Estelle Getty – beloved to millions as Sophia Petrillo on the long-running sitcom, Golden Girls (and its short-lived spin-off, Golden Palace) – has passed away. She was 84. Getty had suffered from advanced dementia.

Getty had a checkered career as an actress – one that ultimately culminated in immense success. Indeed, she [Getty] had struggled for four decades prior to landing the role of Sophia, during which time she often worked in low-paying office jobs to support her family. The other three stars of Golden Girls – Beatrice "Bea" Arthur; Betty White; Rue McClanahan – all came to the show as seasoned television veterans, with credits like (Arthur) Maude, (White) The Mary Tyler Moore Show and (McClanahan) Mama's Family to their name. Estelle, on the other hand, mainly had stage experience and was starring in Harvey Fierstein's Torch Song Trilogy as Mrs. Beckoff at the time of her [first] Golden Girls audition – she reportedly failed the [Golden Girls] audition two times for not looking old enough to play 80. Getty also appeared in a handful of small parts in various films, television shows and movies, among them Tootsie, Cagney & Lacey and Victim for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story. Following the success of Golden Girls, Estelle went on to play Cher's mother in the film Mask, Claire Prince Timkin in Mannequin and would do voiceover work in Stuart Little (as Grandma Estelle).

Remembered not only for her sharp wit as Sophia Petrillo, but her perseverance in the dog-eat-dog world of acting, Estelle Getty was proof that our greatest successes do not often come to us in life as early as we'd like. The trick is to make the very best of them when they emerge, and Estelle Getty did just that. She will be mourned and missed, but the laughter and jubilance she inspired will live on forever.

Categories: Estelle Getty; Bea Arthur; Betty White; Rue McClanahan; Golden Girls; Golden Palace

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