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USA Today
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The Betty White forever stamp is here
The Betty White forever stamp is here Show Caption Hide Caption USPS pays homage to Betty White with postage stamp feature The U.S. Postal Service is honoring the late Betty White with a postage stamp set to be released in 2025. The wait for the Betty White stamp is finally over. The beloved comedian, whose long-running career made her a staple of American culture, was honored with her own U.S. postage, revealed in a first-day-of-issue ceremony Thursday at the Los Angeles Zoo. White worked with the zoo from its inaugural year in 1966 to her death in 2021. Much like the spark and humor that grounded White, the stamp will not expire. A forever stamp, the postage will always represent the current price of a 1-ounce First-Class Mail postage. All commemorative stamps are forever stamps. The stamp design shows the late "Golden Girls" star grinning on a violet background wearing a polka dot shirt, a digital illustration created by Dale Stephanos based on a 2010 photo by Kwaku Alston. Singer-songwriter Ellis Hall performed parts of "Thank You for Being a Friend," the theme song to "The Golden Girls," at the ceremony and fans got a dose of the wildlife that White so loved. "Animals were her kids and she loved them all — any shape, size and kind," Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association board member Richard Lichtenstein said at the ceremony, the Associated Press reports. When announcing the stamp originally, the U.S. Postal Service said the design, which will be sold on a pane of 20, exudes White's "spritely sense of fun" and features bubbly spots on the background "that befit her sparkling personality." "It's just a great photo — a sweet spot in her older years," Stephanos said of the design in an interview with published Thursday. "I just kind of used that as reference and then kind of changed the colors and tried to make it more handmade than a photo would be." "This is the only stamp I'm going to use for the rest of my life," joked Stephanos, who said White reminded him of his mother. "I'm going to be so obnoxious with this." Betty White's military service, career more Not just a celebrated actress and comic, White was also largely viewed as a representative for Americans of a certain era. She served as a member of the American Women's Voluntary Services during World War II and her shoulder bag from that time is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington D.C. White received a whopping 21 Primetime Emmy nominations and won five during her lengthy television and film career, which included memorable roles on "The Mary Tyler Moore," "The Golden Girls," and "Hot in Cleveland." Her spunky humor and dead-pan delivery juxtaposed delightfully with her "grandmother next door" appearance. She died on New Year's Eve 2021 at age 99. Where can you buy the Betty White stamp Fans of White can buy the stamp online at the USPS store's website Friday and it will be available at local post office locations following the launch. Contributing: Brendan Morrow
Chicago Tribune
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Betty White, Oak Park native and TV's Golden Girl, celebrated at stamp ceremony in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — Betty White is making her mark on the nation's snail mail. The beloved actor of 'The Golden Girls' fame was celebrated with a new U.S. Postal Service stamp at a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Fans that were crowded behind barricades cheered as a blue curtain dropped to reveal the stamp featuring a portrait of White against a violet-colored background with lighter shades of bubbly spots in a nod to her sparkling personality. She wears a blue polka-dot blouse and peeking out of her blond curls is an earring shaped like a pawprint. 'When I was working on the stamp surrounding myself with Betty White videos and pictures, I felt like I was working on a portrait of a family member,' Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos said. 'I wanted Betty's huge personality to take center stage.' The illustration is based on a photo taken by Kwaku Alston in 2010. At the celebration, singer-songwriter Ellis Hall performed a snippet of 'Thank You for Being a Friend,' the theme song to 'The Golden Girls.' A laughing kookaburra and other squawking birds occasionally interrupted the speakers, which surely would have delighted the animal-loving White. 'Animals were her kids and she loved them all — any shape, size and kind,' said Richard Lichtenstein, a board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. White had worked with the zoo since its opening in 1966 until her death in December 2021, a couple weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 'Who didn't love Betty White?' Lichtenstein said. 'Her smile, her sense of humor, her basic decency. Our country, our city and yes, even our Los Angeles Zoo, would be much better if more people followed her example. Betty White put her stamp on everyone and anyone she came in contact with.' He said White's financial support and advocacy helped make possible exhibits featuring chimps, gorillas and elephants, among others. Lichtenstein said White set up a private foundation before her death that funds various zoo programs. 'This zoo, its inhabitants and this community meant so much to Betty White just as she meant so much to all of us,' said Amber McReynolds, chair of the USPS board of governors. 'Betty White was an American treasure.' People lined up to purchase panes of 20 forever stamps, pins and notecards before getting first-day cancellations near a churro snack stand while schoolchildren walked by. 'This stamp is special because let's face it, everybody loves Betty White,' Stephanos said.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Betty White, TV's Golden Girl, celebrated at stamp ceremony in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Betty White is making her mark on the nation's snail mail. The beloved actor of 'The Golden Girls' fame was celebrated with a new U.S. Postal Service stamp at a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Fans that were crowded behind barricades cheered as a blue curtain dropped to reveal the stamp featuring a portrait of White against a violet-colored background with lighter shades of bubbly spots in a nod to her sparkling personality. She wears a blue polka-dot blouse and peeking out of her blond curls is an earring shaped like a pawprint. 'When I was working on the stamp surrounding myself with Betty White videos and pictures, I felt like I was working on a portrait of a family member,' Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos said. 'I wanted Betty's huge personality to take center stage.' The illustration is based on a photo taken by Kwaku Alston in 2010. At the celebration, singer-songwriter Ellis Hall performed a snippet of 'Thank You for Being a Friend,' the theme song to 'The Golden Girls.' A laughing kookaburra and other squawking birds occasionally interrupted the speakers, which surely would have delighted the animal-loving White. 'Animals were her kids and she loved them all — any shape, size and kind,' said Richard Lichtenstein, a board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. White had worked with the zoo since its opening in 1966 until her death in December 2021, a couple weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 'Who didn't love Betty White?' Lichtenstein said. 'Her smile, her sense of humor, her basic decency. Our country, our city and yes, even our Los Angeles Zoo, would be much better if more people followed her example. Betty White put her stamp on everyone and anyone she came in contact with.' He said White's financial support and advocacy helped make possible exhibits featuring chimps, gorillas and elephants, among others. Lichtenstein said White set up a private foundation before her death that funds various zoo programs. 'This zoo, its inhabitants and this community meant so much to Betty White just as she meant so much to all of us,' said Amber McReynolds, chair of the USPS board of governors. 'Betty White was an American treasure.' People lined up to purchase panes of 20 forever stamps, pins and notecards before getting first-day cancellations near a churro snack stand while schoolchildren walked by. 'This stamp is special because let's face it, everybody loves Betty White,' Stephanos said.
