By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
In one of our favorite stories this week, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has honored legendary entertainer Betty White with a commemorative stamp, celebrating her legacy of humor, charm, and advocacy for animals.
The stamp was unveiled during a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, a place closely associated with White’s lifelong commitment to animal welfare.
“Betty White was an American treasure,” said Amber McReynolds, chairwoman of the USPS Board of Governors. “With this stamp, we honor and remember the beloved ‘First Lady of Television’ and the enduring mark she left on our American culture.”
The new Forever stamp features White’s portrait against a violet background, adorned with lighter, bubbly spots that reflect her effervescent personality. She is depicted wearing a polka-dotted blue top, with an earring shaped like a paw print—symbolizing her deep love for animals. The artwork, created digitally by artist Dale Stephanos, is based on a 2010 photograph by Kwaku Alston. Art director Greg Breeding oversaw the stamp’s design.
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Stephanos, speaking at the event, recalled how inspiration for the paw-print earring struck him unexpectedly, while he was doodling over breakfast. “I was absentmindedly drawing instead of eating my eggs, and I saw that I had drawn a paw print,” he said. “I had a bit of a eureka moment and thought, ‘what if I just give Betty an earring that’s in the shape of a paw print’?”
Celebrating a Television Icon
The unveiling ceremony featured several prominent guests, including Richard Lichtenstein, who co-chaired the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association’s board of trustees with White, jazz musician and White’s close friend Ellis Hall, and KABC-TV meteorologist Danny Romero, who served as emcee.
White, born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1922, moved to Southern California as a child. She developed an early love for animals and performance, eventually becoming a trailblazer in the entertainment industry. Her career spanned over eight decades, beginning with radio work in the 1930s and progressing to television in the 1940s.
To put that enduring career into perspective, White was working in entertainment before Americans even had televisions! She was also one of the early TV producers, as she became one of the first women to produce a nationally broadcast sitcom with Life with Elizabeth in the early 1950s.
Throughout her career, White demonstrated remarkable versatility, from hosting game shows to portraying beloved characters such as Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls. She also made history as the first woman to win a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host for Just Men! in 1983. Later in her career, White captivated new generations with her roles in Hot in Cleveland and a viral Super Bowl commercial that led to her hosting Saturday Night Live at the age of 88.
A Legacy of Animal Advocacy
Beyond her entertainment career, White was an ardent advocate for animal welfare. She was deeply involved with the Los Angeles Zoo, supporting conservation efforts and serving as a trustee. Her dedication to animals extended to her television work, including The Pet Set, a show she produced in the 1970s that featured celebrities and their pets.
White’s contributions to television and philanthropy earned her many accolades and awards, including multiple Emmy Awards, a Grammy, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Television Hall of Fame. She passed away on December 31, 2021, just shy of her 100th birthday.
The Betty White Forever stamp is available for purchase in panes of 20, with the hashtag #BettyWhiteStamp being used to share the news on social media. As her image graces envelopes across the country, White’s enduring influence on American culture—both as a television icon and animal advocate—will continue to be remembered and celebrated.
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