Betty White was famous in Hollywood for being a pioneer of television dating back to the 1950s. Dorothy, meanwhile, is stated to be in her early 50s, which could mean that she was anywhere between 50 and 54. Although Sophia appears to be much older than the other girls in the show, Getty was actually younger than both Bea Arthur and Betty White. 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. McClanahan insisted on the character having a thick Southern accent, a popular aspect of her character throughout the show. Getty was the first actress to be cast, and her role was intended to make the rest of the characters appear younger. How old were the ladies on golden girls in real life? [57], The show's designer, Ed Stephenson, took inspiration from his time living in Florida to design a "Florida look" for The Golden Girls house set. Whatever the reason, it is clear that the Golden Girls are truly ageless. Hurwitz later created Arrested Development for Fox and later for Netflix. However, it did so from a very different perspective. Born on January 17, 1922, Betty White was the oldest of the four main stars. In fact, the two were less than four months apart in age. [5] Terry Tang of the Associated Press reported that the series continues to attract new fans in the 21st century and characterized it as an example of a sitcom that has aged well.[6]. Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Harris served as the original executive producers. [52][53] Debbie Reynolds was brought on as a guest star in the season six episode "There Goes the Bride: Part 2" to test her chemistry with the other actresses as a possible replacement for Arthur, but producers decided that nobody could replicate the chemistry of the four original actresses. Its time to look back at the golden years with our favorite Golden Girls. Casting director Judith Weiner had seen Torch Song Trilogy, and thought Getty was terrific in it. Shoes Accessories, Copyright Your Next Shoes 2010 - 2023 |, The 9 Best Classic and Designer High Top Sneaker Brands, How to Spot Fake Converse Shoes: 10 Ways to Tell Real All Star Sneakers, Sabrina Carpenter Presents K-Pop Twice With Breakthrough Award in Racy Mini Dress Amidst Shawn Mendes Dating Rumors, The Cast of Creed III: What 7 Actors Look Like in Real Life, Aubrey Plaza and Jenna Ortega Steal the Show at SAG Awards With Hilarious Deadpan Presentation, Next in Fashion Season 2 Cast: Gigi Hadid Promotes Netflix Show in 5 Stunning Outfits, Jessica Simpson Shares Adorable Photo With Mini-Me Daughter Birdie Mae on Instagram. Carrie's age range in "And Just Like That." puts her in the same age range as the characters in "The Golden Girls" season one, according to TODAY with Hoda & Jenna. While RTL initially chose to cut some scenes for time, some of the gags remain incomprehensible for their broadcast and all subsequent reruns, only to be restored partially for the release of DVD in 2005. The Golden Girls is an American sitcom created by Susan Harris that aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes, spanning seven seasons. Sue Ann Nivens in The Mary Tyler Moore Show. -- Thirty years ago today, "The Golden Girls" premiered on television. [citation needed]. According to the math, Blanche was 53 at the start of the series. According to the calculations, Dorothy was 53 at the start of the series, according to the calculations. But one of the questions that has always been asked is: how old were the Golden Girls characters supposed to be? Each of the four main stars received an Emmy Award, making The Golden Girls one of only four sitcoms in the Primetime Emmy Awards history to achieve this. The program is about four elderly ladies who live . Rue McClanahan, Estelle Getty, and Betty White reprised their roles in the 1992 spin-off series The Golden Palace (Credit: CBS). Despite her enjoyment in playing Dorothy, the show eventually concluded when Bea Arthur decided to depart the show in 1992. In the end, the math adds up to Dorothy being 53 at the start of the series and 60 at the series' end. This indicates that Sophia was likely close to her real-life age. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. 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. As of December 1, 2021, every episode was made available to stream on Disney+. [65][66] Eventually, McClanahan went on to create a clothing line for QVC called "A Touch of Rue", inspired by Blanche, but made with affordable fabrics and practical designs. Rose is said to be in her mid-50s, suggesting that she was between 55 and 59. Sophia then recounts to Dorothy the account of the night Dorothy was conceived in Season 3, Episode 5, Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself. Sophia claims it happened in 1931, so Dorothy was most likely born in 1932, based on her sign. 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. 