Estelle Getty of ‘Golden Girls’ Fame Dies at 84

Estelle Getty, the American Actress best known for her long-running, Emmy-winning role of Sophia Petrillo in ‘The Golden Girls,’ died July 22 at her home in Los Angeles. She was only three days short of 85.

After retiring from her four decade long career in show-biz, Getty was hit by Lewy body dementia.

Getty died early Tuesday morning in her sleep, of natural causes. “Although it was a trip that she never wanted to take, she went gracefully, in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by her family and her very loving care-givers,” reads a note on the homepage of her website.

"Her family and close friends thank everyone for being so loving and supportive of Estelle in her last few years," said Alan Siegel, her longtime manager.

Born in New York City on July 25, 1923, Getty started out in a Yiddish Theatre and then pursued her dream as an actress in regional theater and off-Broadway productions, doing roles which remained obscure for decades.

In 1946, she married Arthur Gettleman and remained with him until he died in 2004. Originally named Estelle Scher, she adapted her stage name from her husband. Together they had two sons.

Getty first got noticed by Hollywood for her role in ‘Torch Song Trilogy,’ which fetched her, the 1985 Helen Hayes Award for outstanding supporting performer. Also, the same role brought her to NBC’s attention giving her the role of Sophia, who was typified by a white wig, large glasses and dowdy clothing.

Always ready with a cutting remark as Sophia, Getty was actually a year younger than her screen daughter.

But she had no problem playing people much older than her. "I really don't have an actor's ego," she told the Chicago Tribune in 1986. "I never wanted 'stardom.' I think it's because I was a fat, funny-looking kid. It's not that I constantly looked in the mirror and saw the ravages of beauty. There was no beauty to ravage."

Getty won seven back-to-back Emmy nominations from 1986-1992, for playing Sophia. She won the award in 1988.

The role of a peculiar mother suited her well and she then played many similar roles including mother to Cher ("Mask," 1985), Barry Manilow ("Copacabana," 1985) and Sylvester Stallone ("Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot," 1992).

Towards the end of her career, Getty penned down an autobiography, with Steve Delsohn, titled ‘If I Knew Then, What I Know Now... So What?’

Getty is survived by her sons Carl and Barry Gettleman, a brother, David Scher, and a sister, Rosilyn Howard.