was an off-Broadway show that opened in the summer of 2003 in New York City at Rose's Turn theater in the West Village, and ran until November of that year. However, with some detective work, audiences can figure them out. Sophia, Dorothys straight-talking mother, was the Golden Girls houses oldest figure. The Golden Girls ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992. In any event, Arthur chose to commit to a seventh and final season. As of 2019, every episode is available for streaming on Stan. As of September 8, 2021 all 7 seasons of The Golden Girls were made available to stream on Disney+ in Canada. But what made the show golden were its stellar cast and the beloved characters they portrayed. She would return home to New York if she were unsuccessful. One such source is the actors who played the characters. The series starred Stephanie Hodge and a set of other young nurses. "[45], Estelle Getty's stage fright, which affected her from the beginning of the show, grew worse as the show went on. She thought an accentuated Southern accent would be sexy and strong and attractive to men. New York: Scribner. Blanche Elizabeth Marie Devereaux (ne Hollingsworth) is one of the four, fictional, main characters on the highly-acclaimed, revered, and well-received 1985-1992 NBC situation-comedy/sit-com TV series, The Golden Girls, and its spin-off, The Golden Palace. Producers wanted to cast McClanahan as Rose and White as Blanche based on roles they had previously played; White portrayed the man-hungry Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, while McClanahan co-starred as the sweet but scatterbrained Vivian Harmon in Maude. [4] In 2014, the Writers Guild of America placed the sitcom at number 69 in their list of the "101 Best Written TV Series of All Time". With an ensemble cast starring Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, the show is about four older women who share a home in Miami, Florida. Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Harris served as the original executive producers. According to McClanahan, by the end of season three, Getty's anxiety had become a serious problem, and she had increasing trouble memorizing her lines. (Photo Credit: MovieStills DB). Betty White, who died on December 31, 2021, at the age of 99, was best known for her role as the wonderfully naive Rose Nylund in the NBC comedy The Golden Girls. 41 Behind-the-Scenes 'The Golden Girls' Facts - 'Golden Girls' Trivia. Though Harris had created the character of Dorothy with a "Bea Arthur type" in mind, Littlefield and the producers initially envisioned actress Elaine Stritch for the part. The women's ages were usually not explicitly stated, although some deductive work gives a pretty safe estimate of how old each Golden Girl was at the start of the series. Cheers. The Golden Girls was part of a series of Brandon Tartikoff shows that put an end to NBC's ratings slump, along with The Cosby Show, 227, Night Court, Miami Vice, and L.A. Law. In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. The reasons for her departure are speculative, but the popular theory is that Arthur felt as though the quality of the sitcom had begun to slip by the seventh season, and she wanted to leave while the show was still popular. Carl Gettleman, one of her two sons, says the co-star of the TV show "The Golden Girls" died early Tuesday, July 22, 2008, at home in Los Angeles. Arthur flipped upon reading the script, but felt hesitant about McClanahan's approach, as she did not "want to play (their Maude characters) Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens." It was, however, more than a fringe, Its a tiny marvel, looking back, that the Golden Girls magnificent casting came together as well as it did. Getty came to Weiner's mind soon after, when it became time to begin casting of The Golden Girls. This program, on the other hand, was centered on a group of older ladies. The show is seen in more than a hundred countries. We assume that middle-aged women continue to live their lives working, partying, being mothers, or hanging with their friends. Among all of the great roles she played over the course of her legendary career, the late, great Betty Whitewho passed away on Dec. 31, 2021, at the age of. The owner of the house is a widow named Blanche Devereaux (McClanahan), who was joined by fellow widow Rose Nylund (White) and divorce Dorothy Zbornak (Arthur) after they both responded to an ad on the bulletin board of a local grocery store a year before the start of the series. How to Start a Fire in Dayz A Comprehensive Guide, How to Be More Ladylike: Speak Softly, Dress Modestly, Carry Yourself with Grace, How to Eat Babka: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, How to Wire a Weed Eater: A Step-by-Step Guide. Rose was probably closer to 51 than her stated age of 55, and Sophia was likely closer to 79 than her stated age of 77. Sophia, Dorothy's straight-talking mother, was the oldest character in the Golden Girls' house. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be? This would mean that Dorothy, who was born in 1938, would have been around 47 when the show started. Bea Arthur actually hated cheesecake. Win free shoes, organize your shoe closet, see the latest styles + more, About During its original run, The Golden Girls received 68 Emmy nominations, 11 Emmy awards, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Viewers for Quality Television awards. According to the calculations, Dorothy was 53 at the start of the series, according to the, Blanche was 17 in 1949, according to Season 3, Episode 25, , Blanche lied to her housemates about her age so easily (and Sophia promptly called her out and said shed be 70 when the kid graduated), its reasonable to, Fun Things to Do for Mothers Day Filled With Activities, Hilarious Thanksgiving Puns for Your Friends and Family, 60 Sweet Merry Christmas Wishes for Mothers 2021 Update, Applauding Employee Appreciation Quotes Befitting for Hardworking Staff, Heart Warming One Month Anniversary Wishes Latest Update 2021, Adorable Thanks for Birthday Wishes Messages to Send Someone. [74] The show was the anchor of NBC's Saturday line-up, and almost always won its time slot, as ABC and CBS struggled to find shows to compete against it, the most notable being ABC's Lucille Ball sitcom Life With Lucy in the beginning of the 198687 season although it aired at 8:00, an hour earlier. Bill Dana played Sophia's brother Angelo and her father. In Australia, the show airs daily on FOX Comedy. Ironically, despite being the oldest actress in the show, Betty White was the last of the main stars to survive. It was my positive attitude, and that made Bea angry sometimes.. Estelle Getty reprised her role as Sophia in The Golden Palace, which only lasted for one season. From left to right- Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls. Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Bea Arthur as the beloved main cast of the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). Sophia was never ashamed to confess her age, and she often took advantage of it to get an advantage over the other ladies in the home. Golden Girls Forever: An Unauthorized Look Behind the Lanai. The doorway from the living room, with the alcove and baker's shelf just inside, was designed to give the illusion that the actors were walking into and out of the kitchen. This means that she was 63 years old by the time the show premiered in 1985. The adventures of Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Rose ( universally beloved Betty White) and Sophia (Estelle Getty) -- four older women who lived in a Miami home together -- took audiences by storm and provided representation to a group generally overlooked by television of the time. Rose Nylund was 55 years old when the show premiered, as Dorothy stated in the Season 1 episode Job Hunting.. We hope this article on how old were the golden girls has been interesting and has also been able to bring back good memories. She wanted to be a Southern heroine, like Vivien Leigh. They decided that a separate cook would distract from their friendship. She passed away after suffering complications from a stroke at 99 years old on December 31, 2021, just 17 days before her 100th birthday. Initially, White was considered for the role of Blanche Devereaux, which eventually went to Rue McClanahan. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the Golden Girls are truly ageless. "[47] Getty died in 2008, the result of dementia with Lewy bodies. All the lead actresses won Emmy awards for their performances on the show. [citation needed]. And that was, to me, what made it seem like it could be a contemporary, young show. Susan Harris developed a spin-off centering on the empty nest syndrome. The Golden Girls are also dressed in cardigans or long dresses, similar to the outfits we would find in our grandmothers closet. In Season 2, Episode 1, "End of the Curse," Blanche believes she is pregnant, and states she'll be 65 by the time the child graduates high school. McClanahan insisted on the character having a thick Southern accent, a popular aspect of her character throughout the show. 5. Casting director Judith Weiner had seen Torch Song Trilogy, and thought Getty was terrific in it. This was the first time since 1993 that The Golden Palace was seen on American television. 1. In the end, the math adds up to Dorothy being 53 at the start of the series and 60 at the series' end. Dorothy states she is a Leo in Season 4, Episode 10, "Stan Takes a Wife," placing her birthday either in late July or early-to-late August. This indicates that Sophia was likely close to her real-life age. New Movie News, Movie Trailers & upcoming Movie Reviews. We didn't want the show to be about four dowdy ladies. 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. Before The Golden Girls, she was most renowned for creating the series Soap, which parodied daytime soap operas such as The Young and the Restless. [9], The pilot was taped on April 17, 1985.[10]. "[34] Getty continuously battled stage fright during her tenure on the show. Season 2, Episode 25, "A Piece of Cake," reveals Sophia celebrated her 50th birthday in 1956, putting her at 79 at The Golden Girls' beginning. "[45], After season three, Arthur had expressed her growing dissatisfaction with the disparaging jokes made about her physical appearance, which were often in the scripts. DO YOU LOVE SHOES? McClanahan deliberately exaggerated her accent, stating, "I played Blanche the way I felt Blanche. White's birthday is January 17th and Arthur's was May 13th. The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended, Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams Is Iconic for Pushing Boundaries. This indicates that she was likely in her late 40s when the show began. In a 1988 interview, Getty commented on her phobia and expressed how working with major stars, such as Arthur and White, made her even more nervous. "[38] Both actresses had dramatically different training and acting backgrounds; Saks commented on White's habit of breaking the fourth wall to engage and joke with the studio audience during breaks