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. Mulligan and Manoff were alumni from one of Susan Harris' earlier shows, Soap. It ran from September 1992 to May 1993 and also starred Cheech Marin and Don Cheadle. According to Evans, "I wanted a sexy, soft, and flowing look for Rue, a tailored, pulled-together look for Bea, a down-home look for Betty, and comfort for Estelle. The hot young It Girl neighbor downstairsthe new Carrie Bradshaw if you will, a bruising realizationdrops the slur. [11], Ideas for a comedy series about older women emerged during the filming of a television special at NBC Studios in Burbank, California, in August 1984. DO YOU LOVE SHOES? Sue's personality as the perky housewife host on a fictional television station of the show . Betty White was 63 years old when the show premiered in 1985, yet she managed to play a younger persona perfectly. Reportedly, a second season was approved before being cancelled the day before the network announced its 199394 schedule. It shattered stereotypes and even made that demographic entertaining for audiences of all genders and ages. 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). 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. Estimating the ages of the characters can be tricky, since the show never explicitly states their ages. Rose went so far as to search through official records to find out, only to learn it was "deleted by authority of the governor." The show never approached the popularity or acclaim of the original, and ranked 57th[citation needed] in the annual ratings. 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. However, the actress who played Sophia, Estelle Getty, was only 62 years old in real life, making her one year younger than her on-screen daughter! Blanche Devereauxs age had been a mystery and a recurrent joke for most of the Golden Girls, and it had been saved until last. How Does PTO Work for Salaried Employees? Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Continue reading to find out how old were the golden girls on the set of The Golden Girls. This article promises to be interesting and really informative. [112], In 2017, a Golden Girls-themed eatery, Rue la Rue Cafe owned by Rue McClanahan's close friend Michael La Rue, who inherited many of the star's personal belongings and in turn decorated the restaurant with them, opened in the Washington Heights section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. She was also impressed by Getty's audition for the role of the mother of Steven Keaton (played by actor Michael Gross) for a guest episode of Family Ties. 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." After the pilot, the character of Coco was eliminated from the series. [82], Buena Vista Home Entertainment has released all seven seasons, with edits, of The Golden Girls on DVD in Region 1 and Region 4 with the first four being released in Region 2. Getty was picky about the jokes Sophia would make. consisted of two back-to-back episodes of the sitcom: "Break-In" (season one, episode eight) and "Isn't It Romantic?" [54] The model used for exterior shots of the house from the third season through the end of the series was part of the backstage studio tour ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios. October 8, 2022 According to evidence presented by the ladies themselves during the first year of the show, Sophia is 80 years old, Rose is 55 years old, and Blanche is 50 years old. Its probable it examined a lot of the same scenarios as previous episodes. Privacy Policy, Brands She expressed that she would not continue if changes were not made, but changes were made and jokes regarding Dorothy's physique appeared less often. Finally, Sophia is stated to be in her late 70s, suggesting that she was between 77 and 79. One, while the characters ages on the show appeared to be quite. [25] NBC senior vice president Warren Littlefield was among the executive producers in the audience who were amused by their performance, and he envisioned a series based on the geriatric humor the two were portraying. Rue McClanahan was the youngest of the Golden Girls, according to Parade. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. How old was Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls? And that was, to me, what made it seem like it could be a contemporary, young show. Your email address will not be published. "[60] Anna Wyckoff of the Costume Designers Guild wrote, "Evans took the direction from the producers to create a vibrant look for the four mature leads, and ran with itredefining what 'dressing your age' looked like. Prior to that, when old people were shown on television, you could almost smell them., Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo, Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak, Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux, and Betty White as Rose Nylund in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). 