The Golden Girls
Cast & Crew
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Bea Arthur
Dorothy Zbornak
Beatrice Arthur, is an American actress and comedienne with a distinctive deep voice, acid wit, and height, standing almost 5 ft 10 in. Her notable television roles include the title role on the popular sitcom Maude in the 1970s and a starring role on The Golden Girls in the 1980s.
In the former she played Maude Findlay, an outspoken "limousine" liberal living in Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York; the show was a spinoff from All in the Family, on which Arthur had appeared in the same role, playing Edith Bunker's cousin, whom Archie couldn't stand.
In the latter she played the character Dorothy Zbornak, a middle-aged woman who lived in a Florida house with two room mates (Betty White and Rue McClanahan) and Dorothy's short-tempered yet hip old mother, played by Estelle Getty. One of the most ironic things about casting Getty in this role was that she is actually two months younger than Arthur, so Getty was heavily made-up to seem significantly older.
On stage, her roles include as "Lucy Brown" in the 1954 Off-Broadway premiere of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, "Yente the Matchmaker" in the 1964 premiere of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway, and a 1966 Tony Award-winning portrayal of "Vera Charles" in Mame. In 1981, she appeared in Woody Allen's The Floating Lightbulb; two decades later she toured the U.S. in a one-woman show which opened in Broadway in 2002 as Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends. In real life, Arthur is good friends with legendary actress and former co-star Angela Lansbury, and in real life Arthur did not get along with Betty White for most of the time that they worked together on Golden Girls, but possibly they have since mellowed out, especially in light of their mutual friend, Estelle Getty's health woes.
Arthur was born in New York City, but she grew up in Maryland. She became a medical technologist before World War II, when she volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps, becoming one of its first female recruits.
She was married for many years to her second husband, director Gene Saks, with whom she adopted two sons, but the marriage ended in divorce.moreless -
Betty White
Rose Nylund
Before "The Golden Girls" She spent two years on Mama's Family playing Ellen Harper. On it, she worked with Vicki Lawrence and Rue McClanahan, until it was cancelled by NBC in 1984. Betty White is a Television Hall Of Famer, and has acted in successful television shows, such as "Mary Tyler Moore" and probably best known as Rose Nylund in "The Golden Girls".moreless -
Rue McClanahan
Blanche Devereaux
In the mid-nineties Rue was diagnosed with cancer, but was able to beat it. Rue also spends her time helping and joining organizations against cancer, AIDS and cruelty against animals.
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Estelle Getty
Sophia Petrillo
For over 6 years Estelle Getty made the world laugh as "Sophia Petrillo" on the much talked about comedy series The Golden Girls, where she played one of televisions best known mothers. Getty married husband Arthur Gettleman on December 21, 1947 and put off trying to start her acting career to raise their two sons, Barry and Carl. In the 1970s, Estelle began acting in several stage productions, but it wasn't until 1981, when she landed a role in Torch Song Trilogy, that her career began to take off. After that she took small parts in several movies, but in 1985 she finally achieved fame as "Sophia," and became a house hold name. In 2000, Estelle was forced to retire from show business due to an illness and in 2004, Arthur died leaving behind Estelle and their two sons.moreless -
Herb Edelman
Stanley Zbornak
Herb Edelman was born in Brooklyn in 1933. Before becoming an actor, Edelman studied to be a veterinarian at Cornell University, but he left during his first year. His other occupations included a journalist, a radio operator and announcer for the Armed Forces, and, after dropping out of Brooklyn College, a hotel manager. Edelman started acting in theater, where he performed in Barefoot in the Park; he played the same role in the 1968 movie. Edelman made appearances in many TV shows, movies, and TV movies over the years, but he is probably best remembered for his recurring role as Dorothy Zbornak's ex-husband Stan on the long-running sitcom The Golden Girls. Sadly, Herb Edelman died in 1996 at age 62 of emphysema.moreless -
Harold Gould
Miles Webber
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Bill Dana
Uncle Angelo
Bill attended Emerson College. He was in the U.S. Army during WWII. He originated the Jose Jimenez character in 1959, making his first appearance on The Steve Allen Show in the "Man on the Street" sketches. Bill made appearances on DANNY THOMAS'S, MAKE ROOM FOR DADDY series as Jose, the Elevator Operator. NBC agreed to do The Bill Dana Show without a pilot being made.