The Independent
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Betty White, TV's Golden Girl, celebrated at stamp ceremony in Los Angeles
Betty White is making her mark on the nation's snail mail. The beloved actor of 'The Golden Girls' fame was celebrated with a new U.S. Postal Service stamp at a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Fans that were crowded behind barricades cheered as a blue curtain dropped to reveal the stamp featuring a portrait of White against a violet-colored background with lighter shades of bubbly spots in a nod to her sparkling personality. She wears a blue polka-dot blouse and peeking out of her blond curls is an earring shaped like a pawprint. 'When I was working on the stamp surrounding myself with Betty White videos and pictures, I felt like I was working on a portrait of a family member,' Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos said. 'I wanted Betty's huge personality to take center stage.' The illustration is based on a photo taken by Kwaku Alston in 2010. At the celebration, singer-songwriter Ellis Hall performed a snippet of 'Thank You for Being a Friend,' the theme song to 'The Golden Girls.' A laughing kookaburra and other squawking birds occasionally interrupted the speakers, which surely would have delighted the animal-loving White. ' Animals were her kids and she loved them all — any shape, size and kind,' said Richard Lichtenstein, a board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. White had worked with the zoo since its opening in 1966 until her death in December 2021, a couple weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 'Who didn't love Betty White?' Lichtenstein said. 'Her smile, her sense of humor, her basic decency. Our country, our city and yes, even our Los Angeles Zoo, would be much better if more people followed her example. Betty White put her stamp on everyone and anyone she came in contact with.' He said White's financial support and advocacy helped make possible exhibits featuring chimps, gorillas and elephants, among others. Lichtenstein said White set up a private foundation before her death that funds various zoo programs. 'This zoo, its inhabitants and this community meant so much to Betty White just as she meant so much to all of us,' said Amber McReynolds, chair of the USPS board of governors. 'Betty White was an American treasure.' People lined up to purchase panes of 20 forever stamps, pins and notecards before getting first-day cancellations near a churro snack stand while schoolchildren walked by. 'This stamp is special because let's face it, everybody loves Betty White,' Stephanos said.
Associated Press
27-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Betty White, TV's Golden Girl, celebrated at stamp ceremony in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Betty White is making her mark on the nation's snail mail. The beloved actor of 'The Golden Girls' fame was celebrated with a new U.S. Postal Service stamp at a first-day-of-issue ceremony at the Los Angeles Zoo on Thursday. Fans that were crowded behind barricades cheered as a blue curtain dropped to reveal the stamp featuring a portrait of White against a violet-colored background with lighter shades of bubbly spots in a nod to her sparkling personality. She wears a blue polka-dot blouse and peeking out of her blond curls is an earring shaped like a pawprint. 'When I was working on the stamp surrounding myself with Betty White videos and pictures, I felt like I was working on a portrait of a family member,' Boston-based artist Dale Stephanos said. 'I wanted Betty's huge personality to take center stage.' The illustration is based on a photo taken by Kwaku Alston in 2010. At the celebration, singer-songwriter Ellis Hall performed a snippet of 'Thank You for Being a Friend,' the theme song to 'The Golden Girls.' A laughing kookaburra and other squawking birds occasionally interrupted the speakers, which surely would have delighted the animal-loving White. 'Animals were her kids and she loved them all — any shape, size and kind,' said Richard Lichtenstein, a board member of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association. White had worked with the zoo since its opening in 1966 until her death in December 2021, a couple weeks shy of her 100th birthday. 'Who didn't love Betty White?' Lichtenstein said. 'Her smile, her sense of humor, her basic decency. Our country, our city and yes, even our Los Angeles Zoo, would be much better if more people followed her example. Betty White put her stamp on everyone and anyone she came in contact with.' He said White's financial support and advocacy helped make possible exhibits featuring chimps, gorillas and elephants, among others. Lichtenstein said White set up a private foundation before her death that funds various zoo programs. 'This zoo, its inhabitants and this community meant so much to Betty White just as she meant so much to all of us,' said Amber McReynolds, chair of the USPS board of governors. 'Betty White was an American treasure.' People lined up to purchase panes of 20 forever stamps, pins and notecards before getting first-day cancellations near a churro snack stand while schoolchildren walked by. 'This stamp is special because let's face it, everybody loves Betty White,' Stephanos said.
