Betty White celebrated another milestone on Sunday as she turned 99 years old.
‘Since I am turning 99, I can stay up as late as I want without asking permission,’ the birthday girl told The Associated Press of the big day.
The beloved superstar was feted on social media, where celebrities were quick to wish her a happy birthday with a string of gushing tributes.
The legendary actress has been a staple of the entertainment industry for a awe-inspiring 82 years, beginning in 1939, and some fans celebrated her early work.
Beloved: Betty White turned 99 on Sunday, and celebrities rushed to share their birthday wishes for the legendary actress and comedian; seen celebrating her 93rd birthday on the set of Hot In Cleveland in 2015
Michael McKean, of Laverne & Shirley and This Is Spinal Tap fame, wasn’t alive when Betty was getting her start in the early days of television, but he was still a fan of some of her lesser-known 1950s work.
‘I’m so old that I’ve loved Betty White since Life With Elizabeth,’ he tweeted, adding the hashtag, ‘#HappyBirthdayBettyWhite.’
Life With Elizabeth has the distinction of being Betty’s first television sitcom.
The two-season series ran from 1953–1955 and was comprised of short comic segments, rather than episode-length stories.
Old school: Michael McKean, of Laverne & Shirley and This Is Spinal Tap fame, wasn’t alive when Betty was getting her start in the early days of television, but he was still a fan of some of her lesser-known 1950s work; seen in 1957
Milestone: He celebrated her show Life With Elizabeth, which has the distinction of being Betty’s first television sitcom
George Takei posted a compilation of some of Betty’s funniest moments, though he accidentally wrote she was only 98.
Actress and comedian Jackée Harry shared a throwback photo featuring herself and other leading ladies of classic sitcoms, including Betty.
Other members of the Golden Girls cast were assembled, including Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan, while Jackée posed with her 227 costar Marla Gibbs and Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams from Laverne & Shirley posed in the middle.
‘Celebrating Betty White’s 99th birthday with this throwback.. #IconsOnly!!,’ Jackée wrote.
Whoops! George Takei posted a compilation of some of Betty’s funniest moments, though he accidentally wrote she was only 98
Icons: Actress and comedian Jackée Harry shared a throwback photo featuring herself and other leading ladies of classic sitcoms, including Betty
‘A proper star’: English broadcaster Piers Morgan paid tribute to Betty with a funny still of her kissing his hand from an interview he conducted on CNN
English broadcaster Piers Morgan paid tribute to Betty with a funny still of her kissing his hand from an interview he conducted on CNN.
‘Happy 99th Birthday to the fabulous @BettyMWhite – a proper star, on & off screen.’
Mulan (1998) and Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Ming-Na Wen shared a raunchy statement from the comedy legend, which might have fit with her penchant for doing blue material, though it wasn’t actually a joke she ever said.
‘She is my spirit animal,’ Wen wrote. ‘Happy 99th birthday, QUEEN!!’
Valerie Bertinelli, who starred with Betty on Hot In Cleveland, shared some hilarious outtakes from the series.
Inspired: The quote Ming-Na Wen shared doesn’t actually belong to Betty, but she still called the comedian her ‘spirit animal’
Having a laugh: Valerie Bertinelli, who starred with Betty on Hot In Cleveland, shared some hilarious outtakes from the series
Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart shared a humorous line from Betty: ‘The older you get the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.’
‘Happy 99th Birthday to the legend @bettymwhite! The greatest thing since before sliced bread!’ she wrote.
Louis Virtel, a comedian, podcaster and Jimmy Kimmel Live! writer, compared Betty to other entertainment greats.
‘What do Judy Garland, Veronica Lake, and Jack Kerouac have in common? All born in 1922 just like Betty White, who turns 99 today. Happy 99th, Betty White.’
Words of wisdom: Sabrina The Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart shared a humorous line from Betty: ‘The older you get the better you get. Unless you’re a banana.’
In good company: Louis Virtel pointed out how many legends were also born in 1922
Betty has had to remain isolated throughout the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, as her advanced age puts her at greater risk should she contract the virus, but that didn’t stop her friends and admirers from wishing her a happy birthday with flowers.
Multiple bouquets and packages were seen being dropped off at the entertainer’s home on Sunday, and her agent accepted many of the gifts outside her home’s gate.
The Golden Girls star’s agent Jeff Witjas was spotted arriving with multiple bouquets, a package and a McDonald’s bag for his client.
Admiring from afar: Multiple friends and admirers took the opportunity to drop off gifts for Betty, though they couldn’t see her in person
Presents: Multiple bouquets and packages were seen being dropped off at the entertainer’s home on Sunday, and her agent accepted many of the gifts outside her home’s gate
Old pals: The Golden Girls star’s agent Jeff Witjas was spotted arriving with multiple bouquets, a package and a McDonald’s bag for his client
Not taking chances: Betty’s at increased risk should she contract the novel coronavirus, so she’s had to stay isolated since the start of the pandemic
Betty was born in 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois, and then moved to Southern California with her family the following year.
She began working in television starting in 1939, when the medium was brand new and had a limited reach, and also appeared on multiple radio shows throughout the 1940s.
In the 1950s she began her stint on television sitcoms, and also hosted the variety/talk show The Betty White Show starting in 1954.
The beginning: She began working in television starting in 1939, when the medium was brand new and had a limited reach, and also appeared on multiple radio shows throughout the 1940s; seen in 1974
In the 1960s and ’70s, White became a staple of game shows, but she reached one of her career highs with her role as Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, which she began playing in 1973 on the show’s fourth season.
She’s best identified with her Emmy-winning sitcom Golden Girls, which ran from 1985–1992 and earned Emmys for all four of its leading ladies.
More recently, White starred on the TV Land series Hot In Cleveland from 2010–2015, and she became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live when she led the cast in 2010.
Winners: She’s best identified with her Emmy-winning sitcom Golden Girls, which ran from 1985–1992 and earned Emmys for all four of its leading ladies
She’s still got it: More recently, White starred on the TV Land series Hot In Cleveland from 2010–2015, and she became the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live when she led the cast in 2010; seen in 2018