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. It has recently come to light that the leading ladies of AndJust Like That, Sex and the Citys reboot, are basically the exact same age as the leading ladies in The Golden Girls a fact that has completely blown our minds! Unlike anything we had ever seen on television before, The Golden Girls featured an ensemble cast of four older single women (Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty) sharing. In "And Just Like That.", Miranda and Charlotte are 54, while Carrie is 55. . ISBN978-0-06-242290-3. She wanted to be a Southern heroine, like Vivien Leigh. The series also ranked among the Nielsen ratings' top ten for six of its seven seasons. On November 15, 2005, Warner Home Video released The Golden Girls: A Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series on DVD which contains a separate biography of Arthur, White, McClanahan and Getty, revealing each woman's background, rise to stardom and private life, which originally aired on Lifetime network between June 2000 and January 2003. However, this older age makes sense because Sophia is Dorothys mother. By the end of the series, Rose was 62. Blanche would have been 60 by the series' end. [43] Mitchell Hurwitz also served as writer for the show in its last two seasons. This means that she was 63 years old by the time the show premiered in 1985. New York: Scribner. Sophia was 86 by the series' end. [84], After the original series ended, White, McClanahan, and Getty reprised their characters in the CBS series The Golden Palace, which featured Rose, Blanche, and Sophia selling their house to buy and run a hotel in Miami. In Australia, the show airs daily on FOX Comedy. Considering how easily Blanche lied to her housemates about her age (and that Sophia immediately called her out and said she'd be 70 when the kid graduates), it's safe to assume that 53 is her actual age going into The Golden Girls. Discover all about The Golden Girls cast from their names, ages and how old they were supposed to be in the showwho was oldest & youngest, and more. She is passionate about Princess Diana, the Titanic, the Romanovs, and Egypt amongst other things. It was popular for addressing a demographic that rarely saw the spotlight on television or in Hollywood: senior women. It was popular for addressing a demographic that rarely saw the spotlight on television or in Hollywood: senior women. We can also look at other clues from the show itself. [55] Producers used this residence for exterior shots during the first two seasons. In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. In "The Golden Girls", Rose is 55, Dorothy is 53, Blanche is 47 and Sophia is 79. The Golden Girls was a highly-acclaimed and rated, well-received, popular American situation-comedy/sit-com television series that aired on NBC originally from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992. Celebrities Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). 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. [69] One of the other girls then told a story from her own life, which somehow related to the problem (though Rose occasionally regaled the others with a nonsense story that had nothing to do with the situation, and Sophia told outrageous, made-up stories). Blanche Devereaux, Dorothy Zbornak, and Sophia Petrillo managed the single life as seniors in Miami for seven seasons. ", 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. [29][30], Walt Disney, NBC Studios and the creators were named in a federal copyright infringement suit filed by Nancy Bretzfield claiming the show was based on a script rejected by NBC in 1980. McClanahan and White were friends on- and off-screen. But the women were so uniformly brilliant at nailing it the first time we basically knew that if the women didn't get it right the first time, the joke needed to be replaced." "[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. The golden girls trivia is the most exciting series we have created for those who love comedy. "[45], Estelle Getty's stage fright, which affected her from the beginning of the show, grew worse as the show went on. Beginning July 3, 1989, NBC added daytime reruns of the show, replacing long-running Wheel of Fortune (which had moved to CBS) on the NBC schedule at 11:00am(EST); it ran until September 1990. Betty Whites heartbreaking final post on her Instagram with the caption: My 100th birthday I cannot believe it is coming up, and People Magazine is celebrating with me! (Credit: Betty Whites Instagram). Rose Nylund was 55 years old when the show premiered, as Dorothy stated in the Season 1 episode Job Hunting.. In fact, that's who I think she thought she was."[37]. Although the writing was mostly comical, dramatic moments and sentimental endings were included in several episodes. How Old Were the Golden Girls Characters Supposed to Be? Then, in Season 3, Episode 5, "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself," Sophia tells Dorothy the story of the night Dorothy was conceived. Audiences can figure things out with a little detective work. Please endeavor to share this article with family, friends, and colleagues. The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended, Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams Is Iconic for Pushing Boundaries. When your brain is frozen like that, you can't remember lines. In the first season of Golden Girls, it is revealed that Rose (Betty Whites character) was 55. I think we pushed that [the jokes about Arthur's appearance] a little bit far and I think she let it be known she didn't love that. 