She’s a television legend, and Friday, Betty White celebrates her 98th birthday.
Here are six things to know about the actress, author and animal activist.
1. Betty White shares her birthday with other big names in the entertainment world including James Earl Jones and Jim Carrey, according to Cleveland.com.
2. She was born Betty Marion White on Jan. 17, 1922 in Oak Park, Illinois, but moved to Los Angeles during the Great Depression, People magazine reported.
3. White got her start on radio, but her first regular job was as co-host of “Hollywood on Television,” a variety show that aired six days a week in the late ’40s, White told Forbes.
Betty White BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White in 1954 -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
4. She was married three times. She married her third husband, Allen Ludden, whom she met on “Password,” on June 14, 1963. He died just before their 18th anniversary in 1981. She was previously married to Dick Barker, a WWII pilot, and Lane Allen, a theatrical agent, according to Biography.
5. White was originally cast as man-hungry Blanche on “The Golden Girls” but changed roles with Rue McClanahan so the actresses were not typecast, People magazine reported.
The Golden Girls THE GOLDEN GIRLS -- Season 1 -- Pictured: (l-r) Bea Arthur as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Betty White as Rose Nylund-- Photo by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
6. She is an animal lover and has worked with the Los Angeles Zoo and Morris Animal Foundation for more than 40 years, Biography reported.
Betty White BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White in 1954 -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
Betty White BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White, dog Stormy at home in 1954 -- Photo by: Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Betty White BETTY WHITE -- Pictured: Actress Betty White as a celebrity contestant on a gaem show in April 1963 -- Photo by: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE -- Pictured: (l-r) Hosts Betty White and Lorne Greene during the 1968 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show LOS ANGELES - MAY 3: THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW; (from left) Mary Tyler Moore [as Mary Richards], Betty White [as Sue Ann Nivens], Gavin MacLeod [as Murray Slaughter]. Image dated 1973. (Photo by CBS via Getty Images) (CBS Photo Archive/CBS via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON -- Pictured: (l-r) Actress Betty White as Jane, host Johnny Carson as Tarzan during the 'Tarzan and the Apes" skit on August 14, 1981 -- Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Mama's Family - Season 2 MAMA'S FAMILY -- Season 2 Gallery -- Pictured: (l-r) Rue McClanahan as Aunt Fran Crowley, Vicki Lawrence as Thelma 'Mama' Crowley Harper, Betty White as Ellen Harper Jackson -- (Photo by: Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via)
The Golden Girls THE GOLDEN GIRLS -- Season 1 -- Pictured: (l-r) Bea Arthur as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Betty White as Rose Nylund-- Photo by: Herb Ball/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
1986 Jewish National Funds Annual Tree of Life Awards Betty White and Alex Trebek during Jewish National Funds Annual Tree of Life Awards at Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) (Ron Galella Ltd/Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Betty White UNITED STATES - MARCH 17: Betty White (Photo by The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images) (Time & Life Pictures/The LIFE Picture Collection via )
Betty White Actresses Mary Tyler Moore, Cloris Leachman, and Betty White at the 2nd Annual TV Land Awards held on March 7, 2004 at The Hollywood Palladium, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/ Getty Images)
57th Annual Writers Guild Awards - Inside LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 19: Actress Betty White presents at the 57th Annual Writers Guild Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on February 19, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
'Actors and Others for Animals' Roast Betty White UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - MARCH 12: Actress Betty White sits with guide dog Edison in the green room at "Actors and Others for Animals" Roast of Betty White at the Universal Hilton on March 12, 2005 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Zoo's Beastly Ball LOS ANGELES - JUNE 18: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Actress Betty White (L) pets a Moluccan Cockatoo during the 25th annual Beastly Ball at the Los Angeles Zoo on June 18, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images) (Michael Buckner/Getty Images)
6th Annual "TV Land Awards" - Show SANTA MONICA, CA - JUNE 08: (L-R) Actresses Betty White, Bea Arthur, and Rue McClanahan accept the Pop Culture Award onstage during the 6th annual "TV Land Awards" held at Barker Hangar on June 8, 2008 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TV Land) (Kevin Winter)
Betty White Visits Fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Actress Betty White visits Fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" at fuse Studios on June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Robin Williams, Betty White Recognized With Disney Awards ANAHEIM, CA - SEPTEMBER 10: In this handout image provided by Disney, actress Betty White (C) is recognized by Bob Iger CEO of Disney and Minnie Mouse for White's work in television at a presentation announcing the D23 Expo September 10, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Adam Larkey/Disney-ABC Televsion Group via Getty Images) (Handout/Getty Images)
