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Vicki Lawrence Reveals Co-Star Betty White's Achingly Poignant Final Word Before Her Death
Tributes continue pouring in for Betty White, who died of natural causes in her Brentwood home in California on December 31, 2021–just a couple of weeks shy of her 100th birthday.
The beloved actress was known for her comedic performances in sitcoms like The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973–1977) and The Golden Girls (1985–1992), in addition to having been a panelist on several game shows–including Password, Match Game, The Hollywood Squares andThe $25,000 Pyramid.
Among the many tributes from fans and colleagues, one from her former co-stars revealed the late actress' poignant, final word.
The revelation made social media users reach for a box of tissues.
Vicki Lawrence reveals co-star Betty White's 'sweet' last word before death https://trib.al/Zr6mggg\u00a0pic.twitter.com/0vAfIFO4nK— Page Six (@Page Six) 1641245129
Vicki Lawrence, who worked with the beloved actress on both The Carol Burnett Show and in the spinoff 80's sitcom, Mama’s Family, said she reached out to Carol Burnett immediately after hearing of White's passing.
Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, Betty Whitepic.twitter.com/u53605cTpM— \ud83d\udd2a\ud83d\udd2a Horror Queen Neve \ud83d\udd2a\ud83d\udd2a (@\ud83d\udd2a\ud83d\udd2a Horror Queen Neve \ud83d\udd2a\ud83d\udd2a) 1640980789
“I texted Carol and said ‘This just sucks. I hate this. It’s just horrible to see the people you love so much go away'," said Lawrence in a Page Six interview.
Lawrence continued to relay what Burnett heard from White's assistant, who was with the actress during her final hours.
“Carol wrote back and said, ‘I know, I know. I spoke to Betty’s assistant, who was with her when she passed, and she said the very last word out of her mouth was ‘Allen’.”
Allen was White's second husband, Allen Ludden, an emcee and American television producer and host whom she married in 1963.
1/3 Betty White kept a photo of her late husband Allen Ludden at her bedside & would blow him a kiss every morning. Over 40 years the photo faded, and I had the great honor of restoring it for her (pic in 2/3). If there is an afterlife, I hope she's with her Allen. #BettyWhiteRIPpic.twitter.com/am7JIqlCSa— Helen Stickler (@Helen Stickler) 1640988486
3/3 Here's the wonderful thank you note Betty White sent me for doing a small favor - because she's a class act all the way. What a loss, but what a life. #BettyWhiteRIP #BettyWhitepic.twitter.com/DbRCzKWp5K— Helen Stickler (@Helen Stickler) 1640988709
I also love this photo of her. What a boss -- yet also so kind. A great way to honor her memory is to donate to an animal rescue #BettyWhite #BettyWhiteRIPpic.twitter.com/xavuYqLTA4— Helen Stickler (@Helen Stickler) 1640989012
The two met while she appeared as a celebrity guest on his gameshow Password in 1961.
My husband\u2019s name will be the last word I say too He died of cancer in May 2020. I miss him so much— Denise DykesJohnston (@Denise DykesJohnston) 1641259457
Lawrence added:
“How sweet is that? I said, ‘That is so sweet. God, I hope that’s true. For all of us, I really hope it’s true, a lovely thought'."
Ludden passed away at the age of 63 from stomach cancer on June 9, 1981–just days shy of the couple's 18th anniversary.
White never remarried and reportedly told interviewer Larry King why she never planned to remarry for a third time.
"Once you've had the best, who needs the rest?" she said.
James Lipton once asked White on Inside the Actor's Studio what she would like God to tell her when she arrived at the Pearly Gates.
White responded:
"Come on in Betty. Here's Allen."
You can see the moment here:
Betty White \n\nLove never fadespic.twitter.com/iMfGkAkrs8— Stream the Vote (@Stream the Vote) 1641109458
I really want this to be true.\nIt doesn't sound far fetched to me at all, my grandpa passed last February and the weeks leading up to his death he kept seeing my late grandma, we finally told him to tell her we said hi and we miss her and he passed 5 minutes later.— Aaron (@Aaron) 1641267833
Lawrence told the media outlet working with White was nothing but pure joy.
This part in Mama\u2019s Family with Betty White, Carol Burnett, and Vicki Lawrence.\n\n#RIPBettyWhitepic.twitter.com/BV1hxzaLIE— Jermaine (@Jermaine) 1640997016
“Well, you didn’t really work with her, you just had a good time," she recalled.
"Carol called it ‘playing in the sandbox,’ and I think that’s exactly what it was. Betty was just the perfect playmate."
"And I have to say this, she was incredibly professional. I don’t remember her ever not being prepared or ever messing up her lines.”
But if there was ever one snafu to mention, it was from the one time the always punctual White was late showing up to work.
“This was before cellphones, and everybody was beside themselves because Betty was never late."
"And she walks in, in a dither, and says, ‘I’m so sorry, but I was driving here and these two golden retrievers come running out into the intersection and they’re obviously lost. I had to pull over and get them'.”
White was also known for being a pet enthusiast and a huge advocate for the welfare of animals.
Some fans and friends called for a special tribute on White's birthday, January 17, recognizing her lifelong love and advocacy for animals.
They suggested donations in her name to local animal rescues and sanctuaries.
The Betty White Challenge. January 17th. #BettyWhiteChallenge \n\nPlease pass it on\u2026pic.twitter.com/itufEumDE9— Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc (@Rex Chapman\ud83c\udfc7\ud83c\udffc) 1641236938
The eight-time Emmy Award winner closely worked with organizations including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, The Morris Animal Foundation and the African Wildlife Foundation.
Lawrence went on to praise her late friend for having been an exception when compared to Hollywood elites.
“Show business can be so disappointing when you meet people," explained Lawrence.
"But Betty was such a lovely lady, and I loved hearing her talk about early, early Hollywood."
“I was reading the other day, when she first started on television, there were only a thousand people in LA that had a TV. Like, holy sh*t, that’s just insane!"
"I feel like our number one television historian has just left us, you know? For her to reach that many generations, and be just as adored every generation, [is incredible].”