Estelle Getty was born on July 25, 1923, in New York City. Although she began acting at a young age, Estelle put her career on hold to raise a family, not returning to the acting world until many years later. Her early performances upon her return to her passion included a Broadway role in the play Torch Song Trilogy. In 1982, she had a small role in Tootsie, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, and Teri Garr. Also, Mask, starring Cher, Sam Elliott, and Laura Dern, included Estelle Getty among its principle cast members.

In 1985, the same year that Mask was released, Estelle began starring in The Golden Girls. She was sixty-two at the time. The show, which also featured Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan was a hit with audiences. Its risqué topics (at the time at least) including AIDS, homosexuality, and suicide, along with the constant bickering between the four women, gave the show a unique blend of seriousness and comedy. Lasting for seven seasons, its popularity peaked in its third season, when it reached an impressive #3 in television ratings. After declining ratings, the show was cancelled following its 1992 season. The Golden Girls was on the air for an impressive seven seasons.

Throughout her acting career, Estelle has appeared in a number of other television series and a small number of films. Her character, Sophia Spirelli, was actually featured on a number of different series while The Golden Girls was still on the air. Getty’s guest appearances as Sophia include those on Empty Nest, with Richard Mulligan, Kristy McNichol, and Dinah Manoff, and Blossom, which starred Mayim Bialik and Joey Lawrence.

Estelle’s film appearances include Mannequin, in which she shared the lead with Kim Cattrall; the box office bomb Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, which co-starred Sylvester Stallone; and the 1999 kid’s flick Stuart Little, with Michael J Fox, Geena Davis, and Hugh Laurie.

As of 2000, Getty no longer made public appearances. She was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a condition that mimics much of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. She lived her final years in in Los Angeles, California. Estelle lost her husband, Arthur Gettleman, in 2004. The couple married in 1947, with Estelle raising their sons Carl and Barry before returning to show business, the world she so dearly loved.

Following her fight with Lewy Body Dementia, Estelle finally passed away at the age of 84 at her home in Hollywood.

YUDDY