Actress Estelle Getty stars as Sophia Petrillo on the hit show “The Golden Girls.” Getty was born in 1923 in New York. Her career began with a part in the 1978 film “Team-Mates,” and she landed the famous role of Sophia while she was in Los Angeles on tour for the play “Torch Song Trilogy,” in which she played Harvey Fierstein’s mother. Getty reprised her Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning role of Sophia on “The Golden Palace” and “Empty Nest.” Some of her other television credits include “Newhart,” “Blossom,” “Mad About You” and “Cagney & Lacey.” She has also appeared on the game show “Hollywood Squares.” She appeared in films such as “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot” with Sylvester Stallone, “Mask” with Cher, “Tootsie,” “Mannequin” and “Stuart Little.” Estelle Getty passed away in Hollywood on July 22, 2008 at the age of 84 after suffering from Lewy body dementia.
