Estelle Getty net worth at the time of her death in 2008 was estimated to be around $10 million. This was largely due to her successful acting career, which spanned more than six decades. In addition to her work on “The Golden Girls,” Getty also appeared in films such as “Tootsie,” “Mask,” and “Stuart Little 2.” She was also a voice actor, lending her voice to animated films such as “An American Tail” and “The Land Before Time.”
Estelle Getty was an American actress who was best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on the popular television show “The Golden Girls.” Born Estelle Scher on July 25, 1923, in New York City, Getty began her career as a stage actress and later transitioned to television and film. She appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout her career, but it was her role as Sophia on “The Golden Girls” that brought her the most fame and recognition.
In addition to her acting career, Getty was also a philanthropist and supported various charitable organizations throughout her life. She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and was active in both organizations throughout her career.
Estelle Getty was born Estelle Scher in New York City in 1923. She was the youngest of four children born to Russian Jewish immigrants. Her parents, Charles and Sarah Scher owned a dry goods store in New York City’s Lower East Side. Getty’s mother was a homemaker and her father was a garment worker.
Growing up, Getty was interested in acting and participated in school plays and community theater productions. After high school, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received her degree in acting. She then began her career as a stage actress, appearing in productions of plays such as “The Glass Menagerie,” “The Seagull,” and “Death of a Salesman.”
In the 1950s, Getty transitioned to television and film, appearing in a number of television shows such as “The Phil Silvers Show,” “The Twilight Zone,” and “The Munsters.” She also appeared in films such as “The Kids from the Hall,” “The Boston Strangler,” and “The Happening.”
It was in the 1980s that Getty gained widespread fame for her role as Sophia Petrillo in “The Golden Girls.” The show, which aired from 1985 to 1992, was a huge hit and made Getty a household name. She received several Emmy nominations for her portrayal of Sophia, a feisty, sharp-tongued senior citizen who lived with her daughter, Dorothy, and two other elderly women in a Florida home.
In addition to her work on “The Golden Girls,” Getty also continued to work in film and television. She appeared in films such as “Tootsie,” “Mask,” and “Stuart Little 2,” and lent her voice to animated films such as “An American Tail” and “The Land Before Time.”
Throughout her career, Estelle Getty was a philanthropist and supported various charitable organizations. She was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and was active in both organizations throughout her career.
Estelle Getty passed away on July 22, 2008, at the age of 84. At the time of her death, her net worth was estimated to be around $10 million. She left behind a legacy as a talented actress who brought joy and laughter to millions of people through her performances on television and in film.