Cast
Betty White
Elka Ostrovsky
Age doesn’t slow down comedy legend Betty White, one of the funniest and busiest actresses in Hollywood. With a career spanning more than 60 years, the seven-time Emmy Award-winner has created unforgettable roles in television and film, authored eight books and won numerous awards, including those for her lifelong animal welfare work. She was named America’s Most Appealing Celebrity and in back-to-back years World’s Most Trusted Celebrity by Reuters; she also holds a Guinness World Record under the title “Longest TV Career for an Entertainer (Female).”
White’s first comedy series “Life with Elizabeth” brought her her first Emmy Award in 1952, followed by a daily NBC talk/variety show called “The Betty White Show.” She was a regular with over 70 appearances on “The Jack Paar Tonight Show” and appeared on “The Merv Griffin Show” and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” She also subbed as host on all three talk shows. White was a regular with Vicki Lawrence on “Mama’s Family” as sister Ellen, a role she created with the rest of the company on “The Carol Burnett Show.”
Her recurring role as “Happy Homemaker” Sue Ann Nivens on the classic series “Mary Tyler Moore” brought two Emmys for Outstanding Supporting Actress in the 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons. She received her fourth Emmy for Outstanding Game Show Host for “Just Men!” Nominated seven times for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Rose Nylund on “The Golden Girls,” White won the Emmy the first season in 1985 and later appeared in the spin-off “The Golden Palace” for one season. She earned her next Emmy Award as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series on “The John Larroquette Show.”
White was nominated for an Emmy in 2011 for her portrayal of Elka, the snarky but lovable caretaker on the TV Land series “Hot in Cleveland,” which she stars on alongside Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick. White also won back-to-back Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2012. White’s other awards include the Career Achievement Award in 2009 from the Television Critics Association, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jane Goodall Institute in 2009, the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2010 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in Acting in 2010 from the American Women in Radio and Television. She was voted AP Entertainer of the Year in 2010 and was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in addition to being inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame in 2011.
The episode of “Saturday Night Live” she hosted in 2010 was one of the highest-rated in the show’s history and earned her an Emmy Award for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, bringing White’s Emmy total to seven awards. She was also the executive producer and host of the hit Lifetime series "Off Their Rockers."
In addition to charming sports fans with her role in the popular Snickers commercial shown during the 2010 Super Bowl, White has guest-starred on “Ally McBeal,” “That '70s Show,” “Boston Legal” and "The Middle" and received a People's Choice Awards nomination for guesting on NBC’s “Community.” She was also nominated in 1997 for an Emmy as a guest actress on “Suddenly Susan.”
Her numerous television movies include “Chance of a Lifetime,” “Stealing Christmas,” “Annie’s Point” and “The Lost Valentine,” for which she received yet another Emmy nomination. White also hosted the New Year’s Day Tournament of Roses Parade for 20 years and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for 10 years. Her big-screen credits include the Warner Bros. hit “The Proposal,” with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, as well as “You Again,” “Bringing Down the House,” “The Story of Us,” “Lake Placid” and “Hard Rain.”
Her eight books include “If You Ask Me: (And of Course You Won’t)” (2011), the audiobook of which earned White a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Recording. “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo” was released in November 2011. A passionate supporter of animal health and welfare, White was named Chairman of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association and has served on the board since 1974 and as a Zoo Commissioner for eight years. In 2006, White was honored by the City of Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Zoo as “Ambassador to the Animals” for her lifelong animal welfare work. White also serves as President Emeritus of Morris Animal Foundation and has been a trustee since 1971.
She was married for 18 years to Allen Ludden, host of the game show “Password,” until his death in 1981. White lives in Brentwood, CA, with her Golden Retriever Pontiac.
