MAS*H star Loretta Swit shared a passion with Betty White. Both stars were animal lovers and made helping them a life commitment.
That’s why the MAS*H star was so upset by White’s death. Swit posted her thoughts about White’s passing via Facebook. She also shared several photos of the two of them at various animal rescue events.
Swit wrote: “Devastated. The world has lost a bright light, Betty…you have filled our hearts with inspiration and memories dearest Betty. You are a national treasure. Our loss is incalculable. You were a gift to humankind…and animal kind. The world is a better place because you were in it. Rest easy Betty. God bless.”
The MAS*H star also used several hashtags, including genius, trailblazer, and one of a kind.
M*A*S*H Star Received a Betty White Award for Her Work with Animals
The MASH star celebrated a career achievement in December 2016, when she accepted an award. It’s called the Betty White Inspirational Award, which is the highest honor from the group Actors and Others for Animals. She received the award because the group believed she was “making a better world for both people and animals.” Jamie Farr and Mike Farrell, two of Swit’s MASH co-stars, presented Swit with the award.
Betty White won the first-ever award which bears her name. That was fitting since she was involved with the group at its inception almost 50 years ago. At a luncheon in April 2011, Jamie Lee Curtis dressed in a dog costume and presented White with the honor. Swit also was there.
“It is only fitting that we salute the wonderful Betty White on our 40th anniversary as she and her late husband, Allen Ludden have been members from the beginning,” said Joanne Worley, who was president of Actors and Others for Animals, as she lauded America’s Golden Girl. Then the group used several Betty White items in its live auction to raise money for animals. One item was a VIP set visit to White’s show Hot in Cleveland. Another item was an autographed photo of White from when she hosted Saturday Night Live. SNL ran the episode this past Saturday in tribute to White.
Swit spent her years after MAS*H working on behalf of animals. She runs the SwitHeart Animal Alliance. On her site, she wrote: “I set up SwitHeart Animal Alliance to prevent cruelty and end animal suffering.” She said she wanted “to promote and cooperate with numerous non-profit organizations and programs that protect, rescue, train and care for animals.” And Swit also is concerned with the habitat of animals “while raising public awareness about issues that concern domestic, farm, exotic, wild and native animals and their well being.”
White died 18 days short of her 100th birthday. Her agent announced Monday that the legendary actress died of natural causes at her home on the morning of New Year’s Eve.
