Her death, from cancer, was sudden and unexpected.

She spent the final decade of her life as one of New York's most highly praised character actresses. She had sacrificed her career to care for an ailing parent, and when she returned to acting, she was in her mid-30s, overweight and without much promise of reviving her career. However, she scored great successes in the off-Broadway plays of Samuel Beckett (most notably "Happy Days"), appeared in Edward Albee's "Malcolm" (1966) and "Box" (1968), and earned a Tony nomination for her role in Harold Pinter's "The Birthday Party" (1968). She earned an Emmy nomination for her role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of "Little Moon of Alban".

Studied acting with Maria Ouspenskaya

She was a teacher in New Jersey while she was pursuing an acting career in New York City.

She was a lifelong resident of Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

She was awarded an honorary Master's Degree from Rutgers University (Douglass College) in 1962 for her services to humanities.

She taught acting and drama at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.

She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from Rutgers University (Douglass College) in New Brunswick, New Jersey in 1935.

She appeared in four films directed by Robert Mulligan: To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), Baby the Rain Must Fall (1965), Up the Down Staircase (1967) and The Pursuit of Happiness (1971).

She was interred with her brothers in the White Family Plot at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.

She was awarded an Emmy Award in 1964 for Best Supporting Actress in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Prodcution of "Little Moon of Alban."

She is the sister of actors Charles White and Richard White.

She appeared in three films nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: The Nun's Story (1959), To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) and Midnight Cowboy (1969), with the latter film winning in the category.

She was of Irish heritage.