What was Estelle Getty’s Net Worth?
Estelle Getty, the American actress and comedian, had a net worth of $8 million at the time of her death. She was best known for her iconic role as Sophia Petrillo on the television sitcom “The Golden Girls.”
Getty reprised the role on the spinoff series “The Golden Palace” and “Empty Nest,” as well as in episodes of the sitcoms “Blossom” and “Nurses.” She also appeared in several films, including Tootsie, Deadly Force, Mask, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, and Stuart Little.
In addition to her television and film work, Getty made guest appearances on several TV series, including Fantasy Island, Cagney & Lacey, Blossom, Touched by an Angel, Mad About You, and The Nanny. She won a Golden Globe Award for “The Golden Girls” in 1986 and a Primetime Emmy Award for the series in 1988.
Estelle Getty passed away on July 22, 2008, at the age of 84.
Early Life of Estelle Getty
Estelle Getty, born in Manhattan on July 25, 1923, was the daughter of Polish-Jewish immigrants Sarah and Charles Scher. Her family ran a glass business on the Lower East Side, and Getty had a sister named Rosilyn and a brother named Samuel. Getty’s passion for acting was inspired by Friday night trips to the Academy of Music to watch a film and a live vaudeville show. She attended Seward Park High School for her education.
Estelle Getty’s Road to Stardom
Getty worked as a secretary while pursuing her dream of becoming an actor. She appeared in various roles on the New York theater circuit, but it wasn’t until she was almost 60 years old that she achieved true stardom in “Torch Song Trilogy” on Broadway. She earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance.
While on stage for four years in “Torch Song Trilogy,” Getty also appeared on television in various shows such as “Baker’s Dozen,” “Fantasy Island,” “Cagney & Lacey,” “Hotel,” and “Newhart.” She also starred in the TV movies “No Man’s Land” and “Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story.”
Getty’s Role on “The Golden Girls”
Estelle Getty’s most famous role was on the NBC sitcom “The Golden Girls,” where she played Sophia Petrillo, the Italian-born mother of Dorothy, portrayed by Bea Arthur. The show ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992 and followed the lives of four older women living together in Miami, Florida. Getty, who was a year younger than Arthur, used clothing, wigs, and makeup to make herself look older for the role. Her portrayal earned her Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.
Television Career
Getty appeared in various television shows during “The Golden Girls” run, including “Roomies,” “City,” and “The Fanelli Boys.” She also reprised her role as Sophia Petrillo in an episode of “Blossom” and later in “The Golden Palace” and “Empty Nest.” Getty continued her career with appearances in “Touched by an Angel,” “Brotherly Love,” “Mad About You,” and a guest role as herself on “The Nanny” and “It’s Like, You Know…” which marked her final credit in 2001.
Estelle Getty’s Film Career
Getty’s first film appearance was in 1978’s “Team-Mates.” She returned to the big screen in 1982 for a bit part in “Tootsie” and played Gussie in “Deadly Force” the following year. In 1985, she landed a major role in “Mask” and played the owner of a department store in the 1987 film “Mannequin.” After a five-year break, she starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in the 1992 film “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot,” which received negative reviews. Getty’s final film role was in the 1999 family comedy “Stuart Little” as Grandma Estelle Little.
Estelle Getty’s Personal Life and Passing
Getty married Arthur Gettleman and had two sons named Carl and Barry. She showed early signs of dementia during the filming of “The Golden Girls” and had osteoporosis. Later in life, Getty was diagnosed with dementia with Lewy bodies. She passed away from the disease at the age of 84 in July of 2008.
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