between filming, which Arthur found unprofessional. [26] She found the concept interesting, as "it was a demographic that had never been addressed," and she soon began work on it. Premiering in 1985, The Golden Girls was an instant smash, attracting a diverse audience for a then-novel concept depicting the lives of four older women sharing friendship, a home and a lot . Every episode of The Golden Girls was made available to stream on Hulu on February 13, 2017. In this article, we will explore the evidence and try to uncover the true ages of the Golden Girls. [24][30], In the pilot script, Blanche was described as "more Southern than Blanche DuBois", so McClanahan was perplexed when she was asked by director Sandrich during the filming of the pilot not to use the strong Southern accent she had developed, but to use her natural Oklahoma accent instead. [107] When that idea was not well received, Harris retooled the series as a vehicle for Richard Mulligan, and the following year Empty Nest debuted, starring Mulligan as pediatrician Harry Weston, a widower whose two adult daughters moved back home. [62] Evans generally dressed the actresses in expensive pieces and high-quality fabrics, despite the recurring theme that the four characters were struggling with money, because, "The main idea was to make them look good. It ran from September 1992 to May 1993 and also starred Cheech Marin and Don Cheadle. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Golden_Girls&oldid=1139544706, "Thank You for Being a Friend" (instrumental), "I was running all over the house grabbing anybody who would listen. [83] The 21-disc collection features all 180 episodes of the series as well as all special features contained on the previously released season sets; it is encased in special collectible packaging, a replica of Sophia's purse. Similarly, Dorothy mentions in another episode that she was married in 1960, which would have made her 22. 2. Getty was picky about the jokes Sophia would make. Rose's age is the easiest to track down, thanks to Dorothy openly saying it in Season 1, Episode 22, "Job Hunting." The Golden Girls is an American comedy that was produced by Susan Harris and aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. However, this older age makes sense because Sophia is Dorothys mother. For example, one or more of the women would become involved in some sort of problem, often involving other family members, men, or an ethical dilemma. [3] In 2013, TV Guide ranked The Golden Girls number 54 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time. Audiences can figure things out with a little detective work. Estelle Getty portrayed the role of Sophia Petrillo, the mother of Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthurs character). Going by the math, that makes Blanche 53 at the start of the series. In Season 4, Episode 10, Stan Takes a Wife, Dorothy declares that she is a Leo, indicating that her birthdate is in late July or early-to-late August. However, with some detective work, audiences can figure them out. The series ran for a total of seven seasons and a total of 180 full-length episodes. Ellen Albertini Dow played Sophia's friend Lillian and an unnamed hospital patient with a flower cart. At this time, syndicated reruns began airing, distributed by Buena Vista Television (now DisneyABC Domestic Television), the syndication arm of Disney, whose Touchstone Television division produced the series. It wasnt until she was informed of Roses naivety that she gained the confidence to play the role and pull off the character. The Golden Girls is one of four live-action shows, along with All in the Family, Will & Grace, and Schitt's Creek, where all the principal actors have won at least one Emmy. For simplicity, because the program lasted seven seasons, each season is treated as a different year for the purpose of simplicity. [64] Rue McClanahan had a special clause written into her contract allowing her to keep her costumes, which were mostly custom-made for her, utilising expensive fabrics. Arthur and White worked well together in shared mutual respect, but they did not pursue a personal friendship with one another outside of The Golden Girls set. On the other hand, the women in And Just Like That dress in a trendy, modern style. The producers of The Golden Girls decided to cast Bea Arthur, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan after seeing them act alongside each other in shows like Maude (1972-1978) and Mamas Family (1983-1984). This faade, along with the Empty Nest house, sustained hurricane damage leading to Disney's 2003 decision to bulldoze the houses of "Residential Street" and construct its Lights, Motors, Action! Despite fan theories that the actresses were playing characters much younger than their actual age, Rue McClanahan's age in 1985 was 52, one year younger than her character on the show. [31] The suit was later settled. Rose even went to the trouble of looking up the information in official documents, only to discover that it had been removed by authorization of the governor.. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. Some episodes featured flashbacks to previous episodes, flashbacks to events not shown in previous episodes, or to events that occurred before the series began. Maddy Hiltz is someone who loves all things history. Finally, Sophia is stated to be in her late 70s, suggesting that she was between 77 and 79. How Old Was Rose Nylund On Golden Girls? Sarah Jessica Parker and Betty White, both of whom play a 55-year-old woman. (season two, episode five).