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]. [51], During season six, some uncertainty arose over whether Bea Arthur would commit to future seasons, or leave the show once her contract expired, to pursue other projects. However, her popularity with audiences caused Sophia to become a main character in the series. 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. The show ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992 and featured four women in their golden years living together in Miami. "[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. This could be because the writers wanted to create an atmosphere of timelessness or to emphasize the idea that age is just a number. We hope this article on how old were the golden girls has been interesting and has also been able to bring back good memories. [41] To aid her retention, Getty tried hypnosis, and the show hired an assistant to run lines with her before taping; neither method worked. Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). [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. After some careful math, viewers also figured out that Dorothy (played by Bea Arthur) was supposed to be 53. However, the exterior backdrop seen through the kitchen window changed from the view of Chicago high-rises to palm trees and bushes for the Miami setting. Betty White was actually the oldest Golden Girl. After learning this tidbit, its clear that the only difference between the Golden Girls and the Sex and the City ladies is how they style their hair. One such source is the actors who played the characters. The initial pilot was aired as the 1987 Golden Girls episode "Empty Nests", and starred Paul Dooley and Rita Moreno as George and Renee Corliss, a married couple living next to the Golden Girls characters, who face empty nest syndrome after their teenaged daughter goes to college. Bill Dana played Sophia's brother Angelo and her father. 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. Often deemed as the den mother of the main characters in the show, Bea Arthur played the role of Dorothy Zbornak, a substitute teacher hailing from New York City. 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. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be? For, That was the case. It also won three Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series Musical or Comedy. In the pilot episode, the three are joined by Dorothy's 80-year-old widowed mother, Sophia Petrillo (Getty), after the retirement home where she has been living has burned down. Starring actress Hodge left after two seasons, David Rasche joined the cast at the start of the second season, and Loni Anderson was added as the new hospital administrator in the third. Empowering Lives with Nutritious and Delicious NDIS Meals! The character of Blanche Devereaux appeared in a total of 8 seasons and a total of 204 full episodes in both The Golden Girls (total of 7 . 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. Their fears were allayed when the preview screening garnered a standing ovation and the program was instantly renewed for 12 more Golden Girls episodes. However, with some detective work, audiences can figure them out. (season two, episode five). These ages seem to contradict what is stated in the show, suggesting that the characters may actually be younger than their stated ages. : Extreme Stunt Show attraction, later replaced by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Though Littlefield nixed their idea, he asked if they would be interested in delivering a pilot script for Miami Nice, instead. In "The Golden . [42], Creator Susan Harris went on to contribute another four episodes to the first season, but became less involved with the sitcom throughout its run; she continued reading all scripts, however, and remained familiar with most of the storylines. McClanahan was 51 years old by the time The Golden Girls premiered, and she was 58 when it concluded. She thought an accentuated Southern accent would be sexy and strong and attractive to men. Similarly, Dorothy mentions in another episode that she was married in 1960, which would have made her 22. Arthur's son, Matthew Saks, later spoke of tension between the two actresses, stating that his mother, "unknowingly carried the attitude that it was fun to have somebody to be angry atIt was almost like Betty became her nemesis, someone she could always roll her eyes about at work. The show was aired as a bilingual broadcast using a two-channel sound system (Zweikanalton). Shopping Guide Vicki Lawrence as Thelma Harper and Betty White as Ellen Harper-Jackson in the 1983 sitcom Mamas Family (Credit: NBC). Exploring