Commemorating the Incomparable Estelle Getty: The Golden Girl Who Left a Legacy
A Lovable Persona in Hollywood
Esteemed for her portrayal of the sharp-tongued octogenarian Sophia in the renowned comedy series, ‘Golden Girls,’ Estelle Getty’s departure in 2008 left a profound void in Hollywood. Before succumbing to a fatal illness, Getty dedicated her life to the craft she loved, touching hearts and provoking laughter.
As we remember her birthday on July 25th, we celebrate the gifted artist who continues to amuse us through reruns of ‘Golden Girls.’
The Making of a Star
Born in 1923, the New Yorker, Estelle Getty, experienced her big break almost six decades later in 1982. This came after years of dedicating herself to performing on stage, in hopes of one day hitting the big leagues. Getty’s breakthrough came when she was cast in the Broadway show, ‘The Torch Song,’ her character specially crafted for her by the creator and co-star, Harvey Fierstein.
Getty, almost 60 at the time, portrayed the significant role of Mrs. Beckhoff, both on and off Broadway for four years. Her performance in the play, which revolved around a New York drag queen, caught the attention of a production team scouting for an older actor to play the matriarch in a sitcom set in a Floridian senior community.
The show was titled ‘The Golden Girls’ and starred Getty alongside Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White, creating an ensemble that would etch itself into the hearts of viewers across generations. Despite being only a year older than Arthur, Getty convincingly played the 80s-year-old mother, Sophia Petrillo, to Arthur’s character, Dorothy.
A Lifetime of Success
Getty’s quick wit and endearing yet tough persona on ‘Golden Girls’ garnered her a Daytime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. Additionally, she played leading roles in popular films such as ‘Mannequin’ (1987) and ‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot’ (1992), both alongside Sylvester Stallone.
When ‘Golden Girls’ concluded its seven-year stint in 1992 due to Arthur’s pursuit of other opportunities, Getty reprised her role in ‘Golden Palace’ (1992), a one-season spin-off, and ‘Empty Nest’ (1988 to 1995), where she was joined by former co-stars White, McClanahan, and Arthur.
Unfortunately, Getty’s career began to wane due to health issues that impeded her ability to memorize lines, leading to anxiety attacks. Co-star McLanahan recalls, “By tape day, she was unreachable. She was just as uptight as a human being can get.” Eventually, she had to resort to using cue cards for her lines.
The Final Bow
In 2000, Getty’s health started to decline when she was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain condition often confused with Alzheimer’s. This placed an unbearable strain on her, hampering her outstanding performances. By 2003, Getty was unable to attend a ‘Golden Girls’ reunion event.
In 2008, she passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 84. In the following years, the world would lose her co-stars: Bea Arthur in 2009, Rue McLanahan in 2010, and Betty White in 2021.
McClanahan remembered Getty fondly, “I got a huge kick out of her, always. She told very funny stories about New York.”
While we mourn the loss of Estelle Getty and her ‘Golden Girls’ co-stars, we are also grateful for their iconic performances that continue to entertain us.