How Did Betty White Influence Society
Betty White is one of the most influential actresses of television history. Born as Betty Marion White on January 17, 1922 in Illinois, her family moved to Los Angeles, California during the Great Depression. She began her career by reading commercials for the radio in 1939 when she was seventeen years old. Betty White then started acting on television shows and movies. Since then, she has won several awards and continues to act. Betty White’s autobiography, If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t), reveals an actress's life from her perspective. Betty White’s long life and lengthy career have made it possible to provide inspiration to everyone in the acting world and in the real world.
Betty White’s most influential role, apart from acting,
is her work as an animal rights activist. Her love of animals and the outdoors started when she was very young. Almost every summer of Betty White’s childhood, her family would take a vacation on horseback to remote areas of the High Sierras, and later Yellowstone National Park. The White family would spend three weeks alone in the wilderness, so it’s not a surprise that Betty White “could only dream of becoming a zookeeper or a forest ranger” (109). In 2010, Betty White fulfilled her lifelong dream when she received the title of an honorary forest ranger. She continues to donate money and advocate for animal organizations that improve pet’s health and wild animal’s environment.
In addition to her work with animals, Betty White is also well known for her lengthy acting career. She began working for the radio, then moved on to television shows and later movies. Betty White’s early career was briefly interrupted during World War II when she joined the American Women’s Voluntary Services. After the war ended, she went right back into acting. Betty White thinks “everybody needs a passion” (29), and attributes her long career to her passion for acting and her passion for animals. Betty White’s reasoning is that without passion, a person does not leave a lasting impact on the world.
A number of awards and nominations have accompanied Betty White’s long career. Her first nomination was for the very first Emmy designated for women on television. Betty White is also the very first and only woman who has won an Emmy in all performing comedic categories. Despite these many awards, she still believes “a nomination in and of itself is the greatest honor one can receive” (51). Betty White remains humble even when she has been receiving awards for 60 years.
Betty White’s most influential role, apart from acting,
is her work as an animal rights activist. Her love of animals and the outdoors started when she was very young. Almost every summer of Betty White’s childhood, her family would take a vacation on horseback to remote areas of the High Sierras, and later Yellowstone National Park. The White family would spend three weeks alone in the wilderness, so it’s not a surprise that Betty White “could only dream of becoming a zookeeper or a forest ranger” (109). In 2010, Betty White fulfilled her lifelong dream when she received the title of an honorary forest ranger. She continues to donate money and advocate for animal organizations that improve pet’s health and wild animal’s environment.
In addition to her work with animals, Betty White is also well known for her lengthy acting career. She began working for the radio, then moved on to television shows and later movies. Betty White’s early career was briefly interrupted during World War II when she joined the American Women’s Voluntary Services. After the war ended, she went right back into acting. Betty White thinks “everybody needs a passion” (29), and attributes her long career to her passion for acting and her passion for animals. Betty White’s reasoning is that without passion, a person does not leave a lasting impact on the world.
A number of awards and nominations have accompanied Betty White’s long career. Her first nomination was for the very first Emmy designated for women on television. Betty White is also the very first and only woman who has won an Emmy in all performing comedic categories. Despite these many awards, she still believes “a nomination in and of itself is the greatest honor one can receive” (51). Betty White remains humble even when she has been receiving awards for 60 years.