the Basics, Benefits, and Policies, How to Contact Tesla: Customer Service Phone Number, Website, Social Media, Email & Live Chat, Bruce Willis Health Condition: Understanding the Actors Diet and Exercise Regimen, Exploring the Impact of Greg Gutfelds Vacation from Fox News. For instance, in the series finale, it is revealed that Blanche was born in 1931, which would make her 54 at the beginning of the show. "[61] Many of the characters' outfits were designed by Evans and made especially, but seven to ten costume changes per episode were made between the four actresses, which entailed a great deal of off-the-rack shopping. The Golden Girls began in 1985 and concluded in 1992, both in real life and in the fictional realm. The Golden Girls received critical acclaim throughout most of its run, and won several awards, including the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series twice. Estelle Getty auditioned and won the role as the feisty mother of character Dorothy Zbornak, due, in part, to the rave reviews she garnered in her off-Broadway role reprisal for the 1984 Los Angeles run of Torch Song Trilogy. [124] The eatery closed in November 2017 after less than a year of operation.[125]. According to Cherry, the writers' room was "a competitive atmosphere. Initially, the producers wanted Betty White to play Blanche because she had been famous for playing promiscuous characters in the past. Maddy Hiltz is someone who loves all things history. RELATED: The Golden Girls: How the Classic Sitcom Ended. The basic facts to work with are that The Golden Girls began in 1985 and ended in 1992, both in real life and in-world. The women in The Golden Girlsall have white, short hair styled in a way we often associate with older individuals. One such source is the actors who played the characters. How old were The Golden Girls supposed to be on the show? 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. Their regular writer declined, so Witt asked his wife, Susan Harris,[24] who had been semiretired since the conclusion of their ABC series Soap. Estelle Getty, who portrayed Sophia, was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy, Sophias daughter. Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux in the 1985 sitcom The Golden Girls (Credit: NBC). Space was limited on the soundstage, so when the kitchen was off camera, it was usually detached from the rest of the set and the space used for something else. When the show initially aired, NBC took a chance. Every episode of The Golden Girls was made available to stream on Hulu on February 13, 2017. [68] Many episodes of the series followed a similar format or theme. 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.. In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. Its a tiny marvel, looking back, that the Golden Girls magnificent casting came together as well as it did. [52], The house's address was mentioned as being 6151 Richmond Street, Miami. The Golden Girls is one of the most well-known television shows of all time. Initially, White was considered for the role of Blanche Devereaux, which eventually went to Rue McClanahan. In March 1997, the Lifetime cable network acquired the exclusive rights to repeat the episodes of The Golden Girls in the US until March 1, 2009. Going off the idea that Season 1 takes place within the same year, Rose would have been 55 at the start of The Golden Girls as well, making her the oldest Golden Girl -- after Sophia, of course. [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". In order to try and determine the real ages of the Golden Girls, we need to look at other sources of evidence. Iconic Golden-era Hollywood actress Scarlett OHara was also reportedly an inspiration for the role. Blanche was inspired by the popular fictional characters Blanche DuBois (from A Streetcar Named Desire, a famous 1947 Broadway play written by Tennessee Williams) and Vivien Leigh, who portrayed the same character in the 1951 film adaptation alongside Marlon Brando. Rose Nylund is a character from the sitcom television series The Golden Girls and its spin-off, The Golden Palace. In her spare time, Maddy loves playing volleyball, running, walking, and biking, although when she wants to be lazy she loves to read a good thriller. The wooden accents, columns, and doors were painted to mimic bald cypress wood, popular in South Florida homes, with rattan furniture and tropical-printed upholstery chosen for the furniture. Featuring an all-male cast in drag, The Golden Girls: Live! She passed away from Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) on July 22, 2008, at 84 years old. Empty Nest launched its own spin-off in 1991 set in Miami in the same hospital where Dr. Weston worked. Estelle Getty portrayed the role of Sophia Petrillo, the mother of Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthurs character). Life. "We had games going all the time off camera." 13. From left to right- Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Betty White in The Golden Girls.