From 1985 to 1992, there was simply no better spot to spend a Saturday evening than listening to Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia discuss life while enjoying some cheesecake.
Regardless of your age, whether you were still in the single digits or reflecting on your 50s, The Golden Girls was – and continues to be, as demonstrated by people of all ages who still watch reruns – a sitcom that fostered family unity. It was a show that you would intentionally make time to watch at home, enduring commercial breaks and more, possibly with one of the golden-aged ladies in your life by your side.
One of the enjoyable aspects of rewatching those shows might be discovering the fresh humor, the jokes that didn’t make sense to you as a child but are surprisingly adult now. (It’s fortunate that you didn’t realize how many innuendos you were watching alongside your grandmother when you were eightâbut her hearty laughter has always stuck with you.)
Even though it’s been nearly 40 years since The Golden Girls first aired in September 1985, and its talented cast members have passed away, the captivating relationships they portrayed on screen continue to thrive.
As do the stories about how their strong personalitiesâespecially White and Arthurâclashed in IRL.
During filming, when the red light was on, it was just as likely to have more professionals present than those women. However, when the red light was off, those two individuals found it difficult to connect with each other, even if they were forced to be in the same heated environment together, according to series co-producer Marsha Posner Williams at a 40th anniversary celebration for the show on June 18, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter at the Pride LIVTopMob Hollywood festival.
When Arthur phoned Williams at home, she mentioned that she had recently bumped into “that person,” referring to White, at the grocery store and was planning to pen a letter in response. The producer recollected advising the seasoned actress, “‘Bea, please let go of it for heaven’s sake. Move on.’
And seemingly Arthur did, eventually.
In 2002, she expressed amazement to TopMob News, ten years since “Golden Girls” had concluded its initial broadcast, that she was watching it for three hours a day! Indeed, her fondness for the show remained unchanged.
In most popular series, regardless of whether they focus on detective work, business transactions, or political maneuverings (such as competing for the Iron Throne or managing Waystar RoyCo), it’s often the intricacies of characters’ relationshipsâeither positive and inspiring or negative and detrimentalâthat draw audiences in and encourage them to revisit episodes to catch aspects they might have missed initially.
In a delightful blend of humor, The Golden Girls offered poignant, gentle, and complex scenes within its sitcom structure. These moments, seasoned with witty banter, collectively painted a captivating image of women embracing their later years with enthusiasm, whether it be their second, third, or even fourth life phase.
However, when onscreen interactions sparkle so brilliantly, it can sometimes be a bit of a disappointment to ponder if these actresses shared meals off camera, or if they were more like the Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow of their era, or perhaps more like Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Initially, all four actresses from “The Golden Girls” were awarded an Emmy, which is impressive considering Doris Roberts, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White were all nominated for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.
In 1986, Betty White won for her role as Rose Nyland, a seemingly innocent character from Minnesota; followed by Rue McClanahan in 1987, portraying the sensual Blanche Deveraux; and Estelle Getty, who played Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced woman with a sharp wit, often won through her powerful stares or subtle eye rolls, claimed her award in 1988.
Getty, the actress portraying Sophia Petrillo, Dorothy’s elderly mother who supposedly hailed from Sicily, received annual nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She clinched the award in 1988. Despite being a year younger than Arthur, she was considered octogenarian for her role.
In her Emmy acceptance speech, White expressed that there was no more room for further narrowing down; it had to be limited to three. Essentially, she explained that she was the fortunate one who got to take home this beautiful golden statue, but she wanted to acknowledge Estelle, Rue, and Bea as well.
We go together like pieces of a puzzle, it wouldn’t be right to separate us. We’d like to express our gratitude to the network for giving a chance to these elderly women, I apologize for my initial choice of words.
The following year, Rue, who had chuckled pleasantly when presenter Howie Mandel mistakenly called her “McCallahan,” delivered an extended speech to a gathering affectionately referred to as the Golden Girls before she spoke.
There are five key people involved here, including Bea Arthur and Betty White. Also, Estelle Getty is part of our group, as am I. And let me tell you about our secret advantage â the fifth Golden Girl, Terry Hughes, who has directed an impressive 108 episodes and took on the role of executive producer in 1989. This man brings joy to our set, making it a pleasure for us to work together each day, week, and year.
