The Emmy award-winning star rose to fame hosting her own radio shows before moving into TV with hit programmes including The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls.

Recently she’s enjoyed a career revival, appearing in The Proposal alongside Sandra Bullock in 2009 and hosting comedy favourite Saturday Night Live last year (10) after a Facebook.com campaign by fans.

To celebrate White’s birthday and as a toast to her return to success, WENN has compiled 10 fascinating facts about the star who keeps on shining:

– White moved to Los Angeles when she was two years old during America’s Great Depression.

– She attended the Horace Mann School – the same high school as Angelina Jolie, Nicolas Cage, Lenny Kravitz and David Schwimmer.

– The actress is of German and Greek ancestry.

– In 1955 White was made the honorary mayor of Hollywood.

– When Rue McCLanahan died last summer (10), she became the last surviving member of the four The Golden Girls.

– The veteran star admitted to having cosmetic surgery before starring in 1985’s The Golden Girls, despite the show being about growing old.

– She is an avid animal welfare activist and works with a number of organisations.

– In November (10), the USDA Forest Service, along with Smokey Bear, made her an honorary forest ranger – one of her lifelong ambitions.

– White received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988 – placed next to the star bearing the name of her late husband, Allen Ludden.

– She has guest starred on shows including Ally McBeal, That ’70s Show, Joey, My Name Is Earl and Malcolm in the Middle.