The Golden Girls star Betty White has passed away only three weeks before her 100th birthday.
On December 28, the legendary actress posted her final tweet and wrote: “My 100th birthday… I cannot believe it is coming up, and People Magazine is celebrating with me! The new issue of @People is available on newsstands nationwide tomorrow.”
Her close friend and agent Jeff Witjas told PEOPLE that she “died peacefully in her sleep at her home early this morning.”
“Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever,” he said in a statement.
“I will miss her terribly and so will the animal world that she loved so much. I don’t think Betty ever feared passing because she always wanted to be with her most beloved husband Allen Ludden. She believed she would be with him again.”
White was preparing to celebrate her milestone on January 17. In a cover story, she shared how she was feeling about turning 100.
“I’m so lucky to be in such good health and feel so good at this age,” the beloved comedian said. “It’s amazing.”
White also said that being “born a cockeyed optimist” was the secret to her upbeat nature.
“I got it from my mom, and that never changed,” she told People. “I always find the positive.”
The actress also joked about the secret to her long life, saying: “I try to avoid anything green. I think it’s working.”
President Joe Biden led tributes to the iconic actress. He took to Twitter and wrote: “Betty White brought a smile to the lips of generations of Americans.
“She’s a cultural icon who will be sorely missed. Jill and I are thinking of her family and all those who loved her this New Year’s Eve.”
PEOPLE editor-in-chief Dan Wakeford also said: “We are deeply saddened by the news of Betty White’s passing. We are honored that she recently chose to work with PEOPLE to celebrate her extraordinary life and career.”
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