McClanahan reflected two decades later that it felt uncomfortable to compete against each other repeatedly, and she perceived that Arthur didn’t enjoy losing to White in their initial encounter, nor did she relish her own subsequent defeats, despite Arthur earning a larger paycheck as the veteran leading lady among them.
the four of us would like to express our gratitude, as we all emerged victorious…”, followed by a long list of individuals associated with the show, such as executive producer Paul Junger Witt and creator Susan Harris.
Subsequently, the women found themselves united in enduring and smiling through it as Candice Bergen claimed victory for the following two years, and once more in 1992, in recognition of her role in Murphy Brown. It’s worth noting that Kirstie Alley triumphed in 1991, thanks to her performance on Cheers.
When NBC was initially assembling the cast for The Golden Girls, McClanahan and White had previously worked together on Mama’s Family. This prior collaboration established a warm relationship between them, which carried over into their new venture. “We have great affection for each other,” White expressed about McClanahan, whom she fondly referred to as “Roozie.
Initially, White was thought of for the character Blanche, possibly due to being typecast from her two-time Emmy-winning role as the brash Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. However, the creators intended McClanahan to portray Rose instead.
In her memoir published in 2007, titled “My First Five Husbands…and the Ones Who Got Away”, McClanahan recalled that she believed the role of Blanche was tailor-made for her. Her excitement grew when, during her audition for Rose, the director of the pilot unexpectedly asked her to try out for Blanche instead. The following day, White was cast as her character’s counterpart in the role of Rose.
Simultaneously, McClanahan recounts her efforts to persuade Arthur, her co-star from the spin-off series ‘Maude’, to join ‘The Golden Girls’. It was evident that Arthur’s character, Maude Findlay, shared a strong spiritual bond with Dorothy, an independent divorcĂ©e. Given McClanahan’s six-year stint playing Maude’s dimwitted neighbor Vivien, it is plausible that she was considered for the role of Rose.
As a lifestyle aficionado looking back, let me share an amusing memory from my past. Seven years had passed since I last crossed paths with Arthur, yet our bond remained strong. One thing he always made clear was his disdain for the notion of “Maude and Vivien Meet Sue Ann Nivens.” Boring, he’d say it, emphasizing the ‘boring’ part to drive home the point.
Upon discovering the switch between White and McClanahan’s roles, her curiosity grew significantly. Phew!
Or
When she learned about the role swap between White and McClanahan, her interest piqued noticeably. What a relief!
Speaking with TopMob News, I found myself captivated by a truly exceptional screenplay that left me chuckling and eager to dive back into my professional pursuits. In essence, it was both humorous and mature, serving as the perfect motivation for me to dust off my work boots once more.
Initially, she held some doubts about embarking on another sitcom and had declined several offers during that period, including a project similar to the iconic British show “Fawlty Towers” titled “Amanda’s”. However, when she encountered the script for “Golden Girls”, her decision was made. As she put it, “I wasn’t aware it would become a cultural phenomenon. I simply thought it was fantastic.
Getty, predominantly known for her work on the New York stage, notably portraying the captivating grandmother in Broadway’s “Torch Song Trilogy”, joined the group when the production moved to Los Angeles. As McClanahan penned, “the chemistry was as clear as daylight,” indicating a joyful atmosphere on our set.
Yet, the tale of a disagreement between Arthur and White, who as Rose was often the target of some of Dorothy’s sharpest criticisms and amusing stares into the distance, continues to resonate. “I adored both Bea and Betty and found great joy in their company,” McClanahan penned in her book. “Their friendship wasn’t always as I hoped it could be, but it never impeded their professional commitments.
Arthur shared with TopMob News that it was an exceptional collaboration, with no flaws in any aspect of it.
It appears that they might have maintained their on-screen chemistry even after the show ended, as co-stars should. However, despite their close bond in later years following the conclusion of The Golden Girls, none felt compelled to criticize one another. As McClanahan stated in an interview for the TV Academy’s Archive of American Television, “Bea is a very unusual woman with many quirks.” She often refused to go out to lunch unless Betty joined her.
