2021 just couldn't help but end things on a sad note. After already souring everybody's year with another 12 months spent worrying about catching COVID-19, Betty White, one of the most beloved actresses in Hollywood, passed away just hours before midnight on December 31. Fans, family, and friends alike have all shared their tributes to the legendary actresses.

However, Ryan Reynolds' tribute to Betty White was just too good not to stand out as he remembered fondly his former co-star and close friend.

Betty White died just weeks before her 100th birthday

White is one of the most beloved actresses in all of Hollywood. She is perhaps best known for her role as Rose Nylund from the 1980s sitcom, The Golden Girls. However, she's also had the privilege of starring in several movies before and since. This includes 2009's The Proposal, where she played the role of Ryan Reynolds' grandmother.

After starring in The Proposal, White would continue to maintain his friendship with Reynolds, often to the delight of the public. A few days before she passed away, White joked that Reynolds just couldn't get over her, which is a reference to how Reynolds would sometimes call White his ex-girlfriend in interviews.

Naturally, Reynolds was one of the first to post a tribute to White on the day of her passing, which he did on Twitter.

The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret. pic.twitter.com/uevwerjobS

— Ryan Reynolds (@VancityReynolds) December 31, 2021

Reynolds' tweet is a photo of White smiling and putting two thumbs up, which was taken straight from a Deadpool promotional clip. The tweet quickly went viral, gaining several hundred thousand likes with fans also sharing their favorite memories and roles of the late actress while also sending White, Reynolds, as well as their friends and family their condolences.

What makes White's death so much more unfortunate is that she was set to celebrate her 100th birthday in just a few weeks on January 17. Not to mention, White looked more than healthy enough to participate in interviews the month of her passing. White even had time to work on one final project, Betty White: 100 Years Young - A Birthday Celebration, which will now release posthumously on her 100th birthday on the 17th.

It's hard not to feel gloomy and down after knowing that 2021 ended this way. White was a celebrated and talented actress that spent the past eight decades sharing her gifts to the big screen for audiences to enjoy.