Who was known as the First Lady of Television?

Betty Marion White Ludden (January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. A pioneer of early television, with a career spanning seven decades, White was noted for her vast work in the entertainment industry. She was among the first women to exert control in front of and behind the camera and the first woman to produce a sitcom ("Life with Elizabeth"), which contributed to her being named honorary Mayor of Hollywood in 1955.

White is often referred to as the "First Lady of Television", a title used for a 2018 documentary detailing her life and career. After making the transition to television from radio, White became a staple panelist of American game shows, including "Password", "Match Game", and "To Tell the Truth".

Her biggest roles include Sue Ann Nivens on the CBS sitcom "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" (1973–1977) and Rose Nylund on the NBC sitcom "The Golden Girls" (1985–1992).

White worked longer in television than anyone else in that medium, earning her a Guinness World Record in 2018. White received eight Emmy Awards in various categories, three American Comedy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was a 1995 Television Hall of Fame inductee.

White died of natural causes at her home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on December 31, 2021, at the age of 99, two-and-a-half weeks before her 100th birthday.