Abstract: A heater for a liquid crystal display and accompanying backlight is provided that is easy to install or remove from a liquid crystal display assembly and that extends the low temperature operation of the backlight and the liquid crystal display. The heater comprises a heating element with a foil-type heating element extending from it. The heating element may be attached to an insulating heater pad with a foil backing. The heater is disposed between the backlight diffuser and the printed circuit board and the foil-type heating element wraps around the backlight. Application of an electrical current to the heating element heats the LCD assembly and the backlight and extends their low temperature operation. The heating element may further comprise a resistive element and the light source may further comprise a fluorescent lamp. The foil-type heating element may further comprise an adhesive layer permitting attachment to the backlight.