Estelle Getty

Estelle Getty
Getty at the 41st Primetime Emmy Awards in 1989
Born	Estelle Scher (1923-07-25)July 25, 1923 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	July 22, 2008(2008-07-22) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Cause of death	Lewy body dementia
Other names	Estelle Shweet-Gettleman
Occupation	Actress, comedian
Years active	1974–2001
Television	The Golden Girls The Golden Palace Empty Nest
Spouse(s)	Arthur Gettleman (m. 1947; his death 2004)
Children	2

Estelle Getty (born Estelle Scher; July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008) was an American actress and comedian, who appeared in film, television, and theatre. She was best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992, which won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe, on The Golden Palace from 1992 to 1993, and on Empty Nest from 1993 to 1995. In her later years, after retiring from acting, she battled Lewy body dementia.

Estelle Getty was born Estelle Scher on July 25, 1923 to Sarah and Charles Scher in New York City. Her parents were Polish-Jewish immigrants. Her father was employed in the glass business. She had a sister, Roslyn, and a brother, David. Getty got her start in the Yiddish theater and also as a comedian in the Catskills borscht belt resorts, and among her most notable stage roles was as Harvey Fierstein's mother in Torch Song Trilogy during its original Broadway run.

Getty is best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on the popular 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls. Her character was the Sicilian mother of Dorothy Zbornak, played by Bea Arthur, although Getty was, in fact, one year younger than Arthur. In 1988, the role earned Getty the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress.