Betty White, America’s Golden Girl, turned 96 on January 17th. Here’s a look back on 96 golden years. Betty White, America’s Golden Girl, has turned 96. Here’s a look back on 96 years. Her career began when she was hired as an assistant at a local television station. In the early 1950s, she produced Life with Elizabeth, becoming one of the first female producers in Hollywood. Her career took off when she played Mary Tyler Moore’s sassy coworker, Sue Ann Nivens. The role won her two Emmy awards. She won an additional Emmy for her role as Rose on The Golden Girls.
In total, she has received 21 Emmy nominations and five wins, including one in 2010 for her episode of Saturday Night Live. She even became the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy for outstanding game show host for Just Men! A lover of animals, Betty has worked with the Los Angeles Zoo and the Morris Animal Foundation for decades. In 2006, she was honored by the Los Angeles Zoo for her work. She told The Hollywood Reporter, “I have to keep acting so that I can afford to keep doing my charity work!” Betty has worked consistently for over 75 years. In her 90s, she start on TVLand’s Hot in Cleveland. She also had guest appearances on Community, 30 Rock, Bones and more. “Retirement is not in my vocabulary. They aren’t going to get rid of me that way.“ – Betty White.