Betty Marion Ludden (née White; January 17, 1922 – December 31, 2021) was an American actress and comedian. A pioneer of early television, she was known for her numerous television appearances over a seven-decade career. She defied gender and age conventions in the American entertainment industry and earned a reputation as a funny, memorable, and quick-witted screen legend. White's cultural influence bridged generational gaps, and she is regarded as one of the most recognizable faces in television. Born in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, White produced the sitcom Life with Elizabeth (1953–1955), becoming the first woman to do so. She was a staple panelist of American game shows, hosting Password, Match Game, Tattletales, To Tell the Truth, The Hollywood Squares, and The $25,000 Pyramid. White was the first woman to be awarded the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, winning for Just Men! in 1983. She was also known for her guest roles and recurring appearances on The Carol Burnett Show, Mama's Family, The Bold and the Beautiful, Boston Legal, and others. White's well known acting roles included Sue Ann Nivens on the CBS sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–1977), Rose Nylund on the NBC sitcom The Golden Girls (1985–1992), and Elka Ostrovsky on the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland (2010–2015). She had a late career resurgence when she starred in the romantic comedy film The Proposal (2009) and hosted Saturday Night Live the following year, garnering her a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series. The 2018 documentary Betty White: First Lady of Television detailed her life and career. For her lengthy work in radio, television, and film, White twice earned the Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by a female entertainer in both 2014 and 2018. She received various awards and nominations, including seven Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Grammy Award. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.