Happy 91st Birthday Betty White! 15 Things You Didn't Know About America's 'Golden Girl'
Betty's first work in Hollywood was in a Parkay margarine commercial.
White has never had acting lessons.
White has said they were never her thing.
"I just want to bring as much natural as I can," said White. "I'm not saying that people who take acting lessons are false. They're much better than I am, but it doesn't work for me."
1949: White may have never appeared alongside Al Jarvis on "Hollywood on Television" – and later became host in 1952 – if she passed up an unpaid gig.
Before joining "Hollywood on Television," White was asked if she'd be interested in a television special with then-radio disc jockey, Dick Haynes. The free gig led to a call from Jarvis – another disc jockey – to have Betty as his sidekick on "Hollywood on Television."
White earned $300 a week when "Hollywood on Television" was expanded to six days a week with five-and-a-half hour days.
White once performed 58 live advertisements in a day.
She and "Hollywood on Television" co-host Al Jarvis had to do numerous live ads for their sponsors.
1952: White's first Emmy nod was for her role in the comedy she created, "Life with Elizabeth."
White wouldn't win her first until 1975 for her appearance on the "Mary Tyler Moore Show."
The show was part of an original "Hollywood on Television." You can watch a clip here.
Starting in 1955, White co-hosted the Tournament of the Roses Parade for 20 years.
When she was replaced in 1975, she began hosting the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" for the next ten years with Lorne Greene.
White's showbiz career could have been cut short if she stayed with second husband Lane Allan.
When Allan wanted White to stop working and focus on a traditional family life, White chose her career over her husband.
"He didn't want me to be in show business," said White. "When you have a calling you have to follow it, so I made the choice, blew the marriage and I've never regretted it."
White married the love of her life, TV host, Allen Ludden in 1963.
The two met while White was a celebrity guest on "Password" in 1961 and remained married until his death in ‘81.
White was never a fan of her next return to television on the short-lived "Date with the Angels."
In her 1997 book, "Here We Go Again" White described her experience with the ABC show as unhappy. She didn't see her co-star Bill Williams as someone who thought funny.
"I think I can honestly say that that was the only time I have ever wanted to get out of a show," said White.
1971: Betty hosted a show called "The Pet Set" featuring celebrities and their pets.
The show, produced by her husband, ended after one season when Carnation pulled its advertising.
Watch a clip here.
1973: White's role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" as Sue Ann wasn't meant for the actress.
The part was originally for a "Betty White-type."
It was thought Betty and Mary's friendship may not work out on screen.
White prefers animals to humans.
The actress once told Barbara Walters she enjoys animals more.
"Animals don't lie. Animals don't criticize," said White in 2012 book If You Ask Me. "If animals have moody days, they handle them better than humans do."
She loved animals so much, that her first production company, Bandy Productions, was named after her Pekingese, Bandit.
1985: White was originally offered the role of Blanche on "The Golden Girls."
Rue McClanahan was offered the role of naïve Rose Nylund while Betty was asked to play Blance.
Pilot director Jay Sandrich suggested the two switch roles since they played similar ones in the past, and it was the best decision ever. White won the Emmy for 'Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series' for her portrayal. After the show’s end, she reprised her role as Rose in the short-lived spin-off, "The Golden Palace."
May 2010: White made history as SNL's oldest host, and helped earn the show its highest ratings since Nov 1, 2008 when Ben Affleck hosted.
White received a Primetime Emmy Award for her performance which caused us to never look at a muffin the same way again.
June 2010: White's appearance on TV Land's "Hot in Cleveland" was only supposed to be a one-time guest role.
However, producers loved her and quickly gave her a full-time role.
73 years after starting in television, White is still at the forefront of television with two hit shows: "Hot in Cleveland" and NBC's "Off Their Rockers."
With two hit television shows, we won't see Betty in theaters this year.
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