Don Cheadle has taken to Twitter to pay tribute to the late Betty White, with whom he had the pleasure of working during their time on The Golden Palace. Cheadle, a 57-year-old Academy Award nominee, expressed his fond memories of the beloved actress and comedian. "Betty was truly the best," he wrote.
The pair starred together in the Golden Girls spinoff The Golden Palace, which aired for one season from 1992 to 1993 on CBS. Continuing from where the original show left off, the spinoff followed White's character, Rose, as she ran a Miami hotel with Blanche (played by Rue McClanahan) and Sophia (played by Estelle Getty), without Dorothy (played by Bea Arthur).
Cheadle portrayed Roland Wilson, one of the two original members of the hotel staff who remained after the trio purchased the business. Reflecting on his time working with White, Cheadle humorously recalled the challenges of lighting on set due to their contrasting appearances. "When we filmed scenes together, it was a struggle for the DP to balance the lighting between my chocolate complexion and Betty's fair skin! I either looked like a shadow or Betty seemed like a ghost," he wrote. Cheadle also shared a heartwarming anecdote about White's considerate nature.
Cheadle concluded his tribute by stating, "She was the most golden of them all, and she will be deeply missed forever." Accompanying his heartfelt message was a promotional image featuring himself and White. The beloved comedian passed away peacefully in her sleep on New Year's Eve at the age of 99, just weeks shy of her highly anticipated 100th birthday celebration on January 17. Despite her passing, producers have confirmed that the one-day release of the film Betty White: 100 Years Young, set to commemorate her milestone birthday, will still go ahead as scheduled in select theaters.