Estelle Getty

Estelle Getty was married to Arthur Gettleman from December 21, 1947 until his death in the year 2004. The couple had two sons, Car Gettleman and Barry Gettleman who live in California and Florida respectively.

She suffered from osteoporosis and suspected to suffer from Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, the suspicion was held incorrect by the doctors and it was discovered that she suffered from Lewy body dementia.

Estelle Getty passed away on July 22, 2008, three days prior to her 85th birthday, in Los Angeles, California. The primary cause of death was found to be Dementia with Lewy bodies.

Estelle Getty was born on July 25, 1923 in New York City. Her mother, Sarah Scher and her father, Charles Scher, were Polish-Jewish immigrants. Charles was employed in a glass business.

She had a sister, Roslyn and a brother, David. She attended Seward Park High School in New York City.

Estelle aspired to be an actress since her childhood and began her acting career in Yiddish theatre. She was a waitress and a comedian at Catskills borscht bell resorts. She played the role of Harvey Fierstein's mother in ‘Torch Song Trilogy’ which was her most popular stage role.

Estelle Getty performed for many years in Yiddish Theatres and appeared as a teacher in the film ‘Team-mates’ in 1978. She entered television in 1980s.

She played the role of Mrs. Beckoff in the ‘Torch song Trilogy’ in 1982 which was a collection of three plays. She made guest appearances in one episode each of the television shows such as ‘Nurse’ (1981), ‘Baker’s Dozen’ (1982), ‘Fantasy Island’ (1984), ‘Cagney & Lacey’ (1984), ‘Hotel’ (1984) and ‘Newhart’ (1985).

During this period, she also appeared in numerous films and television movies, such as ‘Tootsie’ in 1982, ‘Deadly Force’ in 1983, ‘No Man’s Land’ in 1984 and ‘Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story’ (1984).

In 1985, she received the most popular role of her career— Sophia Petrillo in the sitcom ‘The Golden Girls’. The show ran for seven years till 1992.

Alongside, she appeared in television movie ‘Copacabana’ in 1985 and films ‘Mannequin’ (1987) and ‘Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot’ in 1992.

Estelle Getty began her acting career with Yiddish theatre and her role in ‘Torch Stop Trilogy’ was her most popular stage performance. The performance earned her a nomination in Drama Desk Award in 1982 and an award in the Helen Hayes Awards in 1985.

Her most popular role was in the sitcom ‘The Golden Girls’ as Sophia Petrillo in 1985-1992. It earned her seven nominations and a win in the Emmy Awards and three nominations and a win in the Golden Globe Awards as well.