Actress Betty White dies just shy of her 100th birthday

Betty White attends the premiere of the 3-D animated film "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" in Los Angeles on February 19, 2012. [Reuters]

Comedic actress Betty White, who capped a career of more than 80 years by becoming America's geriatric sweetheart after Emmy-winning roles on television sitcoms "The Golden Girls" and "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," has died less than three weeks shy of her 100th birthday, People magazine said on Friday, quoting her agent.

The agent, Jeff Witjas, told the magazine: "Even though Betty was about to be 100, I thought she would live forever." No cause was cited.