NEWSFormer Costar Vicki Lawrence Reveals Betty White's Sweet Last Words Following The Comedy Legend's Passing
Betty White's former friend and costar Vicki Lawrence has revealed what her final words were.
The actress, 72 — who starred alongside the late comedy legend on the CBS show Mama’s Family — told Page Six that after learning the tragic news of White's December 31 passing, she got in touch with mutual pal Carol Burnett.
“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 the outlet. “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? 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 Cool Kids star explained.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show actress was married to actor Allen Ludden from 1963 until his death from stomach cancer in 1981 at age 72.
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Lawrence fondly looked back on working with the pop culture icon. “Well, you didn’t really work with her, you just had a good time. Carol called it ‘playing in the sandbox,’ and I think that’s exactly what it was," she said.
“Betty was just the perfect playmate. And I have to say this, she was incredibly professional," the singer said. "I don’t remember her ever not being prepared or ever messing up her lines.”
Lawrence then recalled one of her most memorable moments with White. “This was before cell phones, and everybody was beside themselves because Betty was never late,” she said.
“And she walks in, in a dither, and says, ‘I’m so sorry, but I was driving here and these two golden retrievers come running out into the intersection and they’re obviously lost. I had to pull over and get them,'" she continued.
In the end, Lawrence knows that the funny lady will be remembered as one of the good ones: “Show business can be so disappointing when you meet people, but Betty was such a lovely lady, and I loved hearing her talk about early, early Hollywood."
