Remembering the Golden Girl Estelle Getty
Getty’s early career was marked by small roles in theater and television and spent many years in relative obscurity. Her big break came in 1985 when she was cast as Sophia Petrillo on the NBC sitcom “The Golden Girls”
Remembering the Golden Girl Estelle Getty
Estelle Getty was born Estelle Scher on July 25, 1923, in New York City, New York. She was the daughter of Polish-Jewish immigrants Sarah and Charles Scher. Growing up in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Getty developed an early interest in theater and acting. Despite the challenges of breaking into the industry, she pursued her passion by performing in Yiddish theater and working various jobs to support her ambitions.
Getty’s early career was marked by small roles in theater and television. She spent many years in relative obscurity, performing in off-Broadway productions and regional theater. Her perseverance and dedication to her craft paid off when she landed a role in the Broadway production of “Torch Song Trilogy” in 1982, where she played the mother of the main character, a performance that garnered her critical acclaim and brought her into the public eye.
Getty’s big break came in 1985 when she was cast as Sophia Petrillo on the NBC sitcom “The Golden Girls.” The show, which also starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan, became an instant hit. Getty’s portrayal of the sharp-tongued, witty, and lovable Sophia earned her widespread recognition and praise. Despite being younger than her on-screen daughter, Bea Arthur, Getty convincingly played the matriarch of the group, thanks to extensive makeup and her stellar acting skills.
“The Golden Girls” ran from 1985 to 1992, and Getty’s performance earned her numerous awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1988. She reprised her role as Sophia Petrillo in the spin-offs “The Golden Palace” (1992-1993) and “Empty Nest” (1988-1995), further cementing her place in television history.
After “The Golden Girls,” Getty continued to work in television and film, though none of her subsequent roles achieved the same level of fame. She appeared in movies like “Mannequin” (1987) and “Stuart Little” (1999) and made guest appearances on various TV shows.
Estelle Getty married Arthur Gettleman in 1947, and they remained married until his death in 2004. The couple had two sons, Carl and Barry. Getty was known for her close relationships with her co-stars and her off-screen persona, which was quite different from the feisty Sophia Petrillo.
Throughout her life, Getty was an advocate for various causes, including LGBT rights and AIDS awareness. Her activism and philanthropy reflected her compassionate and caring nature.
Estelle Getty passed away on July 22, 2008, just three days shy of her 85th birthday. She died at her home in Los Angeles, California. The cause of death was Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disorder that affects thinking, memory, and movement. Getty had been battling the disease for several years before her death, and her condition had forced her to retire from acting in the early 2000s.
Watch a compilation of scenes of the memorable TV show “The Golden Girls” featuring Estelle Getty
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