On January 17th, 2022, Betty White was supposed to be celebrating her 100th birthday.
The party had been planned, invitations sent — or in this case, tickets bought. "Betty White:
100 Years Young," a documentary about the life of Betty White, was set to play select theaters on
her 100th birthday. The movie, directed by Steve Boettcher and Mike Trinklein,
includes major guest stars like Ryan Reynolds, Clint Eastwood, and Carol Burnett.
In an exclusive interview with Entertainment Tonight, which aired on December 29th, 2021,
White said she was "amazed" to be turning 100. The actress and comedian said,
"No, seriously, I'm the luckiest broad on two
feet to be as healthy as I am and to feel as good as I do!"
However, on Friday, December 31st, 2021, it was announced that Betty White had died at the age
of 99, according to TMZ — just days short of her 100th birthday. Since White had been joking about
a crush Ryan Reynolds had on her with People, anticipating her birthday, and didn't appear
to have any illnesses, it's been reported by Us Weekly that her cause of death was natural causes.
White had even been keeping safe at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was reported by CNN that, quote, "no one [was] allowed inside her home except those helping
her," and she was keeping busy by reading the newspaper and doing crossword puzzles.
"Betty Turns 100!" the cover of People Magazine said on December 28th,
2021. This cover was the last thing Betty White shared on her Instagram. She wrote in the caption,
"My 100th birthday ... I cannot believe it is coming up."
The last social media post White shared is now heartbreaking knowing that the
late actress died just days shy of her milestone birthday.
Her agent, Jeff Witjas, said to People in a statement after her death was announced:
"Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever."
Witjas said White actually credited him for having helped keep her happy and healthy for so long.
She told People in January 2021, quote, "having a good agent who keeps me busy all the time"
was one key to a long, happy life. There's no denying he kept her busy right up until the end.
White first started acting in 1945 when she played Lou's Girl in a short called
"Time to Kill". From 1945 on, there were barely any years where she wasn't guest starring in
a television series. Later in her career, White went on to play her most iconic roles:
Sue Ann Nivens in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and of course,
Rose Nylund on "The Golden Girls." Other tips White had for a long
and happy life included, quote, "having a sense of humor" and "just looking at the positive side
and not dwelling on the downside." Her only diet tip? Avoiding "anything green".
What about the major movie celebration that had been planned for Betty White's birthday?
The producers of the event said in a statement,
"We will go forward with our plans to show the film on January 17th."
It is their "hope" the film will quote, "provide a way for all who loved her
to celebrate her life — and experience what made her such a national treasure."
The movie event has major names to help celebrate the late actress's life.
Their tributes, filmed anticipating White to still be alive for her 100th birthday,
will undoubtedly hit harder with her gone. Besides hearing from those who knew her
and loved her, the film will include White's "funniest moments" from "The Golden Girls" to
when she hosted "Saturday Night Live." Anyone attending the one-day-only event will also get
to see a lost episode "from Betty's very first sitcom," a "backstage look" at her long career,
and "insights into what was most important to her," per Fathom Events.
Some of her closest friends and biggest fans have
already made tributes following White's death. Ryan Reynolds said in a tweet,
"The world looks different now."
Kathy Griffin wrote a threaded tribute, and said how White treated her, quote,
"like [they] were in the same club or something." Griffin ended the tribute with:
"No matter how long this world continues to spin, there will be only one Betty White."