Betty White 2010. Author David Shankbone. Wikimedia Commons

10 Fun Facts about Betty White


 

Betty Marion White belongs to the 19th century entertainers. She was born January 17, 1922 and passed on December 31, 2021, shortly before celebrating her 100th birthday. The American actress and comedian was a pioneer of early television, with a career spanning almost seven decades. She was noted for her vast body of work in entertainment and for being one of the first women to work both in front of and behind the camera.

 For her lengthy work in radio, television, and film, the American Queen of comedy twice earned the Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer in both 2014 and 2018. She is also a recipient of various awards and nominations, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards, and a Regional Emmy Award, as well as three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. As one of the most famous persons in the U.S, she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was a 1995 Television Hall of Fame inductee. Let us now look at the 10 Fun Facts about Betty White.

1. She Had To Hang Around in producer Fran Van Hartesveldt’s office For Her First Gig

It’s astounding when you realize the Matron of Laughs got started on a Parkay Margarine commercial, but such were her humble beginnings. Her love for comedy saw her hung around in producer Fran Van Hartesveldt’s office until he decided to offer her a job in the commercial. This led to her appearance on the radio show “The Great Gildersleeve,” also headed by Hartesveldt.

From this humble beginning she went on to make an appearance on the radio show “The Great Gildersleeve,” another Hartesveldt project.

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2. White Thinks That Acting Lessons Do Not Bring Out The Best In Her

Despite her natural charisma and ease in front of the camera, White never took an acting lesson.  The actress confesses that they were never her thing. “I just want to bring as much natural as I can,” said White. “I’m not saying that people who take acting lessons are false. They’re much better than I am, but it doesn’t work for me.” she believed in acting naturally as possible, and acting lessons didn’t strike her as the way to achieve this.

3. She Initially Was Destined To Be An Opera Singer

In one of the interviews with the Canadian Press while discussing her role in the animated film “The Lorax,” she admitted to initially wanting to be an opera singer and even attended music classes as a youngster. When asked the question she responded “When I was a youngster, I wanted to be an opera singer, so I took very serious singing lessons.” Many decades later, she got to indulge her wildest singing desires on the set of the animated movie The Lorax (2012), where she relished the opportunity to belt out a few of her compositions.

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4. She Was A Lover Of Junk Food And Vodka

Vodka. Photo by Alec Favale on Unsplash

She lived her life to the fullest. When asked by Parade at the age of 95 what she attributed her long life to, the comedian joked she enjoyed having vodka and hot dogs, “probably in that order.” From Red Vines to hot dogs, French fries to Diet Coke, she regularly indulged in preservative-laced food. According to her it was the actual preservatives that were keeping her in good shape.

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5. Her Appearance On TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland” Was Only Supposed To Be A One-Time Guest Role

She rarely denied an opportunity to act when called upon. However, White’s appearance on TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland” was only supposed to be a one-time guest role. But the producers loved her and gave her more shows. After her guest appearance, 10 more episodes of Hot in Cleveland were ordered. Initially stated her reason for being reluctant as being too busy, but she ended up doing 10 additional shows. Viewers loved the series, and it was later announced TV Land picked up the show for 20 more episodes. White says the TV Land executives were very impressed with the warm reception to the show. The next thing White knew, her agent was calling.

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6. Her Second Husband Wanted Her

 White’s showbiz career could have been cut short if she stayed with second husband Lane Allan. Allan wanted White to stop working and focus on a traditional family life, but she could hear none of it and decided to choose her career over her husband ending that marriage. He later own remarked, “He didn’t want me to be in show business. When you have a calling you have to follow it, so I made the choice, blew the marriage and I’ve never regretted it.”

7. She Once Turned Down An Offer To Be A Show Co-Host

White once turned down an offer to be a “Today” show co-host, paving the way for Barbara Walters to get the gig. Her reason was that she didn’t want to live on the East Coast. NBC wanted White so much the network offered to give her an apartment at the St. Regis Hotel so she could fly back to California each weekend, but White said it didn’t seem practical.

8. White Also Tried Out Singing

Microphone. Photo by Bogomil Mihaylov on Unsplash

It is reported that in September 2011, White teamed up with English singer Luciana to produce a remix of her song “I’m Still Hot”. The song was released digitally on September 22 and the video later premiered on October 6. It was made for a campaign for a life settlement company, The Lifeline Program, and it is her only commercial single to date, peaking at number 1 on the Dance Club Songs chart. Apart from this, she has also covered songs on her live television shows, such as “Nevertheless I’m in Love with You”, “It’s a Good Day”, “Getting to Know You” and “A ‘No’ That Sounds like ‘Yes'”.

9. Betty Hosted A Show Called “The Pet Set” in 1971 Featuring Celebrities And Their Pets

Betty White. Author Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics. Wikimedia Commons

Notably, Betty and her husband Allen Ludden, hosted and produced a show called “The Pet Set” in 1971 featuring celebrities and their pets. It was aired on multiple networks across the United States and was born from her longtime passion for animals, to which her husband challenged her to make and sell a show regarding it.

10. White Once Performed 58 Live Advertisements In A Day

Betty White. Author winnickco. Wikimedia Commons

 In one of the rare moments in the entertainment industry, White once performed 58 live advertisements in a day. The late comedian and “Hollywood on Television” co-host Al Jarvis had to do numerous live ads for their sponsors.