Estelle Scher-Gettleman (July 25, 1923 – July 22, 2008), better known by her stage name Estelle Getty, was an American actress, who appeared in film, theatre and television. She is best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls from 1985 to 1992, which won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe, on The Golden Palace from 1992 to 1993 and on Empty Nest from 1993 to 1995. In her later years, after retiring from acting, she battled Lewy body dementia.

Filmography

• Golden Girls 3033 — Sophia Petrillo (voice) (archive sound)
• 2021Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls — Sophia Petrillo
• 2003The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series — Sophia Petrillo (archive footage)
• 2003The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments — Sophia Petrillo (archive footage)
• Wish Kids
• 2000The Million Dollar Kid — Sister Rosanne
• Ladies Man — Sophia Gates
• 1999Stuart Little — Grandma Estelle
• 1999The Sissy Duckling — Mrs. Hennypecker (voice)
• 1997A Match Made in Heaven — Betty Weston
• Brotherly Love — Myrna Burwell
• Duckman — Aunt Jane (voice)
• Touched by an Angel — Dottie
• The John Larroquette Show — Estelle Getty
• The Nanny — Estelle Getty
• Mad About You — Aunt Ida
• 1992Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot — Tutti
• The Golden Palace — Sophia Petrillo
• Blossom — Sophia Petrillo
• City — Helen Rutledge
• 1990The Earth Day Special — Sophia Petrillo
• Empty Nest — Sophia Petrillo
• 1987Mannequin — Claire Prince Timkin
• Roomies
• 1985Copacabana — Bella Stern
• 1985Mask — Evelyn
• The Golden Girls — Sophia Petrillo
• 1985The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
• 1984No Man's Land — Eurol Muller
• 1984Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story
• 1983Deadly Force — Gussie
• Bakers' Dozen
• Cagney & Lacey — Mrs. Rosenmeyer
• Hotel
• Newhart — Elsa Carruthers
• 1982Tootsie — Middle-Aged Woman
• Fantasy Island — Money Lady
• 1978Team-Mates — Teacher

Appearances as themselves (11)

• 2025The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20 — Self / Sophia Petrillo (archive footage)
• 2023Commitment to Life — Self (archive footage)
• 2021The Golden Girls: Ageless — Self (archive footage)
• 2018Betty White: First Lady of Television — Self (archive Footage)
• Celebrities Uncensored — Self
• Hollywood Squares — Self - Panelist
• The Rosie O'Donnell Show — Self
• Intimate Portrait — Self
• 1993Young at Heart: Body Conditioning with Estelle — Self
• 1990Night of 100 Stars III — Self
• 1988Mickey's 60th Birthday — Self