Beloved 'Golden Girls' Star Estelle Getty Dies at 84

Actress Estelle Getty died early this morning at her Hollywood Boulevard home. She spent 40 years struggling as an actress before finding extraordinary success in developing the classic character Sophia Petrillo on NBC's No. 1 show 'The Golden Girls' during the 1980's. The show was rediscovered in 1997 on Lifetime with a demographic that skewed to 18-34 year olds. According to a Lifetime spokesman in 2005, more than 16 million people watched the show during any given week. "Thank You For Being a Friend" was a top download ring tone and nearly 200,000 people registered for a 'Golden Girls' online newsletter.

Estelle honed her perfect timing doing stand-up comedy in the Catskills. She played Harvey Fierstein's mother in the Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy before joining the cast of the 'Golden Girls' in 1985. She auditioned twice for the role unsuccessfully because she looked too young. She won a Golden Globe for the role in 1986 and an Emmy in 1988. She had advanced dementia in the later part of her life, but purportedly died of natural causes. [Source] [Estelle's Website]

''Estelle always wanted to be an actress, and she achieved that goal beyond her dreams. Don't feel sad about her passing. She will always be with us in her crowning achievement, Sophia.''

Rue McClanahan

Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' Dies at 84

The Golden Girls Classic Quotes

‘I know, let’s rent an adult video, drink Mimosas and French kiss the pillows!”
Blanche Devereaux

“I love construction workers. Good with their hands, dumb as stumps and they don’t mind showing their buns when they bend over.”
Blanche Devereaux

“I like a fairy tale with a nice prince in it … a handsome prince with a big ‘ole cod piece with deep dark eyes.”
Blanche Devereaux

“I’m surprised you could even walk in October.”
Sophia Petrillo

“Saturday night, that’s kid’s stuff. Get lucky on a Tuesday morning then we’ll talk.”
Blanche Devereaux

“Can you believe that back-stabbing slut?”
Rose Nylund

“She could be in a coma, but put a man within five miles, she would roll over and shave her legs!”
Dorothy Zbornak

“Fasten your seatbelt, slutpuppy! This ain't gonna be no cakewalk!!!”
Sophia Petrillo

“My mistake Sophia: I thought because you looked like Yoda you were also wise.”
Blanche Devereaux

“It was a tragedy. She was my only real competition. Dead, dead, dead. Muffin?”
Rose Nylund

“I look like the mother of a Solid Gold dancer!”
Dorothy Zbornak

“Which one’s Cheech and which one’s Chong?”
Rose Nylund

“Don’t worry they come with matching panties for when we do the cartwheels.”
Sophia Petrillo

“Why do blessings wear disguises? If I were a blessing, I'd run around naked.”
Sophia Petrillo

“Dorothy was Sophia naked just now or does her dress really need ironing?”
Rose Nylund

“There is a fine line between having a good time and being a wanton slut. I know. My toe has been on that line.”
Blanche Devereaux

“Thank you, Sheena, queen of the slut people!”
Sophia Petrillo

“And I’m the Pygmy Queen”
Dorothy Zbornak

“All creatures must learn to coexist. That is why the brown bear and the field mouse can share their lives in harmony. Of course, they can't mate or the mice would explode.” Rose Nyland

“I could have been living in a swinging singles condo instead of with… oh I better not say anything before I’ve had my morning cup of coffee… a slut and a moron. Sorry, I guess it's decaf.”
Dorothy Zbornak