How 'The Golden Girls' Icon Estelle Getty Battled A Depleting Ailment In Her Last Days

Sep 27, 2023

Estelle Getty was an amazing American actress and comedian whose impeccable portrayal of Sophia Petrillo on "The Golden Girls" made her name ring in every household. Aside from her impressive acting skills in the 1985 hit comedy, Getty also made appearances in movies like "The Mask," "Stuart Little" and many others.

Getty enjoyed a successful career as the iconic comedy skyrocketed her to television success during the 1980s and early 1990s. Unfortunately, the actress battled with an ailment during her last days. The TV star passed on in 2008, but leading up to her demise, Getty endured the diminishing effect of Lewy body dementia that sometimes made her not recognize her fellow iconic “Golden Girls.”

Getty had been starring in maternal roles long before she starred in the 1980s hit comedy where she played the mother of Dorothy, played by Bea Arthur, who was older than her in real life. In her autobiography, "If I Knew Then What I Know Now … So What?" Getty wrote about her numerous maternal roles. She wrote, "I've played mothers to heroes and mothers to zeroes." 

For Getty's role as Sophia, she was nominated seven times in a stretch for an Emmy award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, which she later won in 1988. Before the actress got this big recognition, she had been working in the industry for decades. In 2006, Co-star Rue McClanahan also shared with the Archive of American Television that the actress "didn't go into professional television acting until 'The Golden Girls.'" She revealed:

"She was a little bit fish out of water. She hadn’t had this heady of an experience. This was big time. I tried to be her friend.”

"The Golden Girls" was a hit comedy that not only focused on four older women who were bold to talk about their love lives but was also forward-thinking on LGBTQ issues. The show was about the lives of four women: Sophia Petrillo (Getty), Dorothy Zbornak (Arthur), Blanche Devereaux (McClanahan) and Rose Nylund (Betty White). 

The series focused on these women's lives, showing each one's unique and fun personality, and it became such a hit that it won four Golden Globes. A fan shared with White and McClanahan in 2006 per Outsider that whenever he felt down, an episode of the show served as an emotional boost. 

The show greatly impacted people's lives, and in 2018, Matt Baume made a YouTube series called "Culture Cruise," where he spoke about "The Golden Girls" and its consideration of LGBTQ issues. He used the episodes "Sister of the Bride" and "Scared Straight," which showed Monte Markham's character, Clayton Hollingsworth, who was gay and spoke openly about his sexuality. Baume shared:

"Although even today there’s still a long way to go, ‘The Golden Girls’ provided a roadmap toward acceptance." He added, “If these girls could do it, so can America.”

The show also featured a transgender male character. Although the show was straightforward and not shy on these matters, some people criticized this aspect. Jose Gallegos wrote in a column for IndieWire that the show had "a formulaic flow." However, he also wrote that he was a fan and one who "applauds the producers and writers for featuring LGBTQ characters.”

Getty took up an unforgettable role that had fans filled with laughter. However, towards the end of her life, the actress could hardly recall her glory days. 

While speaking to the Archive of American Television, McClanahan shared that Getty had a hard time remembering lines on set. The actress was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia, which is a progressive brain disease, and unfortunately passed away in June 2008. McClanahan shared that Getty had panic attacks on set following the show's massive success. She explained:

"She had an awful time remembering lines because she would freeze, she panicked. She would start getting under a dark cloud the day before tape day."

The panic attacks got to the extent that Getty started asking for cue cards on set, as written in McClanahan's 2008 memoir, "My First Five Husbands…And the Ones Who Got Away." The "Maude" star shared that she later realized that Getty's loss of memory was an early symptom of her ailment. She continued:

"I kept in touch with Estelle as long as she could stay in touch, as long as she knew who I was.”

In 2021, Outsider reported a conversation when Getty's name came up in 2006 during a question-and-answer panel discussion of PaleyFest LA devoted to "The Golden Girls" that year. With White and McClanahan present, a fan asked if the co-stars talked to Getty. White revealed that although Getty mostly forgot about her co-stars, there were good days as well. McClanahan also explained:

"We try and stay in touch with her. “But it’s not (really) being in touch. She’s usually, she’s out of touch. When I call her from New York she usually doesn’t know who I am.”

Although the show has continued to remain a hit, Getty was the first of the four women to die in 2008. Arthur passed away in 2009, followed by McClanahan in 2010. White passed away in December 2021.

Isn’t it sad how "The Golden Girls'' icon, Estelle Getty, battled dementia in her final days? Do you recall your favorite moment of watching her play the witty Sophia Petrillo? Let us know, and be sure to pass this on to other “Golden Girls” fans.