As the world continues to mourn the passing of actress Betty White, new details surrounding her final moments have emerged.
Page Six now reports that actress Vicki Lawrence–best known for her role as the title matriarch on Mama’s Family, and a friend of White–has revealed the actress’ final words courtesy of another friend: Carol Burnett.
Burnett and Lawrence starred together on The Carol Burnett Show, and upon hearing the news of White’s passing, Lawrence reached out to Burnett to share her grief.
Related: LGBTQ icon Betty White dies at age 99
“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,’” Lawrence told Page Six. “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’.”
“How sweet is that?,” Lawrence asked Page Six. “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.’”
The “Allen” in question is White’s late husband, Password host Allen Ludden. The pair married in 1963 and remained together until Ludden’s death in 1981. White never remarried following his death, and explained her reason why in 2011: “Once you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?”
Lawrence’s story echoes a statement by White’s agent, Jeff Witjas, who told reporters White “always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden” upon her passing. The story also parallels White’s own past remarks. While appearing on Inside the Actor’s Studio in 2010, White told host James Lipton that if she arrived in heaven, she wanted to be greeted with the words “Come on in Betty. Here’s Allen.”
White died at age 99 on December 31, 2021, leaving behind a legacy as a showbiz legend and activism for animal welfare and LGBTQ rights.
Jim
Don’t to know if it’s true but it’s what I’d like to believe.
bigdandd
DITTO…
Leo
I think we would all like to believe it but if we did, we would.
ZzBomb
That made me tear up a bit reading this. So sweet, I hope her and Allen are together again, wherever they are.
wimo
My younger brother did and my grandpa as well, so i am a believer.
james7
It’s a remarkable person who can live to be 99, and then when they pass people will still say “It’s way too soon.” She gave so much joy to others.
paul dorian lord fredine
i’m not much of a believer but it would be nice to think that allen was there to take here home. she’ll be missed by so many who loved her humor, her generosity and genuine love for all living creatures. have a hot dog (her favorite food) in her memory.
GayEGO
Wow! My husband and I met in March, 1962 and we were married in June, 2004 in Massachusetts. I agree with her comment in 2011: “Once you’ve had the best, who needs the rest?”. My husband passed away in June, 2019.
CaptainChaos
How wonderful that you had decades together, especially since your relationship began back when it was far from safe to love each other. I hope you’re finding comfort now with what I can imagine are too many loving memories to count. Our generation stands on your giant shoulders. Much love to you!!
Huron132
I can only think to believe this. She was a great actor, comedian, philanthropist and one heck of a positive human. We all should hope for our last days and words will be as wonderful as hers.
arie570
It makes me wonder if she was thinking of him or? I hope it means she was seeing him and he was taking her with him.
Jaquelope
It very well could be.
MISTERJETT
that’s what i believe.
twomen4u
Betty White’s career spanned at least four generations and perhaps more. No matter where she found herself there was always a laugh or two. I hope that she has found her beloved, Alan. Even at 99 she was always involved in something. We have lost a great a great friend and supporter.
Fahd
What a unique entertainment giant! I always enjoyed her.
Allen Ludden was a great guy, and he died young; there’s no doubt she treasured him and cherished his memory. I’m not surprised at all that he was at the forefront of her thoughts when she passed.
She will be missed.
cuteguy
How romantic and the perfect ending to such a great woman. She will be missed but cherished for generations
Kangol2
She was a beautiful person inside and out and this is a beautiful story about her final moments and words on this earth.
humble charlie
I don’t believe in the god or heaven stuff, but this made me cry.
Valleylaker
It is such a joy to read about someone who was kind and fought for issues out of her own compassion and love of others. We will miss you Betty because you made a positive contribution to our society. You will be missed because we don’t have many capable of replacing you. We are certainly poorer without you.