Regardless of delays, Arthur always patiently waited for White, and during filming on Fridays when the group dined together, they typically sat side by side. White herself mentioned in her 1987 autobiography, “Betty White in Person”, that she and Arthur regularly shared meals every day â and both White and McClanahan commented that Bea had a strong appreciation for food, sometimes to an excessive degree.
McClanahan commended the culinary abilities of both Getty and Arthur, acknowledging that Arthur found McClanahan’s recipes to be peculiar. White described Arthur as being discerning, knowledgeable, and appreciative when it comes to food, but also somewhat intolerant of others who lack expertise in this area, finding their predictability infuriating.
Getty described Arthur as being very particular about food, which caused her TV daughter to show a hint of irritation. White further explained during an interview with the Washington Post in 1986 that Arthur was utterly absorbed by food, stating it was even more exciting for her than sex, focusing on eating.
McClanahan was astonished by the smooth collaboration among the four of them, each coming from distinct backgrounds, and White agreed. In her 1987 book, she expressed this thought by saying, “There could hardly be four more different women!
White’s third spouse, Allen Ludden (whom she regarded as her deepest love), passed away in 1985. She, being the sole Californian among them, had a long-standing group of friends that dated back to her initial days in show business and when she was a student at Beverly Hills High School.
Arthur Gettleman was Arthur Getty’s husband whom she married in 1947. They remained together until his passing in 2004. Despite this, Getty humorously mentioned that if Cary Grant were ever to visit the Golden Girls set, she would consider drinking his bathwater.
Previously involved in a trailblazing sitcom featuring a dominant female lead and a cast of crucial side characters, White was accustomed to navigating through numerous significant personalities, including her own. As a seasoned industry professional, she recognized that women, regardless of the true circumstances, are frequently perceived as rivals rather than partners in Hollywood.
She noted that sometimes rumors have a basis in reality when discussing general feud narratives. It’s hard to comprehend the amount of time and collaboration required for creating a television series, especially if there’s animosity between the cast members! It’s already challenging in dramatic scenarios…but try doing comedy under those conditions?!
It’s hard to imagine how different the cast of “The Golden Girls” would be if we didn’t care for and value one another. The fact that we also share a deep affection for each other was an unexpected bonus that came along as the series unfolded.
Furthermore, White noted, “Right from the start, we all admired the professionalism of the others. Nobody needed to be propped up. Anything one of us offered was matched or even surpassed by the others.
During pauses in rehearsals, it was common for the group of four to remain on set, engaging in conversation. Occasionally, one of them would remark, “We’re reminiscent of the Golden Girls!” or something along those lines.
McClanahan and White reminisced about Arthur, who thrived on theater’s structure, often feeling uncomfortable when White, known for game shows as well as sitcoms, would converse with the studio audience during breaks between takes. Initially, McClanahan appreciated both viewpoints but eventually began joining White in these instances.
In 1987, Getty, McClanahan, and Arthur were involved in a unique situation when the TV show “This Is Your Life,” which at that point was airing as occasional prime-time specials, sprung a surprise on White during what turned out to be a fake photo shoot. As White put it, “It was a real test of friendship for them to go through all that pretense, something they dislike under normal circumstances.” She continued, “I can’t express how much I owe to this experience, which brought together many of my ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ co-stars. I am forever grateful!
Off the set, however, the four ladies mainly ran in different circles.
McClanahan recalled attending lavish summer birthday parties hosted by Getty annually, and once they had a dinner gathering for approximately 40 guests, including Arthur, while only one Christmas soiree saw Getty’s presence; their social interactions as a group were primarily limited to award ceremonies and work-related functions. However, they maintained a friendly camaraderie. McClanahan cultivated tomatoes and provided her fellow cast members with them. They were all advocates for animal rights and charity work, with McClanahan and Getty often participating in PETA events together. White informed McClanahan when the brother of Mary Tyler Moore had new puppies, which led to McClanahan adopting her third dog at that time.
