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Estelle Getty of 'Golden Girls' dies at 84
By BOB THOMAS, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jul 22, 12:37 PM PDT
Estelle Getty, the diminutive actress who spent 40 years struggling for success before landing a role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic octogenarian Sophia on TV's "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 84.
Getty, who suffered from advanced dementia, died at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday at her Hollywood Boulevard home, said her son, Carl Gettleman of Santa Monica.
"Estelle always wanted to be an actress, and she achieved that goal beyond her dreams," former "Golden Girls" co-star Rue McClanahan told The Associated Press. "Don't feel sad about her passing. She will always be with us in her crowning achievement, Sophia."
"The Golden Girls," featuring four female retirees sharing a house in Miami, grew out of NBC programming chief Brandon Tartikoff's belief that television was ignoring its older viewers.
Three of its stars had already appeared in previous series: Bea Arthur in "Maude," Betty White in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and McClanahan in "Mama's Family." The last character to be cast was Sophia Petrillo, the feisty 80-something mother of Arthur's character.
"Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her," Arthur said in a statement.
When she auditioned, Getty was appearing on stage in Hollywood as the carping Jewish mother in Harvey Fierstein's play "Torch Song Trilogy." In her early 60s, she flunked her "Golden Girls" test twice because it was believed she didn't look old enough to play 80.
"I could understand that," she told an interviewer a year after the show debuted. "I walk fast, I move fast, I talk fast."
She came prepared for the third audition, however, wearing dowdy clothes and telling an NBC makeup artist, "To you this is just a job. To me it's my entire career down the toilet unless you make me look 80." The artist did, Getty got the job and won two Emmys.
"The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us," White said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
"The Golden Girls" culminated a long struggle for success during which Getty worked low-paying office jobs to help support her family while she tried to make it as a stage actress.
"I knew I could be seduced by success in another field, so I'd say, 'Don't promote me, please,'" she recalled.
She also appeared in small parts in a handful of films and TV movies during that time, including "Tootsie," "Deadly Force" and "Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story."
After her success in "The Golden Girls," other roles came her way. She played Cher's mother in "Mask," Sylvester Stallone's in "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot" and Barry Manilow's in the TV film "Copacabana." Other credits included "Mannequin" and "Stuart Little" (as the voice of Grandma Estelle).
"The Golden Girls," which ran from 1985 to 1992, was an immediate hit, and Sophia, who began as a minor character, soon evolved into a major one.
Audiences particularly loved the verbal zingers Getty would hurl at the other three. When McClanahan's libidinous character Blanche once complained that her life was an open book, Sophia shot back, "Your life's an open blouse."
"I always told her she should be a standup comic. She was so funny in person," McClanahan recalled. "She would always say, 'Why couldn't we make these characters Jewish? Why am I Sicilian?'"
Getty had gained a knack for one-liners in her late teens when she did standup comedy at a Catskills hotel. Female comedians were rare in those days, however, and she bombed.
Undeterred, she continued to pursue a career in entertainment, and while her parents were encouraging, her father also insisted that she learn office skills so she would have something to fall back on.
Born Estelle Scher to Polish immigrants in New York, Getty fell in love with theater when she saw a vaudeville show at age 4.
She married New York businessman Arthur Gettleman (the source of her stage name) in 1947, and they had two sons, Carl and Barry. The marriage prevailed despite her long absences on the road and in "The Golden Girls."
Getty was evasive about her height, acknowledging only that she was "under 5 feet and under 100 pounds."
McClanahan said her nickname for Getty was "Slats."
"Because she was so short, itty-bitty," she said.
In addition to her son Carl, Getty is survived by son Barry Gettleman, of Miami; a brother, David Scher of London; and a sister, Rosilyn Howard of Las Vegas.
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Associated Press Writers Robert Jablon and Solvej Schou contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
i just felt like I had to write this.
You see, I really wanna be an actress some day in the future. I love drama, people say I'm good in it and it's just...my dream. But the thing that REALLY makes me angry is that... people just don't believe in me!! They say it's just a fake dream and I'll get over it. haha. Doesn't that annoy anybody else out there??? Why do people tend to think that someone won't make it to being an actress or a singer or something. I believe that if you have the real talent you'll make it anywhere!
Another thing about this : does anybody know any ways to become an actress? perhaps someone in the family that made it ? soz :)
And.. If there's anybody that loves acting too, I'd love to meet them, talk to them... add me on msn : helloo_byoo@hotmail.com or write a mail or something. I most certainly WILL reply! ! ! I seriously would like to meet someone like that cuz it seems liek there ain't much of them in my school :)
xxx kisses for everyone xxx
Summer 2007 Group Quest offerings:
United Planet is proud to offer the following Group Quests for Summer 2007!
Cultural activities and excursions are included in all of United Planet’s Group Quests!
