Estelle Getty was an American actress and comedian best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls. She also starred in the spin-off series, The Golden Palace. Getty was born Estelle Scher on July 25, 1923 in New York City. She began her career in show business in the 1950s and went on to appear in numerous television shows and films throughout her career. Her most famous role was that of Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls, which earned her an Emmy Award in 1988. Getty passed away in 2008 at the age of 84.