Estelle Getty
Actress
84 years (Jul 25, 1923 – Jul 22, 2008)New York City, New York, USA
Estelle Getty spent decades in New York theatre before the role that defined her arrived at 62. Cast as Sophia Petrillo in 'The Golden Girls', she played the mother of Bea Arthur's character despite being the younger of the two — a gap closed nightly by heavy make-up. Sophia's Sicilian bluntness made her the show's reliable source of the unsayable line, and Getty won an Emmy for the part in 1988. She carried the character across three further series and appeared in films including 'Mask' and 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'.
Estelle Getty
Actress
Estelle Getty spent decades in New York theatre before the role that defined her arrived at 62. Cast as Sophia Petrillo in 'The Golden Girls', she played the mother of Bea Arthur's character despite being the younger of the two — a gap closed nightly by heavy make-up. Sophia's Sicilian bluntness made her the show's reliable source of the unsayable line, and Getty won an Emmy for the part in 1988. She carried the character across three further series and appeared in films including 'Mask' and 'Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot'.
9 Movies
Plays Grandma Estelle
Stuart Little
1999
Plays Tutti
Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot
1992
Plays Claire Prince Timkin
Mannequin
1987
Plays Middle-Aged Woman
Tootsie
1982
Plays Evelyn
Mask
1985
Plays Betty Weston
A Match Made in Heaven
1997
Plays Sister Rosanne
The Million Dollar Kid
2000
Plays Gussie
Deadly Force
1983
15 TV Shows
Plays Sophia Petrillo
The Golden Girls
1985
Plays Sophia Petrillo
Empty Nest
1988
Plays Sophia Petrillo
The Golden Palace
1992
Plays Self - Panelist
Hollywood Squares
1998
Plays Aunt Ida
Mad About You
1992
Plays Myrna Burwell
Brotherly Love
1995
Plays Aunt Jane (voice)
Duckman
1994
Plays Dottie
Touched by an Angel
1994
Plays Estelle Getty
The Nanny
1993
Plays Mrs. Rosenmeyer
Cagney & Lacey
1982
Plays Sophia Petrillo
Blossom
1990
Plays Sophia Gates
Ladies Man
1999
Plays Estelle Getty
The John Larroquette Show
1993
Plays Elsa Carruthers
Newhart
1982
Plays Money Lady
Fantasy Island
1978
Latest Trailers
Watch Trailer
Stuart Little
Full Filmography
The Million Dollar Kid
Sister Rosanne
2000
Stuart Little
Grandma Estelle
1999
Ladies Man
Sophia Gates
1999Season 1
The Nanny
Estelle Getty
1998Season 6
Hollywood Squares
Self - Panelist
1998Season 1
A Match Made in Heaven
Betty Weston
1997
Duckman
Aunt Jane (voice)
1997Season 4
Mad About You
Aunt Ida
1996Season 5
Brotherly Love
Myrna Burwell
1996Season 2
Photos
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Estelle Getty still alive?
Estelle Getty passed away on July 22, 2008 at age 84.
What are the most famous roles of Estelle Getty?
Estelle Getty is best known for roles in Stuart Little, Tootsie, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.
How many movies has Estelle Getty been in?
Over a 30-year career (since 1978), Estelle Getty has appeared in 9 movies and 14 TV shows.
What was Estelle Getty's first movie?
The career of Estelle Getty began with Team-Mates (1978).
What is Estelle Getty's most recent movie or series?
Estelle Getty's most recent release is Celebrities Uncensored, which premiered on June 4, 2003.
What TV shows has Estelle Getty appeared in?
On television, Estelle Getty has appeared in The Nanny, The Golden Girls, Mad About You, Touched by an Angel.
Estelle Getty
1923-07-25 · New York City, New York, USA
Estelle Scher-Gettleman (July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008), better known by her stage name Estelle Getty, was an American actress, who appeared in film, theatre and television. She is 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.