Estelle Getty Add to My Celebs Age 84 (passed away Jul. 22nd, 2008) Birthday Jul. 25th, 1923 Born in New York City, New York, USA Height 4' 10 1/2

Estelle Getty's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) The Golden Girls Sophia Petr… The Golden Palace Sophia Spir… TV Tales Estelle Getty

Main Movie Roles 1999 - Stuart Little 1992 - Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot 1987 - Mannequin 1985 - Mask 1982 - Tootsie

NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB


BIOGRAPHY:

Estelle Getty began her acting career in 1978 with Team-Mates (1978). She also had short roles in two critically acclaimed classics, Tootsie (1982) and Mask (1985). In 1985, Estelle began acting in "The Golden Girls" (1985), with Bea Arthur, Betty White (I), and Rue McClanahan. The successful show won two Emmys for outstanding television series, and Estelle herself won an Emmy in 1988. Among other things she's done in TV is playing Sophia Petrillo in shows several times, "The Golden Palace" (1992) and "Empty Nest" (1988) among them. Most recently, Estelle has been in the family film Stuart Little (1999) and playing "Hollywood Squares" (1998).


TRIVIA:

• Getty played mother to 'Bea Arthur' (qv) on _"The Golden Girls" (1985)_ (qv), however, Bea is actually 15½ months older than Estelle. Estelle was born on July 25, 1923 and Bea was born on May 13, 1922.
• Was a strong supporter of gay rights.
• Played the same character, Sophia Spirelli Petrillo-Weinstock, on five different TV series: _"The Golden Palace" (1992)_ (qv), _"The Golden Girls" (1985)_ (qv), _"Nurses" (1991)_ (qv), _"Empty Nest" (1988)_ (qv), and _"Blossom" (1991)_ (qv).
• Her nephew Stephen died from AIDS in January 1992 at the age of 29.
• Retired in 2000 after revealing she had health issues. In the mid 1990s, she was misdiagnosed with Parkinson's disease. By the end of the 1990s, she was misdiagnosed again, this time with Alzheimer's disease. Later, she was correctly diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, which has similar symptoms to both Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
• Was nicknamed "Slats" by her Golden Girls costars because of her short height and light weight.
• Was born to Polish immigrants. Has a brother David and a sister Rosilyn.
• During a brief reunion in November 2004 with _"The Golden Girls" (1985)_ (qv)'s 'Betty White (I)' (qv), 'Rue McClanahan' (qv), and 'Bea Arthur' (qv), it was reported on TV by the ladies that Estelle was suffering from severe dementia.

Estelle Getty Photos

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