Estelle Getty

After The Golden Girls became a hit, Estelle bought the first house she ever owned in her life.

In 1982 Estelle won the Helen Hayes Award in the category of "Best Supporting Performer in a Touring Show" for her work in the play Torch Song Trilogy.

Estelle attended the New School for Social Research in New York. She also trained in New York's Herbert Berghof Studio.

In the 1940's Estelle worked as a stand-up comic in the Catskills, but soon gave up the idea when audiences failed to enjoy her routines.

Estelle released her autobiography entitled If I Knew Then What I Know Now …So What? in 1988.

Estelle became interesting in acting at the age of four when her parents took her to see a vaudeville show at the New York Academy of Music.

She played Sophia Petrillo on five different series: The Golden Girls, The Golden Palace, Empty Nest, Blossom, and Nurses

In 1993, Estelle won a Razzie Award in the category of "Worst Supporting Actress" for the movie Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.

Estelle was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1986, 1987, and 1992. She won once, in 1986. All were for her work as "Sophia Petrillo" on the hit series The Golden Girls.

In 1986, she won a Golden Apple Award for Female Star of the Year. This award was shared with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan.

She was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for The Golden Girls from 1986-1992. She only won once, in 1988.

She won an American Comedy Award in 1991 and 1992 for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series for The Golden Girls.

Her caregiver's name was Paul Chapdelaine.

Estelle had an older sister, Rosilyn, and a younger brother, David. Both were with her at the time of her death in 2008.

Her nicknames were Stella and Ettie.

Estelle's Off-Broadway debut was in a play called The Divorce of Judy and Jane in 1971.

Estelle had a "Bacon Number" of 2.
She was in The Million Dollar Kid with Alison Lohman,
Alison was in Where the Truth Lies with Kevin Bacon.

Estelle dressed in old-lady clothes for her fourth and final audition for The Golden Girls in order to prove that she wasn't too young to portray the part of Sophia Petrillo.

Estelle played mother to Bea Arthur on The Golden Girls, however, Bea is actually 2 1/2 months older than Estelle. Estelle being born July 25, 1923 and Bea was born May 13, 1923.

During a brief Golden Girls reunion in November 2004 with Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Beatrice Arthur, it was reported on TV by the ladies that Estelle was suffering from severe dementia.

Estelle supported many causes including; AIDS charities, gay rights, and alternative living for the aging.

For many years Estelle was believed to be suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. What she actually had was Lewy Body Dementia, which has very similar symptoms.

Estelle was 4' 10½" tall with blue eyes and brown hair.