Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Women We Love: Betty White

This is the second in a four-part Women We Love salute to The Golden Girls, now airing daily on the Hallmark Channel:

Object of our affection: Betty White, actress.

- Originally a model, she received her first Emmy nomination for her first sitcom, Life with Elizabeth. Also early in her career, she had her own talk show and co-starred as a US Senator in the film Advise & Consent.

- Known as the "First Lady of Game Shows", she has made many appearances on such popular puzzle programs as Password (hosted by her husband Allen Ludden), To Tell the Truth and Match Game. She was also the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy Award for hosting a game show with Just Men!

- Prior to that, she won two Primetime Emmys for her memorable performance of the man-chasing Sue Ann Nivens (a.k.a. The Happy Homemaker) on the classic Mary Tyler Moore Show. Following the end of MTM, she had her own self-titled sitcom and also co-starred on Mama's Family.

- However, her most famous role is as the ditzy but lovable St. Olaf native Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls, which won her another Emmy out of a total of seven nominations (the only lead Girl to be so recognized every year the series was aired). She won yet another Emmy for guest starring on The John Larroquette Show, as well as similar nominations for Suddenly Susan, Yes, Dear and The Practice.

- She reprised her role of Rose in the short-lived spin-off The Golden Palace, and has since had regular or recurring roles on such series as That 70's Show, The Bold and the Beautiful and Boston Legal, as well as memorable guest spots on Ugly Betty and other shows. Her film appearances have also included Lake Placid, The Story of Us, Bringing Down the House and the upcoming The Proposal.

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