Betty White is nearly 90 years of age and she is still, after just over seven decades in show business, more popular than ever. White is traditionally remembered for her roles as Sue on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and as Rose on The Golden Girls. In the last decade, however, White has revived herself with a variety of humorous television advertisements and roles in such shows as That '70s Show, Malcolm in the Middle, Boston Legal, Family Guy, The Simpsons and many more. Without exaggeration, White's longevity and energy is inspirational.
What is it that makes White so appealling nowadays? Forget the days of old; her days as the weak Rose on The Golden Girls are well and truly over. White is now a force to be reckoned with in the world of American television. She has developed into a cultural icon, an actor and comedienne that audiences marvel at and feel intimadated by. White tackles and gets in the faces of younger footballers on Snickers ads and produces laughs in her role as Elka on Hot in Cleveland. She has shown that age does not hinder one's talent if it is naturally strong.
Contemporary American television audiences might not realise that White is a long lasting professional in screen entertainment; she is one of a dying breed. White has been in sitcom territory since the mid 1950s; she featured in many episodes of Date with the Angels in the 1950s and many episodes of The Marty Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s (as mentioned already). Her likable on and off-screen persona has also been of great attraction to studios since the early 1960s. White has featured as herself on such shows as Password, What's My Line?, Password Plus, Trivia Trap, Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune. In addition to her many, many television and film credits, White has also been the recipient and nominee of Emmy, Golden Globe, MTV Movie and People's Choice Awards. Of late, roles she has held in such shows as Hot in Cleveland, Community and Saturday Night Live have attracted a number of these awards and nominations.
As White pushes towards 90, her film and television credits keep growing. She was in The Lost Valentine this year and is due to voice Norma in Lorax next year. Still, after more than 70 years in show business, White is still in high demand and is more popular than ever. Keep at it, Betty!
By Chris Traficante