Hollywood dignitaries, from Ryan Reynolds to Seth Meyers, took to social media on Friday to pay tribute to the late Betty White. White, the 99-year-old “Golden Girls” star, TV trailblazer and cultural icon whose legendary career spanned eight decades, died Thursday night at her home in Brentwood.
White died just shy of what would have been a milestone 100th birthday on Jan. 17.
Ryan Reynolds, who starred alongside White in “The Proposal” wrote on Twitter, “The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret.”
The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret. pic.twitter.com/uevwerjobS
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 31, 2021
Sandra Bullock, White’s co-star in “The Proposal” shared a statement with Variety. “I don’t drink vodka … but I will tonight, on ice, with a slice of lemon with a hot dog on the other side and just be ok being sad. I’ll have to buy some rose-colored glasses because Betty was that for all of us,” said the actress.
President Joe Biden called White a “cultural icon.” The President wrote, “Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans. She’s a cultural icon who will be sorely missed. Jill and I are thinking of her family and all those who loved her this New Year’s Eve.”
Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans. She’s a cultural icon who will be sorely missed. Jill and I are thinking of her family and all those who loved her this New Year’s Eve.
— President Biden (@POTUS) December 31, 2021
He also paid tribute via to White via NBC News White House Correspondent Mike Memoli. “That’s a shame. She was a lovely lady. … 99 years old. As my mother would say, God love her,” Biden said.
.@POTUS, on the death of Betty White: “That’s a shame. She was a lovely lady. … 99 years old. As my mother would say, God love her.”
— Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) December 31, 2021
Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the house called White a “pioneering actress.” Pelosi wrote, “Today, we lost a beloved TV icon. Betty White was a pioneering actress, who blessed generations of Americans with her talent and humor for 8 decades. May it be a comfort to her loved ones and many admirers that so many mourn with them during this sad time.”
Today, we lost a beloved TV icon. Betty White was a pioneering actress, who blessed generations of Americans with her talent and humor for 8 decades.
May it be a comfort to her loved ones and many admirers that so many mourn with them during this sad time.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) December 31, 2021
Seth Meyers wrote on Twitter, “RIP Betty White, the only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party. A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.”
RIP Betty White, the only SNL host I ever saw get a standing ovation at the after party. A party at which she ordered a vodka and a hotdog and stayed til the bitter end.
— Seth Meyers (@sethmeyers) December 31, 2021
Comedian Kathy Griffin who appeared with White in the comedy series, “Suddenly Susan” recalled in a series of tweets, “Betty White. Where do I begin? I’ve known her long, but I think the first time I met her was when she was a guest star on Suddenly Susan in the late 90s. Everyone was very excited she was on the show. I had accidentally parked in her parking spot that day. She walks in…yells from the back of the soundstage for everyone to hear “Where’s that redheaded bitch who stole my parking spot???” SWOON. A friendship was born.”
1) Betty White. Where do I begin? I’ve known her long, but I think the first time I met her was when she was a guest star on Suddenly Susan in the late 90s. Everyone was very excited she was on the show. I had accidentally parked in her parking spot that day. She walks in…
— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) December 31, 2021
“Bridesmaids” director Paul Feig shared, “Man, 2021, you just couldn’t slip out without one more punch in the face, could you? So sad to hear comedy legend Betty White has passed. It’s hard to imagine a world without her. It’ll be a much less funny place, that’s for sure. RIP Genius Betty.”
Man, 2021, you just couldn’t slip out without one more punch in the face, could you? So sad to hear comedy legend Betty White has passed. It’s hard to imagine a world without her. It’ll be a much less funny place, that’s for sure. RIP Genius Betty. https://t.co/7oFn6q5jWI
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) December 31, 2021
“West Side Story” star Ariana DeBose wrote on Twitter, “So we’re eating cheesecake in honor of Betty White. Who’s with me?”
So we’re eating cheesecake in honor of Betty White. Who’s with me?
— Ariana DeBose (@ArianaDeBose) December 31, 2021
Ellen DeGeneres said, “What an exceptional life. I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White. Sending love to her family friends and all of us.”
What an exceptional life.
I’m grateful for every second I got to spend with Betty White.