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Bill also created several Jose Jimenez comedy records which met with success. Records like JOSE THE ASTRONAUT endeared him to AMERICANS and he became an honorary Mercury astronaut and was in several NASA promotional ads.
BILL DANA is not Hispanic in orgin. He was born in Massachusetts of Hungarian-Jewish ancestry. Unfortunately, cross-ethnic humor became a no-do and he had to put aside his JOSE character. However, he went on to become an accomplished story writer. His ALL IN THE FAMILY episode, starring SAMMY DAVIS, JR. won an EMMY. -
Sid Melton
Salvadore Petrillo
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Ken Lerner
Doctor
Ken Lerner came to Los Angeles in 1975 after studying in New York with Stella Adler and appearing in off-off Broadway shows. He was immediately, cast in Happy Days, the #1 show in the country, where he preceded to secure recurring roles as tough guy Frankie Bing Bong, Demolition Derby driver Rocko Malacchi, and Fonzie's best friend, Rocko Baruffi. That same month, Ken got the lead in an AFI movie, Hot Tomorrows. The student film effort of director Marty Brest (Scent of A Woman, Beverly Hills Cop), Hot Tomorrows went on to the New York and Los Angeles film festivals, becoming a cult favorite. Ken has continued to work in TV, movies, and commercials for the last 25 years, making his a recognizable face everywhere he goes. He has appeared in more than 50 top television shows, including NYPD Blue, Chicago Hope, ER, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Judging Amy, The Drew Carey Show, Dharma and Greg, Beverly Hills 90210, JAG, LA Law, Family Ties, Newhart, The Commish and Hill Street Blues. Ken's major film roles include Unlawful Entry, the Doctor, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Running Man, The Story of Us, Immediate Family, Irreconcilable Differences, Project X and many others. Ken has also starred in memorable commercials for Snickers, Federal Express, Immodium, McDonald's, Toyota, Delta Airlines, Kitchen Aid and others. Ken's theatrical appearances include the murderous Jonathan in Arsenic and Old Lace at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theater, and the frazzled bureau chief in the West Coast premiere of El Salvador Ken began teaching for his mentor, the late Roy London, who gave Ken the honor of being his first student teacher. Ken has been teaching cold reading and scene study classes for the past 12 years and has helped numerous actors get jobs in movies, TV shows and pilots.moreless -
Beth Grant
Terry Franco
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Beth Grant
Louise
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Jim Doughan
Ben
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Gregory White
Bartender
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Jeffrey Tambor
Dr. Stern
Jeffrey Tambor has appeared in many films, including And Justice For All and Mr. Mom. -
Martin Mull
Jimmy
A classically trained artist, Martin fell into acting by stages. While still a student and struggling artist, Martin began writing songs and performing. First as part of a group called Soop, he performed on one album called In the Soop. Subsequent albums were under his own name, although pianist Ed Wise (who was with MM in the previous group) continued to perform with him. His break into acting came when Norman Lear offered him a role on the soap opera parody Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. After this character was killed off (followed quickly by the assassination of Mary Hartman itself because star Louise Lasser burned herself out), Lear cast him in another parody, Fernwood 2Night, which poked fun at small-town talk shows. This was set in Fernwood, Ohio, the fictional home of Mary Hartman. For the second season, the show was renamed America 2Night. The locale was changed to a small town near Los Angeles so that big stars could appear on the show from time to time. After America 2Night, Martin appeared in numerous movies and had a recurring character on Roseanne. Currently he can be seen as the Principal on Sabrina, the Teenaged Witch. But as far as MM was concerned, this was just a side trip. His real love was, and is, in his painting. If he got some money from his acting or singing/songwriting (one of his songs was covered by Sonic Youth), it was more to buy "more tubes of paint" than anything else.moreless -
Jack Gilford
Max Weinstock
Actor and comedian Jack Gilford, known for his "rubbery" face, began his career in the nightclubs of New York, moving on to Broadway, films and television. Some of his more memorable roles include Hysterium in the Broadway and film versions of A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum, and the lead in a series of television commercials for Cracker Jack.moreless -
Robert Picardo
Dr. Revell
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Robert Picardo graduated from the William Penn Charter School. He entered Yale University as a pre-med student, not knowing that he would someday portray doctors in three separate productions: first as Dr. Dick Richard on the ABC series China Beach, then as Dr. McCaskill in the theater production In The Waiting Room at the Mark Taper Forum, and then as The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager.
