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Comedy series, The Golden Girls revolves around the lives of four older women who share a house in Miami, Florida, despite their various quirks and differences.
Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) is a widowed Southern belle from Atlanta, Georgia, who moved to Miami with her late husband, George (George Grizzard). Following her husband’s death, the newly promiscuous Blanche advertises rooms-to-rent at a local grocery store.
Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur) is a divorced substitute teacher from Brooklyn, New York. She became pregnant in high school and married the baby’s father, Stanley Zbornak (Herbert Edelman), who leaves her for someone younger after 38 years together.
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Rose Nylund (Betty White) also a widow, is from a tiny farming town called St. Olaf, Minnesota. After her husband’s death, Rose moves to Miami to become a grief counselor. Rose is kind, sweet and endearing, although not very bright.
Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty), is an Italian immigrant who left Palermo, Sicily for New York to avoid an arranged marriage. She later married Salvadore Petrillo (Sid Melton) and had three children, one of which is Dorothy. After her husband’s death, she had a stroke, and was forced to leave her retirement home. After a fire destroys her home, she moves in with Blanche, Dorothy and Rose. Sophia is outspoken and opinionated, but the ladies love her. She is also an excellent cook.
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Main Cast
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Dorothy Zbornak | Bea Arthur |
| Rose Nylund | Betty White |
| Blanche Devereaux | Rue McClanahan |
| Sophia Petrillo | Estelle Getty |
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Additional Cast
| Character | Actor | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Stan Zbornak | Herb Edelman | 1985-1992 |
| Miles Webber | Harold Gould | 1985-1992 |
| Salvadore Petrillo | Sid Melton | 1987-1991 |
| Uncle Angelo | Bill Dana | 1988-1992 |
| Court Reporter | Cynthia Lea Clark | 1987-1992 |
| Candy | Meg Wyllie | 1987-1991 |
| Cop #1 | Jonathan Schmock | 1990-1991 |
| Young Dorothy | Lynnie Greene | 1987-1991 |
| Comedian | David Jackson Willis | 1989-1991 |
| Dreyfuss | Bear the Dog | 1988-1992 |
| Rebecca Devereaux | Debra Engle | 1989-1991 |
| Michael Zbornak | Scott Jacoby | 1986-1989 |
| Enrique Mas | Chick Vennera | 1989 |
| Doctor | Tony Carreiro | 1985-1990 |
| Lillian | Ellen Albertini Dow | 1988-1991 |
| Cop | Stan Roth | 1989-1991 |
| Dr. Harry Weston | Richard Mulligan | 1988-1989 |
| Max Weinstock | Jack Gifford | 1988-1990 |
| Lou | Alan Bumenfeld | 1986-1990 |
| Caterer | Raye Birk | 1988-1991 |
| Elvis Impersonator | Richard Bernard | 1988-1990 |
| Virginia Hollingsworth | Sheree North | 1985-1989 |
| George Corliss | Paul Dooley | 1986-1987 |
| Dr. Ashley | Philip Sterling | 1986-1987 |
| Angela | Nancy Walker | 1987 |
| Clayton Hollingsworth | Monte Markham | 1988-1991 |
| George Devereaux | George Grizzard | 1989-1990 |
| Don | Terry Kiser | 1986-1992 |
| Randy Becker | Tom Villard | 1986-1992 |
| Gary Tucker | Jerry Hardin | 1986-1989 |
| Frida Claxton | Nan Martin | 1986-1989 |
| Eduardo | Lloyd Bochner | 1987-1989 |
| Dominic Bosco | Vito Scotti | 1988-1989 |
| Dr. Budd | Michael McGuire | 1989 |
| Janet | Jessica Lundy | 1992 |
| Boy #1 | Karl Wiedergott | 1985-1988 |
| Dean Tucker | James Staley | 1986-1989 |
| Jim Shu | Ralph Ahn | 1988-1989 |
| Howard | Steven Gilborn | 1989-1991 |
| Father Salemo | Steven Gilborn | 1990-1992 |
| Al Beatty | Richard Roat | 1986-1991 |
| Carl | Terry Willis | 1986-1987 |
| Dr. Wallerstein | Nat Bernstein | 1987 |
| Sven | Doug Cox | 1988-1989 |
