candy bar commercial that aired during the Super Bowl last year, White played an energy-drained guy getting tackled during a football game in a muddy lot.
“Mike, you’re playing like Betty White out there,” taunted one of his buddies. White, lying flat on the ground and covered in mud, shot back, “That’s not what your girlfriend said!”
White had no problem being the butt of a joke if it got laughs. Her famous muffin skit on Saturday Night Live is something you should check out. ‘Nuff said.
Here’s how far back in the television industry White goes. When she was only 17-years-old, back in 1939, White was on an experimental TV broadcast. The technology was still very new. Television made its public debut at the New York World’s Fair in the same year.
White credited her happiness, among a host of other things, to having a positive attitude.
“Enjoy life,” she told Parade. “Accentuate the positive, not the negative. It sounds so trite, but a lot of people will pick out something to complain about, rather than say, ‘Hey, that was great!’ It’s not hard to find great stuff if you look.” That’s great advice.
A day before she passed, White shared a statement with Fox News through her representative referring to her long-lasting happiness.
“I’ve always been a cockeyed optimist,” the beloved star said. “I got it from my mom. I’m gonna stick with it.”
Rest In Peace, Betty White. Thank you for years of spreading happiness to us all.
Rich is a conservative, syndicated opinion writer and owner of MAGA-Chat.com. He writes about politics, culture, liberty, and faith.
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