One of the Golden Girls has died.
Estelle Getty, who played Bea Arthur's mother (even though Arthur was a year older in real life) on the NBC hit comedy Golden Girls (which also starred Betty White and Rue McClanahan), passed away this morning in Los Angeles. Getty was 84 years old and had been suffering from a disease known as Lewy Body Dementia for a number of years.
Getty appeared in several other TV shows over the years, including the Golden Girls spinoff The Golden Palace (which also starred a young Don Cheadle), Empty Nest, Nurses, Brotherly Love, Mad About You, Touched By An Angel, Blossom, Newhart, Hotel, and many others. She also appeared in the movies Tootsie, Mask, Mannequin, and Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot!
Interesting trivia: Getty played her Sophia Petrillo character in no less than five different shows: Golden Girls, Empty Nest, The Golden Palace, Nurses, and Blossom. That's gotta be some sort of record. She also played a character named Sophia in an episode of Ladies Man in 2000, though the character had a different last name.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-22-2008 @ 2:14PM
Vince said...
Not to diminish Estelle's record but Richard Belzer played John Munch on eight different shows:
http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0004858/
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7-22-2008 @ 2:19PM
deebopalula said...
My mother is 85 and suffering from Lewy Body Dementia (dementia with hallucinations). It's a heartbreaking way to spend your final years. R.I.P. Estelle - you're free now.
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7-22-2008 @ 2:23PM
Gina said...
This is just sad news. I remember Sophia, and her appearing just about everywhere for a bit. Estelle was a great comic actress, and her passing is a loss to us all that loved The Golden Girls.
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7-22-2008 @ 2:34PM
Claire said...
This is sad. From what I've heard she was loved by many people in the business. I always enjoyed her character on the Golden Girls. she was very talented.
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7-22-2008 @ 2:56PM
Tim said...
Estelle, thank you for being a friend.
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7-22-2008 @ 2:59PM
Oreo said...
Sadly this is almost good news, she has been battling this for years and years and is a hell of a way to die. I was just watching Golden Girls this morning, truly sad.
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7-22-2008 @ 3:32PM
Joe Coughlin said...
Join me in the kitchen for a memorial cheesecake.
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7-22-2008 @ 3:38PM
Adrienne said...
Sophia was the best part of Golden Girls, and Estelle will be sorely missed.
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7-22-2008 @ 3:53PM
DELICIOUS said...
May she rest in eternal peace. She was so much of the Golden Girls...never to be replaced.
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7-22-2008 @ 8:00PM
stacey said...
golden girls was one of my all time fave shows and sofia was one of the characters that made it soo funny. she was a brilliant actress and a great person and will be missed by a lot of ppl. atleast she is not suffering anymore..rip
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7-24-2008 @ 1:23AM
kllen said...
I truely enjoyed Estelles work. What a way to make a difference in the lives of others. A character that will live in our hearts for times to come. Thank you Estelle. I think if they wanted to find someone who acted a lot like "sophia" how about Judge Judy? Can't help , but see a lil "sophia" in her. Again , thank you Estelle. This too shall pass except the difference we make in others lives. A job well done!!
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7-23-2008 @ 1:29AM
chelsey said...
i loved her soo much . she will never be forgotton. ='(
RIP ESTELLE
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7-23-2008 @ 11:38AM
Gordy said...
I love Estelle Getty. Her good work will live on. Rest in peace.
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