Thank you for being a friend…
Sorry to hear it, but from what I’ve read death is a formality. She’s been mentally gone for several years.
Some trivia: she played Harvey Fierstein’s mother in Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway (the role played by Anne Bancroft in the movie) and it was a producer seeing her in that role that got her The Golden Girls gig.
RIP, Estelle. You were a hoot.
For those who like me had never heard of Lewy Body Dementia:
More trivia- she was only one year younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter on The Golden Girls.
I avidly watched Golden Girls with my mom through elementary school and high school, and I can’t really tell you why I liked it, other than to say that I loved Getty’s Sophia. I certainly was not their target audience as a pre-teen/teenager.
Well, that sucks. She was a hoot.
I wonder how the other *Golden Girls * are taking it?
Sorry to hear this news, but not all that surprised. In a recent interview, someone asked Bea Arthur if there would ever be a Golden Girls reunion and Bea stated that it would be impossible as Estelle was in very poor health.
We used to see Estelle Getty all the time in West Hollywood, going to Gelson’s Grocery Store (Mayfair back in those days) or just taking a walk in her jogging suit with a couple of younger guys (one of whom I was told was her son). She was always smiling and nice to anyone who said hello or recognized her. And boy, was she a tiny woman…which of course made it all the funnier that she was cast as Bea Arthur’s mother in Golden Girls.
She’s dead? Wow, I thought she’d live forever.
It’s very sad but as others have said she was pretty much a vacant lot for the last few years so thise is probably a release.
Estelle was actually the 2nd youngest of the Golden Girls cast. Rue is 11 years younger, and Bea and Betty are both about a year older than she was.
I’m going to miss her…Sophia was my favorite character on that show.
Picture it. Los Angeles, 2008…
Farewell Estelle.
Damn you Annie X-Mas!! I was saddened, but fine with the news, until I came in here and read your OP. That opening line just tore me all up inside.
'Scuse me, I’ve got a bit of dust in my eye…
I think I read a year or so back that Rue came to visit her, and after she left, Estelle said to one of her nurses-“She was a nice lady-who was she?” That’s so sad. I too used to watch the Golden Girls when I was little. I still want to be Sophia when I get old.
At least she’s out of pain now.
Not quite. It wasn’t on Broadway, but in Hollywood. And someone may have gotten her an audition, but getting that role was entirely her (and the makeup artist’s) doing.
RIP Estelle. Thank you for being a friend. 
Ah- I recline corrected. 
She was in the Broadway production as well however.
I seem to remember an interview where she mentioned that before the final audition she went to a thrift store and bought a too-big handbag, then clutched it in front of her as if holding on for dear life the way she’d seen so many old women do, and that this helped as well.
Out of makeup I always thought she looked like she was separated at birth from Judge Judy. I even wondered if they were related, but apparently not.
Am I the only person who has a copy of Stop or My Mother will Shoot? I loved that movie! Sly S. is so macho, but Estelle has him in the palm of his hand over & over again! Wonderful stuff! The magnum in her purse reminded me of Janet Evanovich’s Grandma Masur’s character.
(Note: I raised girls, but moms of boys must have loved this movie.)
Love, Phil
Harvey Fierstein’s incredibly moving tribute to his “mother” Estelle Getty.
I love stop or my mom will shoot - Ive got it too Phil! Estelle was great, her ability to deliver such witty put downs was superb. I hope Estelle is resting in peace now.