'The Golden Girls': Over The Years With The Cast

Jul 23, 2021 by apost team

The sitcom "The Golden Girls" has been a beloved television show for decades despite being off the air since 1992. The show ran for almost seven years with a total of 180 episodes. Highlighting just how important it is to have friends by your side, "The Golden Girls" consisted of an ensemble cast made up of four older single women who shared a house in Miami, Florida. 

With plenty of successful actresses taking center stage on the sitcom and a wide variety of fun guest stars, the show was extremely successful with both fans and critics, and went on to win a variety of awards and capture the hearts of many people all over the world. A true example of a show that has aged well, here is a look back at the main characters and the lovely ladies who portrayed them throughout the years.

Rose Nylund

Rose, played by Betty White, was well known for her hilarious and peculiar stories of her life growing up in Minnesota. After she became a widow, she set her sights on Miami to continue pursuing a career and later even found love once again. The relationship between Rose and college professor Miles Webber was so popular that it even spanned into a sequel series, "The Golden Palace."

Betty White

Still a beloved actress to this day, White has gone on to have a fulfilling career due her charisma and wit. While playing the part of Rose was one of her most notable, White has had plenty of success in other TV shows, including "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Hot In Cleveland." She became the first woman ever to produce a sitcom, a contribution that later led to her receiving the honorary title of Mayor of Hollywood in 1955. With a career spanning nine decades, it's easy to see why White has earned such a soft spot in everyone's heart and has continued to break barriers and make history.

apost.com

Blanche Devereaux

Perfectly encapsulating a Southern belle, Blanche was a character filled with layers. She grew up wealthy, but had plenty of lessons to learn later on in life regarding social issues. Portrayed as self-absorbed and a bit of a man-eater, Rue McClanahan played the part of Blanche perfectly as the character grew throughout the seven seasons of "The Golden Girls."

Rue McClanahan

McClanahan grew up in Oklahoma acting in school plays and went on to major in theatre at the University of Tulsa. She was best known for her roles on various television shows, including "Mama's Family," "Maude" and of course "The Golden Girls." The actress won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987 for her role as Blanche in "The Golden Girls," and was an extremely close friend to White.

Dorothy Zbornak

A substitute teacher from Brooklyn, New York, Dorothy had a few personal problems growing up, from getting pregnant while still in high school to her 38-year marriage ending because her husband left her for another woman. While other characters in the series joked about her apparent lack of attractiveness, Dorothy, played by Bea Arthur, had a deep personality. She kept up with current events and was very practical, although at times she could become easily angered. Her humor was highlighted by her unwavering sense of sarcasm.

Bea Arthur

Arthur was one of the most acclaimed stars from the sitcom, as she had starred in films, TV shows and plays. After enlisting in the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve and later becoming a licensed technician, Arthur pursued her passion for the arts, and studied at the School of Drama at The New School in New York. In 1966, she won the Tony Award for Best Features Actress in a Musical for her role in "Mame." Arthur continued to find success in her other career ventures, and she took home the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1988 for her role as Dorothy in "The Golden Girls."

Sophia Petrillo

Estelle Getty played Sophia, Dorothy's Italian mother. The character's backstory included her moving from Sicily, Italy, to New York after running away from an arranged marriage. After a fire destroyed the retirement home she had been living in, she moved in with Dorothy, Rose and Blanche, prior to the actual start of the television series. The oldest of the main characters in the series, Sophia was known for her blunt and brazen remarks.

Estelle Getty

Growing up in New York City allowed Getty to explore the entertainment industry at an early age. She would make weekly trips to the Academy of Music, which is where she discovered she wanted to become an actress. Finding success in the career path, Getty was most known for her role as Sophia in "The Golden Girls," a role that she reprised for spin-off series such as "Empty Nest," "The Golden Palace," "Blossom" and "Nurses."

Did you love watching "The Golden Girls" when it was on TV? Who was your favorite character? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family, too!