Cambodia Dental Quest – led by Dr. Jon Ryder, those who work in or study the field of Dentistry are invited to join this Quest to assist the children in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Volunteers will work with Dr. Ryder providing care to patients at the Children’s Hospital and will also conduct oral health education sessions for children in local schools and villages. Sunday July 1 – Wednesday July 11, 2007
Cambodia Photography with a Difference Quest – Dr. Jon Ryder is a man of many talents! In addition to his full-time work as a Dentist, he is also a gifted and avid photographer. Join this quest to pursue your passion of photography while providing necessary work to a community in need. Wednesday July 11 – Saturday July 21, 2007
China Quest –Shan Shan Nie, a former staff member of United Planet and a Boston University student, will be guiding the China Quest team. Shan Shan is currently a resident of the United States and speaks English fluently. She has also resided in ChengDu for over fifteen years. She is well acquainted with the best features of the city and is fluent in the ChengDu dialect. Volunteers will teach English to ChengDu Sports University students while learning Chinese and the customs and culture of that community. Friday May 25 - Sunday June 3, 2007
Costa Rica Environment Quest for students –High school and college students are invited to apply for this 2 week Group Quest to Costa Rica where you will live with a host family, work on a conservation project, participate in fun cultural activities, and visit interesting and fun sites! United Planet’s own Quest Director, Theresa Higgs, will be leading this Group to Costa Rica! Monday July 30 – Monday August 13, 2007
Costa Rica Construction Quest for students - High school and college students are invited to apply for this 10 day Group Quest to Costa Rica where you will live with a host family while working on a construction project in the same community. The group will also participate in exciting cultural activities as well as travel to beautiful and interesting places! Monday July 16 – July 25, 2007
Chile Law Quest - This is a new and special Quest being offered to Law Students and Lawyers! Led by Mr. Steve Kasher, a lawyer from California, volunteers will travel to Santiago, Chile and work with students from 2 different Law Schools. Living with a host family, cultural activities and excursions will provide you with intimate knowledge of the Chilean culture. In addition, speakers will be arranged to address issues such as Chilean politics, the Chilean Legal System and much more! Sunday August 5 – Tuesday August 14, 2007
Chile Home-Building Quest for High School students – High school students with Spanish language skills are invited to work side-by-side with local Chilean youth to build homes for those who need them in rural Chile. Wednesday July 11 – Wednesday July 25, 2007
Chile Home-Building Quest for College students – College students with Spanish language skills are invited to work side-by-side with local Chilean youth to build homes for those who need them in rural Chile. Wednesday July 11th – Friday July 27th, 2007
Jordan Group Quest: “Photography with a Difference” - Volunteers will work on an important and interesting Environmental project as they explore the Jordanian culture through the eye of the lens! Led by talented photographer and veteran UP Group Leader Dorcas Platt Wagenknecht, volunteers will improve their photography skills while gaining valuable insight into the life of Jordanians.
Tanzania Group Quest – Volunteers will work with local non-profit organizations in and around Dar es Salaam to educate young people about HIV/AIDS. This may include school and community center presentations, discussions with youth and visitations to homes where people are living with HIV/AIDS. Volunteers will stay with host families and participate in Swahili language courses, culture classes and excursions. Saturday July 28 – Saturday August 11, 2007
Turkey Group Quest: “Let’s Meet Where the Continents Meet” This unique and culturally fascinating quest will blend working with children at a Foster Home in Istanbul while learning about the incredible culture and people of Turkey! The group will be led by Holly Graham, a Boston-based teacher and returned United Planet volunteer. Holly will mentor the volunteer team members in creating and leading education and fun activities for the children at the Foster Home. Wednesday June 27 –Saturday July 7, 2007
My daughter participated in the Black History Program at school. She had two short presentations to make. The girl had nerves of steel. She couldn't wait until it was her turn. I was very proud of her. Her voice was loud and clear. You can detect a wee bit of her momma's Texas accent. :D Try to ignore my shoddy camera work.
First presentation - Red, Black and Green
Second presention - First hair brush patent
Emma shows us the Pan African flag.
Emma and Kel.
This little boy just LOVES my daughter. He's a sweetie pie with impossibly long eyelashes. It's hard to tell from this picture, but no male should have eyelashes that long and gorgeous!
In the Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress categories, I am choosing who I hope will win this year. I know they are both longshots.
Best Actress
Who will probably win: Helen Mirren (The Queen)
My vote goes to: Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada) - her performance was chilling to say the least, and human. Glamorous, yet despicable. I guess I should just say multi-faceted and shut up!!
Best Supporting Actress
Who will probably win: Adriana Barraza (Babel) I've been hearing a lot of buzz for Adriana. I don't know if she will win and I wouldn't mind if she did, but...
My vote goes to: Rinko Kikuchi (Babel) - she learned a new language for this role - sign language. The director asked that she only speak sign language on set. She had a translator to communicate with the director. A sign-language translator translated her words into Japanese and another translator had to translate the Japanese into another language (either Spanish or English) so the director could understand. Also, I appreciated her role more the second time I saw the movie...she keeps things interesting to say the least.
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