Comedy legend Betty White turns 98 years old

White has been nominated for 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award and in December 2013, she became the Guinness World Record holder for longest TV career for a female entertainer.

News 12 Staff

Jan 17, 2020, 5:17 PM

Updated 1,558 days ago

Share:

Betty White, the actress and American icon, turned 98 years old today.
White was born on January 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois and spent more than 70 years in show business.
Her first big role came as a guest star on the “Mary Tyler Moore Show” in 1970. She soon became a series regular.
But she is best known for her comedy prowess on “The Golden Girls” as the ditzy Rose Nylund.
In one episode, she asked an important question:
"If you could have any two people in the world, living or dead, to your house for dinner – what would you eat?”
She was originally offered the role of Blanche Devereaux but accepted the role of Rose instead.
White has been nominated for 21 Primetime Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award and in December 2013, she became the Guinness World Record holder for longest TV career for a female entertainer.
The actress doesn’t seem to be keeping count. As she once said, “I may be a senior, but so what? I'm still hot.”


More from News 12
1:57
3 families displaced by fast-moving fire at North Amityville home

3 families displaced by fast-moving fire at North Amityville home

2:02
Sunny and mild Tuesday before rain returns Wednesday

Sunny and mild Tuesday before rain returns Wednesday

2:53
Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

Sachem schools consider staffing and program cuts, piercing tax cap as budget vote looms

DA: Syosset man pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed married couple in Laurel Hollow

DA: Syosset man pleads guilty in DWI crash that killed married couple in Laurel Hollow

0:29
Jericho named Long Island's top rated high school by U.S. News and World Report

Jericho named Long Island's top rated high school by U.S. News and World Report

0:51
NCC working with food truck vendors to provide food for rest of semester

NCC working with food truck vendors to provide food for rest of semester

0:26
USDA warns of ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli

USDA warns of ground beef that may be contaminated with E.coli

Is your mom awesome? Long Island tell us why your Mom Rocks!

Is your mom awesome? Long Island tell us why your Mom Rocks!

1:42
Made on Long Island: Nicolock Paving Stones in Lindenhurst

Made on Long Island: Nicolock Paving Stones in Lindenhurst

0:48
9 steps to take if your ‘fur-ever’ friend goes missing

9 steps to take if your ‘fur-ever’ friend goes missing

0:51
State police: Trooper struck in the face by combative driver during Southern State Parkway traffic stop

State police: Trooper struck in the face by combative driver during Southern State Parkway traffic stop

1:54
Ronkonkoma woman pleads not guilty to 49 counts of animal cruelty

Ronkonkoma woman pleads not guilty to 49 counts of animal cruelty

1:33
Hampton Bays woman retrieves phone, wallet she accidently dumped into recycling bin nearly 3 weeks ago

Hampton Bays woman retrieves phone, wallet she accidently dumped into recycling bin nearly 3 weeks ago

1:55
Long Islanders taught about dangers of toxic pollutants in drinking water

Long Islanders taught about dangers of toxic pollutants in drinking water

0:16
Police: Long Beach man punched nurse in abdomen at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

Police: Long Beach man punched nurse in abdomen at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital

1:59
Long Island gets introduced to matzah pizza; proceeds will go toward charities

Long Island gets introduced to matzah pizza; proceeds will go toward charities

0:32
Spartans chosen as new mascot for Brentwood school district

Spartans chosen as new mascot for Brentwood school district

0:19
Police: 2 people hospitalized following Lawrence crash

Police: 2 people hospitalized following Lawrence crash

2:12
Amityville schools to receive $2 million from new state budget to help reduce budget deficit, save jobs

Amityville schools to receive $2 million from new state budget to help reduce budget deficit, save jobs

0:17
Man wanted for stealing $1,000 in merchandise from Centereach store

Man wanted for stealing $1,000 in merchandise from Centereach store