When they were together, Arthur often remarked that they bore a resemblance to Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia, but with some notable distinctions missing. “Whatever happened to those two elderly ladies?” Getty mused as he waited for Arthur and White to arrive for lunch with Tom Shales from The Post at a Chinese restaurant in Hollywood. McClanahan had already arrived, so they engaged in conversation about the Golden Globe Award that Getty had recently received.
“It’s in a niche, with my other icons,” Getty said.
Dorothy’s TV mother expressed that their lives are so distinct, and she genuinely wishes to socialize with them. However, they don’t give her the opportunity to do so.
Later on, as I reminisced to TopMob, one of my most cherished moments from the show was the relationship between Sophia and Dorothy. “One scene that particularly stood out for me was when Sophia entered us in a mother-daughter beauty pageant at Shady Pines [the nursing home that had the unfortunate incident with the fire, leading to her living with her grown daughter and friends], and for the talent portion, we performed Sonny and Cher singing ‘I Got You Babe.’ Everything related to a mother resonated deeply with me.
They relentlessly joked and made fun of Getty concerning his Golden Globe award (“Previously, we didn’t need to summon you [to the set] until you won your Golden Globe!” White said with a chuckle), but this changed once everyone else started receiving awards as well.
It was quite appropriate that Arthur and Getty claimed their Emmys during the same evening. To begin with, “Picture it. California. 1988,” Getty said humorously, receiving a large round of applause. “This is an enormous delight and I understand I can’t ramble on for too long, but I want to express my gratitude to the greater universe.” She acknowledged her family, friends, the GG team, “and the ones who made me stand up here â the three most stunning, kind-hearted, exceptional, skilled women â my daughter, Bea Arthur, and her two roommates, Rue McClanahan and Betty White.
At my advanced age, landing my first significant television role was a heart-stopping surprise for me, as I shared with the Post. It wasn’t just that securing such a job was nerve-wracking; it was also daunting to step into a room filled with legends like Betty White, Bea Arthur, and Rue McClanahan.
He added humorously,” she didn’t stand a chance of forgetting it, “yet, despite her theatrical past, Getty would often find herself needing cue cards due to her nerves.
When asked about their relationship, McClanahan replied, “I’ve always managed to get along well with women.” Arthur agreed, stating, “Same here.” Getty echoed, “That’s true for me as well; my closest companions are women.
To which White added, “Oh, mine aren’t. I like to be with men better. But I get along with women.”
Arthur observed that White expressed a preference for men and dogs, and White herself hinted at wanting a pet in the Golden Girls series. As White discussed the possibility of Rose owning a pet rabbit, Arthur made a classic Dorothy eyebrow raise.
At the end of their six-year contract, White, Getty, and McClanahan were all taken aback in a good way when Arthur (having departed from the series Maude following six seasons) decided to extend his agreement for another year.
Or, more casually:
After their six-year contract ended, White, Getty, and McClanahan were all pleasantly surprised when Arthur (who had left Maude after six seasons) agreed to stay on for an additional year.
After that point, she realized it was the right moment to leave. She pondered, “If we’ve already accomplished our goal, why prolong it and repeat ourselves? We’ll never achieve the same level of success or creative fulfillment as we did in the initial five years.” Arthur expressed this sentiment to TopMob.
Following the conclusion of the series where Dorothy wed Blanche’s wealthy uncle, portrayed by Leslie Nielsen, the trio consisting of Rose, Blanche, and Sophia decided to join a spinoff titled “The Golden Palace.” In this new venture, they managed a hotel in Miami. Don Cheadle took on the role of the hotel manager, while Cheech Marin played the head chef. However, the seriesâairing on CBS instead of NBCâonly lasted for one season.
Arthur was distinctively unique, not only on “Golden Girls,” but among renowned actors as a whole. This uniqueness stemmed from her distinctive quirks, her identifiable voice, her extensive theatrical background, and the type of characters she portrayed â strong-willed, intelligent, hilarious, tough, yet undeniably human.
“Photos of Bea Arthur without clothes” is one of the things the unlucky hostage-takers request in the 1993 comedy Airheads, hoping that their more absurd demands would make them appear insane and potentially avoid punishment. (It’s said they do receive the photos, with Judd Nelson commenting, “Bea Arthurâremarkable.”) Her last television appearance was a brief role on Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2005, playing Larry David’s deceased mother. In a dream sequence, he encounters her in heaven, where she scolds him for ever considering the possibility that he might be adopted.
