Betty White’s 80-year career celebrated in PBS special
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF.» Betty White sees no point in slowing down at age 96, as long as her phone keeps ringing with offers to work.
The actress known for her roles in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “The Golden Girls” is marking her 80th year in show business with a PBS special that looks at her life and career.
Moore, Georgia Engel and Gavin MacLeod are among those sharing insights in “Betty White: First Lady of Television,” which debuts Aug. 21.
White didn’t join Engel and MacLeod at a TV critics meeting on Tuesday.
Tap dancer Arthur Duncan credits White with launching his career by featuring him on her own daily talk show in the mid1950s. The show received letters complaining about Duncan’s presence as a black performer.
White’s response was to use Duncan every chance she could. He later went on to “The Lawrence Welk Show,” becoming the first black regular on a TV variety show.
“She was probably one of the nicest, grandest, greatest people I’ve had the chance to meet in my life,” said Duncan, now 84.
The bald MacLeod, who is 87, recalled the interplay between his character Murray and White’s portrayal of man-hungry Sue Ann Nivens on Moore’s show.
“If I had hair, I don’t think it would have worked,” he said, laughing about the comedic opportunities his physical appearance afforded White.
“Betty has such integrity, honesty, generosity of spirit, wisdom and selfforgetfulness when she’s in a room of people,” Engel said. “It’s a really beautiful thing.”