NEWSBetty White's Agent Jeff Witjas Reveals She 'Promised' Him She Would 'Live Until 100,' Details Last Few Years Of The Actress' Life
Betty White knew how loved she was before her passing.
As previously reported by OK!, the actress passed away on Friday, December 31, just weeks away from her 100th birthday.
According to a statement shared by LAPD on Twitter, a preliminary investigation revealed the cause of death was natural, and there was no evidence of foul play.
White's agent Jeff Witjas told People that he would tell the Annie's Point star how beloved she was. "Even when she wasn't working, I said, 'Betty, millions of people out there are still asking for you. You're getting your fan letters, I'm getting offers for you,'" he recalled.
"I don't know if she ever embraced it, [or] really, really felt it. The extent of it. I really don't," he added. "I would always reinforce it with her because I always felt she should know that. I never wanted her to think while she was sitting at home, that the world has passed her by. It never did."
"Betty lived a great life and she lived a life that she chose. She was happy," he continued. "Every time I told her, 'Betty, you're loved,' she would look at me with a wry smile and say, 'Really?' I hope she knew. I think she did. It was something beyond love."
He revealed that White used to address all of her fan letters, but she eventually slowed down. "I think, she just didn't have the energy to respond the way she used to," Witjas said.
Witjas shared that the pair became good friends. "She was an incredible lady. Hard to put into words," he said.
"She was always positive and she always saw the bright side," he explained. "She promised me she would live to 100 — and she almost did."
Witjas shared that his client spent her last few months at home. "She was under a doctor's care, not for any reason, other than just being careful with COVID," he explained.
The duo also discussed her upcoming 100th birthday. "We kidded. I said, 'Betty, we know you're going to turn 100. Let's start focusing on 101.' I mean, that's really how we kidded around," he said. "She never made it a big deal."
However, she was aware of her advanced years and decided not to get a new dog after her beloved golden retriever Pontiac passed away several years ago, as she felt that the new pup would outlive her. "And I would kid her. I said, 'Betty, you're outliving everybody. You're not going anywhere.' But she was so sensitive to animals," he revealed.
"Her work speaks for itself," Witjas added. "Her legacy was sealed. It was sealed years ago."