Ryan White savored another triumphant phase in her career following her memorable performances in the 2009 film “The Proposal,” as evidenced by her playful comment to People magazine about her co-star, Ryan Reynolds (“I’ve heard Ryan can’t get enough of me,” she joked). This success paved the way for her Emmy win in 2010 for hosting Saturday Night Live and a six-season stint on TV Land’s “Hot in Cleveland.” She became an adored celebrity by fans of all ages, regarded as a national treasure during her lifetime, and was duly recognized at the 2018 Emmys.
White, who was 96 at the time, found it amazing that he had been able to remain in his career for such a length of time while others continued to tolerate him, and he chuckled about it.
White remembered that Arthur stood out as incredibly professional among the group, the one least prone to lose composure during scenes â although there were a couple of instances where he did break character memorably.
In the book Betty White in Person, White noted that what makes Bea special is her unique response to humor. Instead of laughing out loud, she might appreciate a joke with a smile or a quiet giggle. More often than not, though, she reacts to funny remarks with a serious expression, which adds an extra layer of amusement when she eventually cracks up!
In the book, White sometimes called Arthur “my tall companion” and other times “my reliable friend.” It seems that Arthur harbored a deep-seated dread of birds, particularly live chickens, as was revealed on set one day.
After completing 51 episodes across two seasons, White mused that if they hadn’t faced any issues with one another up until then, it seemed quite improbable that such difficulties would arise in the future.
In her upcoming memoir, titled “Here We Go Again: My Life in Television” published in 1995, White recounted an unusual vibe on set the day following her Emmy win in 1986 and the announcement that “The Golden Girls” had been awarded Best Comedy Series.
Estelle embraced me warmly with a hug and a kiss, yet this happened before we stepped into the studio – this is how she remembered it. The team was as welcoming and kind as could be, but their congratulations were hushed. Even though Bea Arthur (and perhaps others) might have had reasons to celebrate, they seemed hesitant about counting their proverbial chickens before they hatched.
However, with each passing year and more Emmy awards earned, the initial charm was not permitted to recur. Instead, we reveled in the success!
During the exhilarating first season of our show, my bond with Arthur deepened in shared sorrow, as we tragically lost our mothers within weeks of each other. My mother passed away in November of 1985, and three weeks later, I received news that Arthur had also lost hers. Just like me, she returned to work the day after receiving the heartbreaking call, demonstrating a remarkable resilience. We were more than just colleagues; we were a family, finding solace and strength in our shared grief by continuing to be present at our workplace.
Occasionally, things would heat up, McClanahan noted in her book. However, what truly mattered to each of us individually and collectively was that our dynamic worked. We were incredibly humorous. And we accomplished it as a team. That’s what truly matters in the end.
Among the four main stars of the Golden Girls, Betty White was the eldest and five months senior to Arthur, yet she lived past all of them by over a decade. She passed away on December 31, 2021, only seventeen days before her centennial birthday.
As a devoted lifestyle guide, allowing me to share a personal reflection: On July 22, 2008, at the venerable age of 84, Estelle Getty bid farewell, having bravely fought against Lewy body dementia for almost a decade. In a heartfelt statement, her son Arthur poignantly expressed, “Our unique mother-daughter bond was one of the most successful comedic duos in history, and I deeply mourn her passing.
In this trying time, what brings me solace is the knowledge that although Estelle has ventured off on her own journey, Sophia remains an eternal presence among us. White spoke these words, as we mourn the loss of both Arthur, who left us on April 25, 2009, at the age of 86, and McClanahan, the youngest Golden Girl, who departed on June 3, 2010, at 76.
In 2010, while revising a new paperback edition of her book, White penned down that the passing of all three of her co-stars, most recently her cherished Rue McClanahan, has been extremely difficult. When you collaborate intensely for a long period and achieve great success together, it’s like being bound by heartstrings.
Seasons 1-7 of The Golden Girls are streaming on Hulu.
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2025-06-20 21:18