Ann M. Murray
Fancast.com
Lifetime is featuring a marathon of Golden Girls episodes on Friday, July 25th from 5pm to midnight, to honor the memory of Estelle Getty, who played spunky and adorable Sophia Petrillo. Here at Fancast we'd like to honor Mrs. Getty by showcasing her bio and her extensive decade-spanning acting resume. Here's to you, Mrs. Petrillo.
Fancast Biography:
The petite, wisecracking embodiment of the “44-year overnight sensation,” stage veteran Estelle Getty became a television star at an age when most performers were contemplating retirement. Playing the sharp-tongued, hilariously blunt octogenarian Sophia Petrillo on “The Golden Girls” (NBC, 1985-1992), Getty easily stole scenes from co-stars Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White in this groundbreaking hit sitcom, which cheerfully upended viewers’ perceptions of senior citizens. For Getty, a television newcomer then little-known outside theatrical circles, becoming a series regular on “The Golden Girls” established her as Hollywood’s go-to comic actress for overbearing mother roles. As she wrote in her 1988 autobiography, If I Knew Then What I Know Now …So What?, “I’ve played Irish mothers, Jewish mothers, Italian mothers, Southern mothers… I’ve played mother to everyone but Attila the Hun.”
Acting Credits:
1971 Made off-Broadway debut in "The Divorce of Judy and Jane"
1981 - 1982 Breakthrough stage role as Mrs. Beckoff in "Torch Song Trilogy"
1982 Played first notable film role in "Tootsie" (billed as "a middle-aged woman")
1983 Accompanied successful U.S. touring company of "Torch Song Trilogy"
1984 Played Cher's mother in "Mask"
1985 Achieved greatest fame as octagenarian Sophia Petrillo on NBC's long-running comedy series, "The Golden Girls"
1992 First leading role in features, as Sylvester Stallone's mother in "Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot"
1999 Appeared in the children's feature "Stuart Little" as Grandma Estelle
1999 Was Sister Rosanne on The Million Dollar Kid.
Also played Sophia Petrillo on Empty Nest, Blossom and Nurses.
