Betty White was born Jan. 17, 1922, in Illinois. You might have heard of her from shows like Golden Girls or The Mary Tyler Moore Show, but she did so much more behind the scenes. She was one of the first women to be involved in the film industry and has worked for 79 years to help produce, film, and act in many movies and tv shows.

Before Betty started acting and producing, she ran a radio show in her hometown that eventually grew so popular it was turned into a show. She made her first appearance in Hollywood on Television in 1949 until eventually leaving in 1953. Hollywood on Television was a live talk show starring Betty White and Al Jarvis that grew to be very successful. Seeing Betty on Hollywood on Television sparked the idea for a new show named The Betty White Show.  From 1952-1954 Betty had her own show called Life with Elizabeth.  Betty White not only was the star of multiple shows in the beginning of her career, but she also did  a lot of work behind the scenes.  She was one of the first woman producers in Hollywood;in 1952 she helped start her own production company and also became the first woman to produce a TV show.

She did amazing things in the television industry, but she also led a pretty awesome life. Betty was a huge advocate for the LGBTQ+ communities and has used her popularity to help other people.  Betty became more well known in the LGBTQ+ community for her roles in Golden Girls because of her character. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community fell in love with her character and saw her as a person they felt comfortable with.  Betty White was always working and had been divorced three times. She did not follow the traditional, white picket fence lifestyle. She changed American culture by showing other women that it is okay to work and not have a husband or be a stay at home mother. She showed women that it was okay to be independent and to not let anyone judge you, and that inspired a lot of women. Betty also stood by the Trevor Project, which is a crisis line open 24/7 for members of the LGBTQ+ community, and supports the Human Rights Campaign, which is an organization that works towards educating people about the LGBTQ+ community so they can live without fear and have the freedom to speak their truths without being judged.

She led a life full of adventure, fun, and freedom. Unfortunately she passed away December 31st, 2021 due to natural causes. Even though she is no longer with us her legacy lives on and she continues to inspire others every single day.