Things to Do
Things to Do

Fans mourn Betty White on social media

Entertainment icon was just weeks from her 100th birthday when she died New Year’s Eve

1. Emmy winning actress and comedian Betty Marion White Ludden died Dec. 31 at the age of 99.2. White was regarded as a TV pioneer and had the longest TV career of a female entertainer.3. She appeared on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "The Golden Girls," among other shows.4. As a kid, White wanted to be a forest ranger, but women were not allowed at the time.5. She worked on so many game shows, she was nicknamed the "First Lady of Game Shows."
By
Dec 31, 2021

America’s favorite nonagenarian died New Year’s Eve, just weeks from turning 100 years old. Betty White was an actress and comedian, but also an enormous animal rights activist.

Just Tuesday, White was promoting her upcoming birthday on social media.

ExploreBetty White spent some happy moments in Atlanta

“Betty White: 100 Years Young — A Birthday Celebration” is scheduled to screen nationwide Jan. 17, when the onetime “Golden Girl” would have hit the century mark.

The movie is billed as a star-studded event, with guests including her “The Proposal” costar Ryan Reynolds, Tina Fey, Robert Redford, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jay Leno, Carol Burnett, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, Valerie Bertinelli, James Corden, Wendy Malick and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

It “offers a revealing glimpse into her life — behind-the-scenes on set, working with her office staff, entertaining at home, lending her voice as an animal advocate,” according to a press release, and was to include her “actual birthday party,” where she would have marked the milestone with celebrity friends.

Those celebrity friends and her many fans took to social media Friday to express their appreciation for her and to mourn her death.

About the Author

Nancy Clanton is a lead producer for The AJC's platforms team, but also writes stories about health, travel, events and entertainment. A native of Knoxville and graduate of the University of Tennessee, she has worked at the AJC for 24 years.

Follow Nancy Clanton on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

Blooper celebrates the Atlanta Brave’s 5-0 win over the New York Mets during a MLB game Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at Truist Park. This year, the venue is a first-time host of the MLB All-Star game. (Daniel Varnado for the AJC)

Credit: Daniel Varnado for the AJC

Coming to Atlanta for MLB All-Star week? There’s fun outside Truist Park too.

Events happening around the city include the Capital One All-Star Village, MLB draft watch party and the All-Star 4.4 Miler.

Saddle up for these Beyoncé-themed pop-up bars, brunches and shows in Atlanta

Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour is coming to Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium for shows Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday.

15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend

From MLB All-Star Game festivities and a WWE Saturday Night Main Event to Run Santa Run and Goat Yoga, here are 15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend.

The Latest

Strike a yoga pose with a friendly dwarf goat at the Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center on Saturday. (Courtesy of the Gwinnett County Convention and Visitors Bureau)

Credit: Photo courtesy of Gwinnett County Convention and Visitors Bureau

15 family-friendly things to do in metro Atlanta this weekend

Between Beyoncé shows, Atlanta’s creatives take the stage

Coming to Atlanta for MLB All-Star week? There’s fun outside Truist Park too.

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Georgia disability rights advocates fear weakening of U.S. accessibility law

Advocates worry the Department of Energy’s move could be the start of a broader effort by other federal agencies to roll back civil rights rules.

From boycott to ballgame: Baseball’s political All-Star Game saga returns to Georgia

MLB pulled the 2021 All-Star Game from Georgia over the state's voting law, Senate Bill 202. Now it’s back — and Republicans say the return proves they were right all along.

OPINION

Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour pushes fans outside the norm

Preparations for the show pushed people out of their comfort zones — into new stores, new communities, a new style of dress, and in some cases, to visit new cities.