Betty White's Incredible Life in Photos

Betty White had been in the entertainment industry for decades before her hit show, Golden Girls, aired. However, some fans of the show may not be familiar with her earlier work—but that's about to change. She's without a doubt one of Hollywood's greatest treasures and her illustrious 80-year career deserves serious recognition in and of itself. From starting out in radio to becoming one of the first female television producers, see how Betty White became the beloved icon she is today.

Betty Marion White was born in Illinois in 1922. At 2 years old, Betty moved with her parents, Horace and Tess White, to Los Angeles, California. Her father worked at a lighting company, while her mother stayed at home.

Betty graduated from Beverly Hills High School in 1939 and immediately entered the entertainment industry. Her first gig was a radio commercial. Throughout the '40s, she was on a number of different radio shows.

Betty's first break in the industry happened when Al Jarvis asked her to be a "Girl Friday" for the new talk show Hollywood on Television.

After filming Hollywood on Television six days a week and earning an education in how to work in live TV, it wasn't long before Betty became one of the stars of the show.

Betty became one of the first female Hollywood producers when she co-founded Bandy Productions in 1952. The comedic actress used the company to get a number of sitcoms, which she starred in, off the ground.

In 1952, Life with Elizabeth premiered, which centered around Betty playing a 1950s housewife who gets into comedic hi-jinks each episode. She also served as a co-creator and producer on the show.

Betty welcomed cameras into her home in the mid-'50s to give fans a glimpse at her domestic life and her many dogs. By this time, Betty had been already been married and divorced twice.

A lifelong animal lover, Betty not only always had pets herself (including a St. Bernard named Stormy!), but she's also worked with a number of animal welfare charities, such as the Los Angeles Zoo Commission and Actors and Others for Animals.

As Life with Elizabeth grew in popularity, Betty became an even bigger name in the television world. Sadly, in 1955 the show ended after two seasons.

It wasn't long before Betty was back to work. The actress's new sitcom, Date with the Angels, premiered in 1957. The show ran for two seasons.

The actress revealed in her book Here We Go Again in 1997 that she wasn't a fan of Dates with the Angels. Here, she goes over a script for the sitcom backstage in 1957.

Betty's career took off in the 1950s, but it almost didn't happen. The actress's second husband, Lane Allen, tried to get her to quit show business and stay home during their two-year marriage—she filed for divorce in 1949 instead.

After Dates with the Angels was cancelled, Betty's production company debuted The Betty White Show. The short-lived daytime variety show only lasted one season, but saw her perform songs, act in comedy sketches, and interview celebrity guests.

While working on her variety show, Betty was also a frequent guest on game shows like What's My Line and Password.

In the early '60s, Betty revealed her relationship with Allen Ludden, a TV game show host. The couple met on the set of Password in 1961 and began dating shortly after.

After two years of dating, Betty and Allen announced their engagement in 1963. The marriage was the actress's third and Allen's second.

The couple got married in a small ceremony at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas on June 14, 1963. Betty wore a brocade scoop-neck suit and a white ruffled hatband.

It wasn't Turkey Day without Betty's commentary for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The actress teamed up with Lorne Greene and hosted the event for a number of years.

Betty and Allen attend the 18th Annual Emmy Awards in 1966. The actress received her first nomination for Life with Elizabeth and throughout her career has earned a total of 21 nods.

In 1971, Betty starred in a television series called The Pet Set. The series was produced by her husband, Allen Ludden, and featured the actress interviewing various celebrities and their pets.

Betty and Allen didn't have their own children, but the actress became a stepmother to Allen's three children. Here, they're pictured at their California home in 1972.

In 1973, Betty landed a role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The actress portrayed Mary's flirtatious boss, Sue Ann Nivens, for several seasons.

Since both Allen and Betty worked in the entertainment business, they often collaborated. Here, they present together at the PATSY Awards in 1974.

In 1976, Betty won her second Emmy for Best Supporting Actress on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. The hit TV show scooped up a number of accolades at the 28th annual awards show.

After Betty hung up her hat as Sue Ann Nivens, The Betty White Show returned to television, this time as a sitcom. It ran for one season.

After The Betty White Show was cancelled, Betty continued to appear on TV and joined several notable casts, including The Carol Burnett Show, Donny and Marie, and The Love Boat.

With her early experience in live TV and comedic quips, Betty was a favorite on the talk show circuit. Here, she chats with a young David Letterman who was filling in on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1979.

After nearly 20 years of marriage, Betty said goodbye to her husband in 1981. The game show host passed away at the age of 63 after being diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Throughout the '80s, Betty continued to make guest appearances on TV, but in 1985 she earned her biggest role yet. The actress was cast as Rose Nylund in Golden Girls.

The show, depicting three friends (and one friend's mother) enjoying their golden years together as roommates, was an instant hit. Betty won an Emmy for her role as the naive Rose in 1986.

Betty released Betty White: In Person in 1987. The book was a huge success and led to subsequent book deals.

Betty co-starred on the CBS sitcom, Ladies Man, for two seasons. While the show wasn't a particular hit, fans remember the series for reuniting three of the Golden Girls for an episode.

In 2001, Betty guest-starred on The Ellen Show. The appearance marked a long-awaited reunion with her former costar and longtime friend, Cloris Leachman.

Betty mostly made a name for herself in television throughout her career. However, in the late 2000s, she began appearing in film more frequently. From The Proposal to You Again, it wasn't long before a whole new generation became Betty White fans.

After appearing in a 2010 Super Bowl commercial for Snickers, Betty surged in popularity. Soon an internet campaign was launched to have the comedic actress host Saturday Night Live. She did so in 2010 and at the age of 88 she became the oldest celebrity to host the show.

After years in television, Betty was recognized by the Screen Actors Guild with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. The actress was presented the award by her The Proposal costar, Sandra Bullock.

With three Emmy awards and more than six decades in the entertainment industry, Betty fulfilled a lifelong dream when she was made an honorary forest ranger in 2010. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a park ranger or zookeeper, but one thing stood in her way. "Back then, girls were not allowed to become forest rangers," she told ABC News.

Betty showed no sign of retiring when she joined the cast of TV Land's Hot in Cleveland in 2010. The show ran for six seasons and she earned multiple awards for her role on the series.

Betty celebrated her 90th birthday in 2012 with a huge birthday cake and a televised birthday special held in her honor by NBC.

After nearly seventy years in the entertainment industry, Betty is known as Hollywood's ultimate sweetheart and is proof that life can always have a second act.