Jane Leeves
Joy Scroggs
Jane Leeves has made her mark in the entertainment world, acting in television, theater and film over the past 20 years. Leeves stars as Joy Scroggs on the TV Land series “Hot in Cleveland.” The sitcom follows three fabulous friends from Los Angeles (Valerie Bertinelli, Leeves and Wendie Malick) whose Paris-bound plane is forced to make an emergency landing in Cleveland. After discovering that they’re still “hot” in Cleveland, they decide to move there and start over together; they rent a Victorian home that comes with a sharp-tongued caretaker played by Betty White.
TV audiences know Leeves from the hit television series “Frasier,” on which she played Daphne Moon, the warmhearted physical therapist from Manchester, England. The part won her a Screen Actors Guild Award and nominations for both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. She is also known for her recurring role as Marla Penny on “Seinfeld” and as Audrey, the girlfriend of Miles Silverberg on the hit television series “Murphy Brown.” Leeves has appeared on a multitude of other television shows including “Desperate Housewives,” “The Starter Wife,” “20 Good Years” and “Misconceptions.”
She graced the world of theater starring as Sally Bowles in the Roundabout production of “Cabaret” on Broadway. In addition, Leeves can be seen in Eric Idle’s stage shows “What About Dick?” and “An Evening Without Monty Python.” Leeves has also lent her voice to various animated television series including “The Penguins of Madagascar,” “Phineas and Ferb” and “The Simpsons” as well as the major motion picture “James and the Giant Peach.” Leeves also appeared in the film “Music of the Heart,” which co-starred Meryl Streep.
Leeves is no stranger to honors. In June 2011, she -- along with co-stars Bertinelli, Malick and White -- was presented the key to the city of Cleveland by the mayor. Earlier that year, “Hot in Cleveland” was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.
Valerie Bertinelli
Melanie Moretti
An adored actress, Valerie Bertinelli’s long and celebrated career has expanded to include equally beloved roles as a TV personality, spokesperson and best-selling author. She stars as Melanie Moretti on TV Land’s hit sitcom “Hot in Cleveland.” The sitcom follows three fabulous friends from Los Angeles (Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick) whose Paris-bound plane is forced to make an emergency landing in Cleveland. After discovering that they’re still “hot” in Cleveland, they decide to move there and start over together; they rent a Victorian home that comes with a sharp-tongued caretaker played by Betty White.
Bertinelli has shared in many honors. In 2011, “Hot in Cleveland” was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. In June of that same year, Bertinelli -- along with co-stars Leeves, Malick and White -- was presented with the key to the city of Cleveland by the mayor. In August 2012, she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2007, she dared to cross the Rubicon of weight and body image, declaring publicly, “I’m fat!” and challenging herself to lose weight. Lo and behold, she not only lost more than 40 pounds, but also realized new and remarkable success as the face of Jenny Craig, authored The New York Times number one best-seller “Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time” and inspired millions of people to try to become their best and healthiest selves. In 2009, she wrote a follow-up, “Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life.” Valerie also released a fitness DVD entitled “Losing It and Keeping Fit” at the end of that year. In October 2012, she released a cookbook called “One Dish at A Time,” a play on the name of the TV show that first made her a household name.
As one of Hollywood’s brightest and most-liked young talents, Bertinelli helped develop and produce and starred in the highly rated TV movies "I Was a Mail Order Bride" and "The Seduction of Gina." She stayed extremely busy as one of prime time’s go-to actresses for movies and miniseries including “Silent Witness,” “Shattered Vows,” Judith Krantz’s “I’ll Take Manhattan,” “Rockabye,” “Murder of Innocence,” “In a Child’s Name,” “What She Doesn’t Know,” “Pancho Barnes,” “Ultimate Betrayal,” “Two Mothers for Zachary” and “Night Sins.” She co-starred in “True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet” and guest-starred on “Boston Legal” in a part David E. Kelley wrote especially for her. Her other forays into the television world include starring for two years on the hit series “Touched by an Angel,” “Cafe Americain” and “Sydney,” which she also executive-produced. A two-time Golden Globe-winner, she made her acting debut in TV commercials, public service announcements and the TV series “Apple’s Way” before landing her big break at age 14 as Barbara on “One Day at a Time,” Norman Lear’s 1975 acclaimed series about a divorced mother raising her two daughters. The series ran on CBS for nine years, ending in 1984.
