Frequently Asked Questions:

Is this really Estelle Getty's official website?

Yes, it certainly is. There are also many other wonderful websites dedicated to Estelle and the Golden Girls listed on the Links page. Her friend Brian Hamilton, who is also an actor and lives nearby, offered to design and maintain this site for Estelle to interact with her fans via the Internet.

Is Estelle the oldest Golden Girl?

Bea Arthur (born May 13, 1923) and Betty White (born January 17, 1922) are both older than Estelle, Rue McClanahan (born February 21, 1935) is younger. Estelle's birthday is July 25, 1923. She is 84 years old. Her birth sign is Leo.

I heard that Estelle has Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's. Is that true?

Estelle has been living with what was believed to be Parkinson's disease for more than ten years. Her doctors have now diagnosed her condition as Lewy Body Dementia. Each day presents a different struggle for her. Three main symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia are:

1. Fluctuating alertness and/or cognition
2. Recurrent visual hallucinations
3. Parkinson's Disease symptoms.

She is both appreciative of and strengthened by all the support and concern of her loving fans. Be assured, Estelle has the best care available.

Does Estelle really read her Guestbook?

Estelle enjoys being read all of your notes and loves hearing from her fans! Although she does have a computer in her home, she needs help using it. Usually, one of her home-care assistants helps her. As you may imagine, this technology is very new to folks from Estelle's generation!

Where was Estelle born?

She was born Estelle Scher in the lower East side of New York City and attended Seward Park High School. Estelle's parents emigrated to the United States from Poland. She is first generation American and was raised in the Jewish faith.

Will there ever be a Golden Girls reunion??

There was a Golden Girls reunion show in 2004. Unfortunately, Estelle could not join the other ladies due to her failing health.

Where does Estelle live now?

Estelle lives amongst the palm trees and sunshine in Los Angeles, California. She has many dear friends here with whom she treasures spending time.

Is Estelle married?

Estelle was married to Arthur Gettleman from the age of twenty-three. Arthur passed away peacefully in 2004.

Does Estelle have any children?

Estelle has two sons: Carl Gettleman and Barry Gettleman. Carl lives in California, Barry lives in Florida.

Does Estelle have any siblings?

Estelle's sister Roz, who calls her "Ettie", is two years older than she. Her brother David is fourteen years younger.

What did Estelle do before she became a famous actress?

She worked as a Secretary for a lawyer and at a paper company, among several other jobs, while raising two children and nurturing an acting career! She performed in scores of theatres in New York City and elsewhere, in many dramas and comedies, both contemporary and classical. Estelle's theatre credits far out-number her TV and film work.

How may I request an autographed picture of Estelle?

Estelle is, regretfully, no longer able to fulfill any autograph requests due to her failing health. Any inquiries sent to her managers' address, or any other known address for Estelle will now be returned.