Estelle Getty
July 25 1923 - July 22, 2008

  Estelle Getty, born July 25, 1923 in New York, New York, was 47 years old whe she made her first stage appearance.

  Her first movie role was in 1982's Tootsie. Other films include Mask, Mannequin, and the Sylvester Stallone movie Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot. She starred for 10 years, through 3 series (The Golden Girls, The Golden Palace, Empty Nest), as wisecracking Sophia Petrillo. After auditioning four times for the role of Sophia, Estelle was called in again for another reading. She hired a makeup artist to age her, went shopping in thrift shops looking for a worn polyester dress way too big for her, and a handbag. She went to the audition in her "costume," stayed in character the whole time, and landed the part, which later won her an Emmy.

  Awards: 1988 Emmy for Oustanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series--The Golden Girls; 1986 Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series-Comedy/Musical--The Golden Girls.

Death

On July 22, 2008, at approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT, Getty died in her Hollywood Boulevard home in Los Angeles from natural causes (according to her manager), three days before her 85th birthday.

Each of Getty's former Golden Girls co-stars reflected on her death: Rue McClanahan told the Associated Press, "Don't feel sad about her passing. She will always be with us in her crowning achievement, Sophia." Bea Arthur said in a statement, "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her." Betty White remarked, "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us."

From EstelleGetty.Com

To all of Estelle's Fans,

Sadly, today July 22, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. Pacific Time, we said our last good-byes to our little friend Estelle, who passed away and made her journey to the great beyond. Although it was a trip that she never wanted to take, she went gracefully, in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by her family and her very loving care-givers.

Estelle's legacy will live on and on through the comedy and laughter she gave to us all, which will forever keep us laughing out loud.

For us here, who have known and cared for her for so many years, we've lost our dear little friend who always kept us entertained by filling our days with joyful laughter. Estelle's fans across the globe have lost the feisty little lady known as Sophia Petrillo, whose quick wit, cutting remarks, and outrageous punch lines will forever be quoted and remembered.

Estelle was a fighter. She always stood up for the underdogs, fought for equality for all, and always pictured a world filled with "Love and Laughter" --her most favorite catch phrase.

Estelle, we love you and will miss you dearly. We pray that you are met at the Pearly Gate with open arms and a warm welcome by all who have passed before you. If there's a stage over there, I know you'll be on it. If there's a thrift shop, I know you'll be shopping, and if there's a deli, I know you'll be eating there holding court with Rhoda and Sylvia ... and the laughter will be heard throughout the heavens.

Goodbye, dear friend. Thank you for all the talent and love that you've shared with us during your time here on Earth. You have touched my life, and the lives of so many others who will never forget you.

Until we meet again...

Love and Laughter to You,

        Paul Chapdelaine