“She said she spoke to Betty’s assistant, who was with her when she passed, and she said the last word out of her mouth was ‘Allen.’”
(Picture: Getty Images)The iconic, trailblazing actress Betty White died this week - and her last word has left people tearing up.
After working together on The Carol Burnett Show and Mama’s Family in the 1970s and 1980s, Vicky Lawrence, a friend of White’s, chatted with The Hollywood Reporter about her relationship with White and their last interaction.
“I hadn’t been able to reach her lately… I knew she was not well, and this was coming, but it was still sad not to hear from her,” Lawrence told the outlet.
She continued: “I talked to Carol yesterday, and we agreed it is so f****** hard to watch the people you love go away. She said she spoke to Betty’s assistant, who was with her when she passed, and she said the last word out of her mouth was ‘Allen.’ That’s so lovingly sweet. I hope that is true.”
That was a reference to her late husband Allen Ludden, who died in 1981.
White’s agent Jeff Witjas told Indy100 that he didn’t have first-hand knowledge of this sentiment and couldn’t verify.
However, the sweetness of the supposed last word the legend said left some people feeling emotional.
Check out the reactions below.
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
Betty White's assistant said that the last word she spoke was, "Allen". Love crosses all time & distance; separation doesn't really exist. Here's to light... even when it's hard to see.
— Brettbutlerperiod (@BrettButler1111) January 4, 2022
Betty White's assistant told Carol Burnett that Betty's last word right before she died was "Allen."
— Mindy Fischer Writer (@mindys4Biden) January 4, 2022
And now I need a tissue.
Its been reported that Betty White's last word was calling out the name of her late husband Allen Ludden prior to her death at 99 on Friday, according to her colleague Vicki Lawrence.
— Charles Sumpter🌈🐶🇺🇸😷🗳️🌊 (@CharlesASumpter) January 3, 2022
Wow.❤
#BettyWhite's last word, according to Carol Burnett....."Allen". He came for her. She went to him. Hope they are having one hell of a reunion.
— E's flat. I's flat too. (@guide_late) January 3, 2022
According to her friends, Carol Burnett and Vickie Lawrence, the last word out of Betty White's mouth was, "Allen." I guess he was there waiting for her. 😌 pic.twitter.com/6DxHXtzllm
— paul nelson, #author,#autism dad & #advocate (@bingley567) January 4, 2022
Allen Ludden was White’s third and last husband. He was an American television personality, actor and host of the game show Password from 1961-1980.
White and Ludden married in 1963, and he passed away in 1981 from stomach cancer.
White never remarried after Ludden’s passing and said that he was the love of her life.
Speaking on White and Ludden’s relationship, Lawrence said that they were a “lovely couple” and “were adorable together.”
“She drove the car he gave her for as long as I can remember. She wore the same ring he gave her as long as I’ve known her. That was her love story,” she said.
White passed away aged 99 at her home around 9:30am New Year’s Eve.
On January 17, she would’ve turned 100, and celebrations of such a milestone were already in preparation, including a People cover story.
Several A-listers such as Ryan Reynolds wrote heartfelt tributes about White following her passing.
The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret. pic.twitter.com/uevwerjobS
— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 31, 2021
A film titled Betty White: 100 Years Young – a Birthday Celebration, which will highlight the comedic legend for her 100th birthday, is still set to air on her birthday, January 17.
This article was updated on 5 January to include a line from White’s agent.
