McClanahan passed away in 2010 at age 76 from a stroke. Arthur died from cancer in 2009 at age 86, and Getty, who suffered from Lewy body dementia, a progressive brain disease, died in 2008 at age 84. The last surviving Golden Girls star, White died December 31, 2021, at 99.

Who was the oldest golden girl in real life?

Betty White was 63 years old when the first episode of The Golden Girls aired on September 14th, 1985. She was the oldest of the three girls (Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur, and Rue McClanahan) but she's the only one left now, at age 98.

How many Golden Girls are alive?

Even still, Estelle was the first Golden Girl to pass away at 84-years-old in 2008 from Lewy body dementia. While none of the Golden Girls are still alive today, they'll always remain alive in our hearts. (Cheesy, yes, but our love for Betty, Bea, Rue, and Estelle is strong!)

Did The Golden Girls get along in real life?

Betty White and Bea Arthur had a backstage feud on The Golden Girls due to personality conflicts and acting differences. Despite the feud, Betty White and Rue McClanahan were close friends off-camera, playing word games between takes.

Is Estelle Getty still alive?

Getty died in the early morning hours of July 22, 2008, at her home in Los Angeles, the result of Lewy body dementia, according to her family.

How Each Of The Golden Girls Died

Did Golden Girls wear wigs?

Though gregarious Getty played Sophia Petrillo, the elderly mother of Arthur's Zbornak, in real life she was one year younger than her onscreen offspring. To make the age gap work, the glam team transformed Getty with heavy makeup and a wig, IMDb reported.

Who was the most difficult golden girl?

Rue McClanahan, who passed away today, had the toughest role on The Golden Girls.

Which golden girl didn't like Betty?

The feud between Betty and Bea seemed to grow after Betty won an Emmy award. Betty won the first Emmy award among The Golden Girls' main cast, although they all eventually won Emmys. Even still, because she won the first one, there was allegedly some tension on set after the ceremony.

Did any of The Golden Girls smoke in real life?

Bea Arthur was a heavy smoker in real life. She died from lung cancer.

Who did Betty White leave her money to?

White, who died in late December 2021 at nearly 100 years old, left most of her estate, estimated to be worth $75 million, to a trust benefiting animal charities — many of the same animal welfare services she supported throughout her life, according to The Daily Star. However, she did have pets of her own.

Why did The Golden Girls seem so much older?

While White's lovable character, Rose, is revealed to be 55 in Season 1, Episode 22, when Dorothy reveals her age. In real life, the actresses were older than the characters they played, one reason why fans suspect they may appear older than Parker, Nixon and Davis.

How old was Dorothy in Golden Girls?

Dorothy was regarded to be in her mid-50s in the first season of The Golden Girls (Bea Arthur was 63 when the show began). In the show's final season in 1992, Dorothy's age is stated as 62 (Bea Arthur was 70 at the time). Dorothy was called "Pussycat" by her mother and "Spumoni Face" by her father.

Why did Bea hate Betty?

White knew Arthur didn't like her.

"She was not that fond of me," White said, as reported by the Village Voice. "She found me a pain in the neck sometimes. It was my positive attitude—and that made Bea mad sometimes. Sometimes if I was happy, she'd be furious!"

Was Sophia older than Dorothy in real life?

However, in real life, the actress who portrayed Sophia, Estelle Getty, was just 62, making her one year younger than her onscreen daughter! She apparently wore aging makeup while in character to make her come across as a believable, eighty-something woman.

Was Betty White older than Bea Arthur?

Betty White and Bea Arthur were both 63 years old when the series began. White was born Jan. 17, 1922. Arthur was born May 13, 1922, making her a year older than Getty, her on-screen mother.

Why did Dorothy always wear boots?

She never wore heels, preferring slouchy boots or sandals, because the actor Bea Arthur hated wearing shoes.

What condition did Dorothy have in Golden Girls?

Dorothy learns that she has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Dorothy learns that she has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Dorothy learns that she has Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

How did Golden Girls end?

In the hour-long series finale, which aired in May 1992, Dorothy meets and marries Blanche's uncle Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) and moves to Hollingsworth Manor in Atlanta. Sophia is to join her, but in the end, she stays behind with the other women in Miami. This led into the spin-off series The Golden Palace.

Who didn't get along on The Golden Girls?

Bea Arthur was apparently no fan of Betty White, despite the two of them starring on the long-running sitcom “The Golden Girls” together.

Who was the nicest Golden Girl?

Rose Nylund was sweet, innocent, and occasionally dim-witted – she was even voted “most likely to get stuck in a tuba” in high school. She cared deeply for her friends and for others, even working in a grief center. Rose is considered Betty White's best performance, and for good reason.

Which Golden Girl was a man?

The pioneering sitcom about four women and their shoulder pads premiered 30 years ago today.

Who was the oldest Golden Girl character in real life?

Estelle Getty's Sophia Petrillo Was The Oldest In The Golden Girls. Of the four Golden Girls, Sophia Petrillo is the oldest, written to be 79 at the start of the series and 86 by its end. In a strange twist though, Sophia's actor, Estelle Getty was only 62 when she first portrayed her character.

How tall was Dorothy in Golden Girls?

Dorothy often was mocked by her two housemates, Rose and Blanche, as manly, strappy, tough, and a bit odd due to her stature of 5'10" and her deep voice.

Did Rue McClanahan have blue eyes?

But she fought it, successfully, and returned to Broadway in 2005 for an eight-month run as Madame Morrible in Wicked. By 2007, she was promoting her autobiography, My First Five Husbands, (she was survived by her sixth), in a shining black jacket that complemented her equally sparkly blue eyes.