Estelle Getty

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Estelle Getty

Getty at the 41st Annual Emmy Awards September 17, 1989
Born Estelle Scher
July 25, 1923(1923-07-25)
New York City, New York, USA
Died July 22, 2008 (aged 84)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Spouse(s) Arthur Gettleman (1946–2004)

Estelle Scher-Gettleman (July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008)[1], 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 long-running role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992, on The Golden Palace from 1992 to 1993 and on Empty Nest from 1993 to 1995. For the role, she won Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. In her later years, after retiring from acting, she battled Lewy body dementia.

Contents

Biography

Early life and career

Getty was born Estelle Scher in New York City, the daughter of Sarah and Charles Scher, Jewish immigrants from Poland who worked in the glass business.[2] Getty got her start in the Yiddish theater and also as a comedienne in the Catskills borscht belt resorts, and among her most notable stage roles was as Harvey Fierstein's mother in Torch Song Trilogy during its original Broadway run. She is best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on the popular 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls. Her character was the wise-cracking Sicilian mother of Dorothy Zbornak, played by Beatrice Arthur (the other main characters being played by Betty White and Rue McClanahan); in real life, Getty was in fact one year younger than Arthur.

Toward the end of her career, she wrote an autobiography, with Steve Delsohn, titled If I Knew Then, What I Know Now... So What? (Contemporary Books, 1988).[2]

Personal life

Getty was married to Arthur Gettleman (from whose name she adapted into her stage name) from 1947 until his death in 2004. Getty had two sons: Carl Gettleman, who lives in California, and Barry Gettleman, who lives in Florida.[3]

In 1991, as later reported in Star magazine, Getty helped to nurse her 29-year-old nephew Steven Scher, who was near death and suffering from the final stages of AIDS.[citation needed] Because Scher's parents lived in England and his friends were no longer able to care for him in Greensboro, North Carolina, Getty had him flown to California and admitted to hospice care. He died in January 1992.

In 2000, Getty stopped making public appearances after revealing she had Parkinson's disease and osteoporosis. In 2002, media reports claimed she was also suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Doctors later discovered she actually had Lewy body dementia; both the Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diagnoses were incorrect.[3] In 2003, Lifetime television hosted a Golden Girls reunion, but Getty did not appear due to her failing health.

Death

Sister project Wikinews has related news: American actress estelle getty dead at age 84

On July 22, 2008, at approximately 5:30 a.m. PDT, Getty died in her Hollywood Boulevard home in Los Angeles from natural causes three days before what would have been her 85th birthday.[4][5][6]

None of Getty's former Golden Girls co-stars attended Getty's funeral, but did reflect upon her death: Rue McClanahan told the Associated Press, "Don't feel sad about her passing. She will always be with us in her crowning achievement, Sophia." Bea Arthur said in a statement, "Our mother-daughter relationship was one of the greatest comic duos ever, and I will miss her." Betty White remarked, "The only comfort at this moment is that although Estelle has moved on, Sophia will always be with us."[6]

In honor of Getty, Lifetime TV – which airs The Golden Girls – aired ten episodes of the series featuring the best of Sophia on Friday, July 25. Fans voted for their favorite episode on Lifetime's website. The episode "Old Friends" received the most votes and was aired last during the marathon.

Awards

Emmy Awards

The handprints of Estelle Getty in front of The Great Movie Ride at Walt Disney World's Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park.
  • 1986 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)
  • 1987 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)
  • 1988 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Won)
  • 1989 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)
  • 1990 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)
  • 1991 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)
  • 1992 – Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)

Golden Globe Awards

  • 1985 – Actress in a Leading Role – Musical or Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Won)
  • 1986 – Actress in a Leading Role – Musical or Comedy Series – The Golden Girls – (Won)
  • 1991 – Actress in a Supporting Role – Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie – The Golden Girls – (Nominated)

Golden Raspberry Awards

Filmography

Television

References

  1. ^ EstelleGetty.com
  2. ^ a b estelle getty biography (1923–)
  3. ^ a b www.estellegetty.com
  4. ^ "'Golden Girl' estelle getty dead at 84". KTLA (2008-07-22). Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
  5. ^ "Golden Girls' actress Estelle Getty dies at 84". CNN (2008-07-22). Retrieved on 2008-07-22.
  6. ^ a b Yahoo Entertainment Report: Getty Dies at 84

External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Estelle Getty


Persondata
NAME Getty, Estelle
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Scher, Estelle
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actress
DATE OF BIRTH July 25, 1923
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City, United States
DATE OF DEATH July 22, 2008
PLACE OF DEATH Los Angeles, California, United States
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelle_Getty"

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