Betty White, 'The Golden Girls' Star and TV Icon, Dead at 99

Legendary TV icon and trailblazer, Betty White, has passed away this Friday aged 99. She was gearing up to celebrate her 100th birthday on January 17 and was reportedly excited about the new milestone.

Betty White recently shared with People magazine her secret to a long and happy life in a special interview ahead of her centennial celebration. Sadly, "The Golden Girls" star passed away this Friday, December 31, at her home in Brentwood, California.

According to law enforcement sources quoted by TMZ, White died of natural causes as she didn't suffer from any illness and was said to be in "such good health." The actress' agent, Jeff Witjas, confirmed the news and told People in a statement that:

"Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever. I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved very much."

With a career spanning eight decades, White, an eight-time Emmy award winner, was known for her work in shows like "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Hot in Cleveland," "Boston Legal," "The Bold and the Beautiful" and many more.

White recently revealed that being a "cockeyed optimist," something she got from her mother, was the secret to her happy nature. She jokingly added that her diet at 99 consisted of avoiding anything green. "I think it's working," she said.

White had the Guinness World Record for the longest television career by a female entertainer and was a beloved and admired icon in the entertainment industry.

She was married for 18 years to Allen Ludden, whom she met when he was hosting the game show "Password." He died of cancer in 1981 and White remained single.

Witjas mentioned that White wasn't afraid of dying because she believed she would meet her husband again. Rest in Peace, Betty.