Screen Actor Guild Red Carpet Roll Out & Presenter Rehearsals LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 22: Actor Betty White is presented with a birthday cake by stage manager Dancy Nelson and the staff of Jeff Margolis productions during rehearsel of her Life Achievment Award acceptance for the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. The Screen Actors Guild honors excellence in five film and eight prime time television categories and will be held at the Shrine Theatre in Los Angeles on January 23. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Show LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 23: Actress Betty White accepts the Life Achievement Award onstage at the 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 23, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
8th Annual TV Land Awards - Show CULVER CITY, CA - APRIL 17: (L-R) Actresses Betty White, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves speak during the Eighth annual TV Land Awards on April 17, 2010 in Culver City, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
2010 MTV Movie Awards - Show UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - JUNE 06: Bradley Cooper (L) and Betty White speak onstage at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre at Universal Studios on June 6, 2010 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) (Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
"Hot In Cleveland" Premiere - After Party NEW YORK - JUNE 14: (L-R) Actors Jane Leeves, Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick and Betty White attend the "Hot in Cleveland" premiere at the Crosby Street Hotel on June 14, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Touchstone Pictures' "You Again" - Arrivals LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 22: Actresses Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman, Betty White, Kristen Bell, and Jamie Lee Curtis arrive at the premiere of Touchstone Pictures' "You Again" held at the El Capitan Theatre on September 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Betty White's 89th Birthday Party - Inside NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 18: Jane Leeves, Wendie Malick, Valerie Bertinelli and Betty White attend Betty White's 89th birthday party at Le Cirque on January 18, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
25th Anniversary Genesis Awards - Show LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 19: Actors Betty White (L) and Ed Asner appear onstage at the 25th Anniversary Genesis Awards at the Century Plaza Hotel on March 19, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Betty White Signs Copies Of "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)" NEW YORK, NY - MAY 06: Actress Betty White signs copies of "If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won't)" at Barnes & Noble, 5th Avenue on May 6, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images) (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
39th AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Morgan Freeman - Show CULVER CITY, CA - JUNE 09: Actress Betty White performs onstage at the 39th AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Morgan Freeman held at Sony Pictures Studios on June 9, 2011 in Culver City, California. The AFI Life Achievement Award tribute to Morgan Freeman will premiere on TV Land on Saturday, June 19 at 9PM ET/PST. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI)
Celebrities Visit "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" - June 14, 2011 NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 14: Actress Betty White, announcer Steve Higgins and host Jimmy Fallon visit "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" at Rockefeller Center on June 14, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
NBC's Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute To America's Golden Girl LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 08: Actress Betty White attends NBC's taping of 'Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl' at Millennium Biltmore Hotel on January 8, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images) (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
Premiere Of Universal Pictures And Illumination Entertainment's 3D-CG "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" - Arrivals UNIVERSAL CITY, CA - FEBRUARY 19: Actress Betty White arrives at the 'Dr. Suess' The Lorax' Los Angeles premiere at Universal Studios Hollywood on February 19, 2012 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA) 44th Annual Beastly Ball - Red Carpet LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 14: Actress Betty White attends the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's (GLAZA) 44th Annual Beastly Ball at Los Angeles Zoo on June 14, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images) (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
TV Land Goes LIVE! STUDIO CITY, CA - MARCH 26: (L-R) Actresses Valerie Bertinelli, Wendie Malick, Betty White and Jane Leeves pose onstage during "Hot in Cleveland" LIVE! at the CBS Studio Center on March 26, 2014 in Studio City, California. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for TV Land) (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for TV Land)
TV Land's Legends Of TV Land Panel SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 24: (L-R) Actors William Shatner and Betty White speak onstage at TV Land's Legends Of TV Land Panel during the 2014 Comic Con International Convention at Hilton Bayfront on July 24, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for TV Land) (Jerod Harris/Getty Images for TV Land)
Betty White Celebrates 93rd Birthday On The Set Of "Hot in Cleveland" STUDIO CITY, CA - JANUARY 16: Actress Betty White poses at the celebration of her 93rd birthday on the set of "Hot in Cleveland" held at CBS Studios - Radford on January 16, 2015 in Studio City, California. (Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for TV Land) (Mark Davis/Getty Images for TV Land)
70th Emmy Awards - Show LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Betty White, Kate McKinnon, and Alec Baldwin speak onstage during the 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Betty White Visits Fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" NEW YORK - JUNE 11: Actress Betty White visits Fuse's "No. 1 Countdown" at fuse Studios on June 11, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)