BETTY WHITE - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 270287

BETTY WHITE
The actress writes this autograph letter to comedienne Phyllis Diller
Autograph Letter Signed: "Love,/Betty", in black ink, 6¼x4½. No place, no date. To comedienne Phyllis Diller. Begins: "Dear Phyllis". In full: "It's really a great party!." Television and film actress BETTY WHITE (1922-2021) is best known for her Emmy Award-winning role as grief counselor Rose Nylund, which she played on four different TV sitcoms: The Golden Girls (1985-1992), Golden Palace (1992-1993), Nurses (1991; guest appearance) and Empty Nest (1989, 1991, 1992; guest appearances). White was also a regular on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1973-1977), playing Sue Ann Nivens, a regular panelist on Password (1961-1975), on which she met her third husband, host Allen Ludden, and had three shows of her own: The Betty White Show (1957-1958 and 1977) and The Pet Set (1971). The popular actress has appeared in several feature films, a number of TV movies and a long list of TV series and game shows, most recently Malcolm in the Middle, My Wife and Kids, Everwood, The Practice and Boston Legal. Moreover, she appeared several times on What's My Line?, both as a panelist and a mystery guest, and was a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar (1959-1962). Comedienne PHYLLIS DILLER (1917-2012) was known for her outrageous appearance, zany outfits, and distinctive laugh. Her stand-up act featured frequent references to her fictional husband, "Fang", and zingers about her sex appeal and numerous plastic surgeries. She got her big break in March 1955 (at age 37), when she debuted at San Francisco's Purple Onion club. A subsequent appearance on The Tonight Show hosted by Jack Paar launched her national career, which got a big boost after Bob Hope saw Diller in a Washington, D.C. club. A favorite of the comedian, Diller would appear in three of Hope's films and 23 of his TV specials. Diller, who recorded her first comedy record album in 1959, took her groundbreaking "funny hausfrau" act to nightclubs and television variety shows and specials. She even appeared on the big screen; her feature film credits include Splendor in the Grass (1961), The Fat Spy (1966), Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number! (1966), The Sunshine Boys (1975) and The Silence of the Hams (1994), and she provided the voice of the Queen in A Bug's Life (1998). By 2000, the comedienne, who had trained as a concert pianist before her marriage (1939-1965) to Sherwood Anderson Diller, had appeared as a piano soloist with 100 symphony orchestras across the U.S. Despite retiring from nightclub/stage tours in May 2002 at the age of 84, Diller continued to make films (Motorcross Kids, 2004; Forget About It, 2005) and occasionally appear on TV programs, including two episodes of 7th Heaven (2002, 2003) and a guest spot on The Wayne Brady Show (2004). Slightly creased at lower left blank corner. "White" written (unknown hand) in ink at lower left. Otherwise, fine condition.