Frequently Asked Questions:

 Has Estelle Getty passed away?

Yes, Estelle died July 22, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. Pacific Time. She went gracefully, in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by her family and her very loving care-givers..

 Was Estelle the oldest Golden Girl?

Bea Arthur (born May 13, 1923) and Betty White (born January 17, 1922) are both older than Estelle, while Rue McClanahan (born February 21, 1935) is younger. Estelle's birthday is July 25, 1923. She passed away three days before her 85th birthday. Her birth sign is Leo.

 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. Estelle's friend Brian Hamilton, who is also an actor and lives nearby, offered to design and maintain this site for her to interact with her fans via the Internet.

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

Estelle had been living with what was believed to be Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease for more than ten years. Her doctors later diagnosed her condition as Lewy Body Dementia. Each day presented 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 was both appreciative of, and strengthened by, all the support and concern of her loving fans. Be assured, Estelle had the best home care available in the later years of her life.

 Did Estelle really read her Guestbook?

Please feel free to leave a tribute message here if you like. During her life, Estelle enjoyed being read all of your notes and loved hearing from her fans! Although she did have a computer at home, she needed help using it. Usually, one of her home-care assistants helped her. As you may imagine, this technology was 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, Charles and Sarah Scher, emigrated to the United States from Poland. She was 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 did Estelle Getty live when she retired?

Estelle lived amongst the palm trees and sunshine in Los Angeles, California. She had many dear friends here with whom she treasured spending time.

 Was Estelle married?

Estelle married Arthur Gettleman on December 21, 1947, at the age of twenty-three. They remained married until Arthur passed away peacefully in 2004.

 Did Estelle have any children?

Estelle is survived by two adult sons: Carl Gettleman and Barry Gettleman. Carl lives in California, Barry lives in Florida.

 Did Estelle have any siblings?

Estelle's sister, Roz Howard, who called her "Ettie", is two years older than she. Estelle's brother, David Scher,, is fourteen years younger and lives in England.

 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.