Sending love to her family, friends and all of us.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 31, 2021
Henry Winkler wrote, “Betty White: I is very hard to absorb you are not here anymore. But the memories of your delight are. Thank you for [your] humor, your warmth and your activism. Rest now and say Hi to Bill.”
Betty White : I is very hard to absorb you are not here anymore.. But the memories of your deLIGHT
are ..Thank you for yur humor , your warmth and your activism ..
Rest now and say Hi to Bill— Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real) December 31, 2021
Robert Iger, the executive chairman of The Walt Disney Company, also paid tribute to White on Twitter. “Rest in peace #bettywhite, our Golden Girl, our friend, and our neighbor,” he wrote. “Your wit, your charm, your warmth and your smile will always be with us.”
Rest in peace #bettywhite, our Golden Girl, our friend, and our neighbor. Your wit, your charm, your warmth and your smile will always be with us. pic.twitter.com/Kb7WGp2RDd
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) December 31, 2021
Oscar-winning director Matthew Cherry, of the animated short “Hair Love,” echoed the sentiments of what most people felt upon hearing the news, simply writing, “Nooooooo.”
Nooooooooooo https://t.co/6cMke8UPyg
— Matthew A. Cherry (@MatthewACherry) December 31, 2021
Broadway star Stephanie J. Block quote-tweeted Shakespeare in her tribute to White.
— Stephanie J. Block (she/her) (@StephanieJBlock) December 31, 2021
Levar Burton paid tribute by saying the world had lost one of the “best human beings ever.”
Y’all, with the passing of #BettyWhite we have lost one of the best humans ever!
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) December 31, 2021
George Takei also remembered the star saying, “Our national treasure, Betty White, has passed just before her 100th birthday. Our Sue Ann Nivens, our beloved Rose Nylund, has joined the heavens to delight the stars with her inimitable style, humor, and charm. A great loss to us all. We shall miss her dearly.”
Read other reactions below:
A spirit of goodness and hope. Betty White was much beloved because of who she was, and how she embraced a life well lived. Her smile. Her sense of humor. Her basic decency. Our world would be better if more followed her example. It is diminished with her passing.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) December 31, 2021
I’d like to point out today that the wonderful Betty White once played the role of Sybil Fawlty in a disastrous American adaptation of Fawlty Towers
I felt very proud she was involved and wish to apologise to her for the experience
— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) December 31, 2021
RIP Betty White. What a unique soul she was …. Thank you for all the laughs x pic.twitter.com/XDvkIIbUsL
— Caitríona Balfe (@caitrionambalfe) December 31, 2021
thank you betty white for being so kind to this kid behind the scenes and for teaching me
the most important life lesson
“ sometimes life just isn’t fair kiddo “— jenny lewis (@jennylewis) December 31, 2021
99 years here and millions of laughs left behind. Pretty fantastic. pic.twitter.com/usm2P9y9cR
— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 31, 2021
In this day and age, people through the word legend around with a half of a accomplishment. Today we lost the a whole legend….#BettyWhite. 3 weeks from her 100th birthday. You left us a lot of memories🙏🏾💜👏🏾👏🏾 Rest Well. #GoldenGirl pic.twitter.com/LHQLJq5aAH
— Stephanie Mills (@PrettyMill1) December 31, 2021
By all accounts, #BettyWhite guzzled down every ounce life had to offer. And that she was mere weeks away from reaching 100, let’s all round up and always refer to her as having lived to that age, shall we? #ripbettywhite
— Richard Marx (@richardmarx) December 31, 2021
Such an extraordinary life! You gave us so many laughs and we are forever grateful. Thank you for being a friend. ❤️❤️❤️❤️ #BettyWhite pic.twitter.com/mdfa9neX81
— Rory O’Malley (@RoryOMalley) December 31, 2021
Let me add absolutely nothing to the conversation to say that The Golden Girls is, without exaggeration, the greatest TV series of all time. I am genuinely grateful for them and for that show. ❤️
— billy eichner (@billyeichner) December 31, 2021
During my 2 seasons on Golden Girls, I only spoke to Betty White once. 20 years later she came in to “Family Guy”, I walked up to her and said “I’m sure you don’t remember me…” and she said “Of course I remember you, David Goodman! I loved the writers!” No one better. RIP.
— David A. Goodman (@DavidAGoodman) December 31, 2021