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After graduating from Yale University Robert wanted to be an actor, but his parents weren't supportive. This changed when he sang in Leonard Bernstein's Mass, and Bernstein himself saw Picardo and told him he should pursue being an actor. The young Picardo asked Bernstein to tell that to his parents, which the great composer did, thereby changing their minds. In 1997 he made his Broadway debut in the comedy Gemini with Danny Aiello.
In the early 1980's he became involved in television, where he soon was nominated for an Emmy award for his role as Mr. Cutlip on the acclaimed series The Wonder Years. Following The Wonder Years he has had much success on television, he starred as Dr. Richard on China Beach and then played The Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager for six seasons. He finished up starring in Stargate Atlantis in 2009 as Richard Woolsey.
Currently he is starring in various online films for Acme Brand Comedy.
Bob resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Linda, and their two daughters. -
Phil Rubenstein
Exterminator
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Camila Ashland
Mrs. Hubbard
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Harvey Vernon
Barry
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Jim McKrell
Guy Corbin
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John Harkins
Ham Lushbough
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John O'Leary
Mr. Ninervini
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Bill Wiley
Smokey
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Michael McGuire
Dr. Budd
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Richard Herd
Ernie Faber
Richard Herd is an award winning actor who has appeared in numerous shows, mini-series, and movies. He began his acting career while he was still in high school, which led to him being awarded coveted two-year apprenticeship at Boston Summer Stock Theater. Besides being a great actor, he also produces plays, writes poetry, and paints.moreless -
Richard Riehle
Det. Parres
Education: University of Notre Dame - cum laude B.A. in 1970 Studied at the John Fernald Academy of Dramatic Art Fluent in German Theater work: "Execution of Justice" - 1986 Broadway debut "The Iceman Cometh" - 1999 revival, as Pat McGloin "The Emperor Jones" - Bay Area Radio's Eugene O'Neill Project, as Smithersmoreless -
Nancy Lenehan
Nun
Nancy Lenehan's impressive credits include roles in Catch Me if You Can, Full Frontal, The Limey and Pleasantville. Her movies-for-television include Eddie's Million Dollar Cook Off and Door to Door, a favorite of hers in which her character spans ages from 25 to 75 years old.
Her numerous television credits include Malcolm in the Middle, ABC's Grace Under Fire, Ellen and Great Scott. Nancy put down her acting roots in high school at her local community theater and was a drama major in college. After graduating, she moved to San Francisco, joined a comedy troupe and participated in the Berkeley Shakespeare Festivals.
Married with two children, she enjoys the "needle arts" quilting and knitting. She puts those arts to a good cause through her involvement with "Stitches from the Heart," a charity through which her handmade items are donated to babies in need.moreless -
Sam Anderson
Mr. Meyer
Sam Anderson was born in Wahpeton, North Dakota. He is primarily a television actor and has made appearances in almost 100 different shows during his career. He has been in shows such as Angel, ER, and Married to the Kellys. He has also had roles in movies such as Movers & Shakers, La Bamba, and Dark Angel. He is probably best known for his role as Holland Manners in Angel, or for his current role in the hit show Lost as Bernard.moreless -
Barbara Babcock
Charmaine Hollingsworth
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Categories
Comedy
Themes
Buddies And Gal Pals, Catfights, For The Nostalgic, For Women, Laugh Track
