Golden Girl Estelle Getty Died at 84

I grew up watching the Golden Girls. When I was old enough to have a TV in my room it was the only thing I was allowed to watch past 10pm. Today when I saw the news feed on CNN that Estelle Getty passed away my jaw dropped. Sophia, played by Getty, was my favorite character. Her flashbacks to Sicily were about the funniest stories I ever heard.


She was the second youngest out of the four "Golden Girls" with Betty White (Rose) and Bea Arthur (Dorothy) both 86 years old. Yet Getty played the obnoxious Italian mother of Dorothy, the one to dish out relationship advice and dress up as Sonny Bono for the mother daughter pageant at the retirement center (the episode where Dorothy was of course dressed up as Cher). Even though she was 2 years younger than her co-stars her make up and acting skills made her a realistic 90 year old granny.



Before landing the role of Sophia, Getty was a struggling actress living paycheck to paycheck. She refused to be promoted in her low paying office job for fear of being hooked into a business other than acting.

Her wit and enthusiasm kept me watching every episode of the Golden Girls. She was truly an inspiration and will truly be missed.

Getty is survived by son Carl; Barry Gettleman of Miami, Florida; a brother, David Scher of London, England; and a sister, Rosilyn Howard of Las Vegas, Nevada.