| Dr. Chang | Keone Young | 1989-1992 |
| Louise | Beth Grant | 1989-1991 |
| Dave | William Cort | 1986-1990 |
| Malcolm | Douglas Seale | 1989-1990 |
| Ron | Don Mirault | 1991-1992 |
| Jimmy Lark | Tom La Grua | 1986-1989 |
| Albert | Teddy Wilson | 1986-1988 |
| Ernie | Don Woodard | 1988 |
| Lillian | Mimi Cozzens | 1989-1991 |
| Gina | Flo Di Re | 1989-1990 |
| Dr. Shrewsbury | Paul Collins | 1990-1992 |
| Dr. Halperin | Steve Landesberg | 1991 |
| Produce Clerk | Dom Irrera | 1986 |
| Anna | Geraldine Fitzgerald | 1988-1989 |
| Lillian | Gloria Dorson | 1991-1992 |
| Carol Webster | Dinah Manoff | 1991-1992 |
| Bodybuilder | Andre Rosey Brown | 1988-1989 |
| Harley Dietz | David Leisure | 1987-1992 |
| Sarah | Robin Faye Bookland | 1992 |
| Richard | Kevin McCarthy | 1986-1990 |
| Fidel | Santiago-Henry Darrow | 1988-1990 |
| Dr. Stevens | Jeffrey Tambor | 1989-1991 |
| Agent Bell | Timothy Stack | 1990 |
| Jody | Jody Price | 1987-1988 |
| Barbara Weston | Kristy McNichol | 1991-1992 |
| Herb Shrewsberry | Stanley Kamel | 1991 |
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Trivia
Betty White and Rue McClanahan co-starred in Mama’s Family. Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan co-starred in Maude.
When it aired in 1992, The Golden Girls’ season finale was the tenth most watched series finale of all time. In 2010, it ranked seventeenth.
Rue McClanahan was often found sleeping in various places around the set.
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When Bea Arthur left the show, a spin-off series was created called The Golden PalaceThe Golden Girls is one of only three shows to ever win Emmy Awards for all its main characters. The other two shows are Will & Grace and All in the Family.
Betty White was the oldest of the four actresses. After Rue McClanahan died in 2010 of a massive stroke, White became the last surviving cast member.
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According to Betty White, Bea Arthur and Betty White did not get along during the making of the show.
The Golden GirlsFriends.
Two hit shows were ended when a Bea Arthur left the show; The Golden GirlsMaude.
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Although she played Dorothy’s mother, Estelle Gerry was younger than Bea Arthur.
This series was so popular that it spawned two spin-offs. The Golden Palace lasted for only one season, but Empty Nest lasted seven.
Three days after Bea Arthur died of lung cancer, the marquees of New York City’s Broadway theater district were dimmed for one minute in tribute to her years of entertaining others.
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Bea Arthur left $300,000 to New York’s Ali Forney Center, an organization that supports and provides housing for homeless LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) youth.
Rue McClanahan was of Irish and Choctaw descent; and her Choctaw great-grandfather’s name was “Running Hawk.”
More than a decade before her death, Rue McClanahan survived breast cancer.
Estelle Getty died in 2008 of natural causes, although she had been suffering with Lewy body dementia for years.
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At 65 years and counting, Betty White currently holds the record for the longest career in the history of American television. She also holds the record for the length of time between Emmy nominations. Her first nomination was in 1951, and her next was in 2012, 61 years later. She has also become the oldest Emmy nominee and the oldest competitive Grammy Award winner, which she did in 2012.
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Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Bea Arthur strongly supported animal rights.
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