Bertinelli has also served as a correspondent for the “Rachael Ray Show.” Bertinelli’s best and favorite production, though, is her son Wolfgang, who achieved his own fame as the bassist for the legendary rock group Van Halen on their 2007-2008 North American tour.
She has continued to help and inspire millions of people through her work with Jenny Craig, even being recognized by People Magazine for her stunning “bikini bod” at 48 years old. Her website www.valeriebertinelli.com continues to chronicle her journey both physically and professionally. Bertinelli lives in Los Angeles with her husband Tom.
Wendie Malick
Victoria Chase
Wendie Malick stars as former soap star actress Victoria Chase on TV Land’s hit sitcom “Hot in Cleveland.” The series follows three fabulous friends from Los Angeles (Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Malick) whose Paris-bound plane is forced to make an emergency landing in Cleveland. After discovering that they’re still “hot” in Cleveland, they decide to move there and start over together; they rent a Victorian home that comes with a sharp-tongued caretaker played by Betty White.
For seven seasons, Wendie Malick starred as Nina Van Horn, the outrageous ex-model and fashion editor on the hit NBC sitcom “Just Shoot Me!,” a role that earned her a Golden Globe nomination and two Emmy nominations. She then joined the final season of “Frasier” as Ronnie Lawrence (Frasier’s stepmother). Other series roles include “Big Day,” “Good Company” and HBO’s groundbreaking comedy “Dream On” (for which she received four CableACE Awards). Malick has also guest-starred on “CSI,” “The X-Files,” “L.A. Law,” “NYPD Blue,” “Seinfeld,” “Cybil” and “Law & Order,” to name just a few. She starred in many movies for television including “Take My Advice” (playing both Ann Landers and Abby Van Buren), “Hello Sister, Goodbye Life,” “Will You Merry Me?,” “Apollo 11,” “Dynasty: The Miniseries,” “Paper Dolls” and “North Shore Fish” in a role she originated on the stage.
Malick’s feature film credits include “Adventureland,” “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” “Racing Stripes,” “The American President,” “The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Jerome,” “On Edge,” “Trojan War,” “Bugsy,” “A Little Sex,” “Funny About Love,” the cult classic “Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video,” “The Goods,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel,” “I Was a Seventh Grade Dragon Slayer,” “About 50” and “After All These Years” for the Hallmark Channel.
Malick’s theatrical Off-Broadway credits include “North Shore Fish” and “Burleigh Grimes.” In Los Angeles, Malick appeared in Victor Bumbalo's “Questa” and Oliver Hailey's “Round Trip,” for which she received an Artistic Director's Award nomination as Best Lead Actress. Also in Los Angeles, she appeared in “The Vagina Monologues,” “Santaland Diaries” and Steve Martin’s “The Underpants.” Her regional theater credits include “The Guys” (Studio Arena), “Don’t Blame Me, I Voted For Helen Gahagan Douglas” (Wooly Mammoth) and “Blithe Spirit” (Williamstown).
Malick has shared in many honors. In June 2011, she -- along with "Hot in Cleveland" co-stars Bertinelli, Leeves and White -- was presented with the key to the city of Cleveland by the mayor. “Hot in Cleveland” was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2011. In 2000, Malick was honored by Women in Film as "A Woman of Vision" along with Tipper Gore, Gwen Ifill and Roseanne Barr. She is on the board of directors of both the Environmental Media Association and the Creative Coalition (which lobbies for the arts), the Board of Advocates for Planned Parenthood (which honored her in 2006 as a “Champion of Choice”) and the Advisory Board of The Humane Society through their charitable gift fund "A Drop in the Bucket." In addition, she and her husband Richard Erickson support a medical center in the Congo. They live in the Santa Monica Mountains with two horses and a dog.