Betty White, one of America’s defining film and television stars, has died at age 99, her agent has confirmed. The actress, who has long been an icon for women in Hollywood, was just weeks away from her 100th birthday.

News of White’s death first broke through TMZ, which confirmed through law enforcement sources that White died in her home on Friday, December 31, just before 9:30 AM. White is most well-known for her role in The Golden Girls, in which she played Rose Nylund. Throughout her career, White became an icon thanks to her “badass” persona both on and off-screen, creating an even larger following as the internet grew.

White’s career stretches far beyond the last few decades, though. She landed Radio roles as early as the 1940s, going on to be featured in The Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 70s, a breakout role for the actress that would further her success down the line. According to IMDB, White has more than 121 acting credits to her name, being a heavily featured actress in both large and small roles throughout her nearly 70-year career.

White had been steadily building up to her 100th birthday, with various newspapers and media outlets planning coverage for the event. On December 28, People Magazine published a profile on White, in which she reflected on her career, life, and health. In that same time period, Ryan Reynolds playfully joked about his relationship with Betty White, with the two being friends.

Few performers can claim to hold the same reputation that Betty White held. While popular personas are nothing new, White was seemingly universally beloved by fans, a byproduct of a jovial personality and a drive to make people smile. White was also the winner of multiple Emmys, most recently taking home the award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2010 for her appearance on Saturday Night Live. White was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy in the 1990 American Comedy Awards.

The reaction to White’s passing has been one of sweeping remorse, as fans of the actress thank her for all of her work during her career. Countless people have chimed in on social media to express their gratitude for making the world a happier place, while others cited how sad they were that White’s death is happening on the final day of 2021.

Source: TMZ, IMDB