With a life that spanned nearly a century -- including more than eight decades in show business -- it's impossible to adequately represent Betty White's legacy in a single tribute. And since her death at the age of 99 on December 31, many remembrances have focused on her iconic work as an actor and her award-winning performances.
But the perpetually sweet (yet occasionally foul-mouthed) grande dame of television had a massive and often overlooked influence on American culture off-camera as well. As impressive as her on-screen television firsts are, White also wielded her power behind the scenes. In 1952, she co-founded her own production company, and became the first woman to produce a national TV show -- where she called the shots from both sides of the camera, and helped shape the medium.
As White's career progressed, so too did her advocacy in entertainment and beyond. In addition to her lifelong work for animal welfare, she also became a visible supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness and research. Other aspects of White's legacy may not have been as overt but challenged stigmas nonetheless, including her choice not to have biological children in an era where that was expected of women, and maintaining a successful career later in life. Intentional or accidental, White's progressive approach has left a visible impact on both the entertainment industry and American culture at large.
