Golden Girls Cast and Character Guide

The classic sitcom featured an all-star cast and some Golden girls The actors had extensive careers before and after the show aired. Debuting in the fall of 1985, the series follows a group of older women living in Miami who share common life experiences and complicated love lives. During its seven seasons on air Golden girls not only joined the roster of established stars such as Betty White and Bea Arthur, but also became one of the most progressive television shows of its time.

Golden girls broke new ground with its portrayal of independent, mature women, and the series was often a platform for addressing other issues including race, class, and sexual identity. The series was a critical success and received 68 Emmy Award nominations. and it has found new life in streaming. Golden girls‘short-lived continuation, Golden Palacelaunched a number of spin-offs, but none of them could capture the magic of the original. Although actors such as Betty White were already famous from their years of television work, Golden girls turned its big four into bona fide household names.

Bea Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak

Arthur died in 2009 at the age of 2006.

Actor: By the mid-1980s, Bea Arthur was already a multi-decade veteran of the small screen and had made a big splash as the title character in All in the family spin off Maud. Around the same time, she appeared on the big screen as Vera Charles in the Hollywood adaptation of the musical. To mom and unforgettably appeared in the notorious Star Wars Holiday Special. Arthur died in 2009. at the age of 86 years.

Character: Played by Bea Arthur in the cast Golden girlsDorothy Zbornak is a no-nonsense woman whose fiery temper is offset by her caustic and sharp wit. She moved to Florida after her husband Stanley divorced her and eloped with a flight attendant. She then moved in with her mother Sophia and her friends Rose and Blanche. Dorothy always acts like the mature member of the group, but she also enjoys starting fights and making up arguments for her own amusement.

Betty White as Rose Nylund

White passed away in 2021 at the age of 99

Actor: Betty White rose to fame through her long-running role as Sue Ann Nivens on the TV series The Mary Tyler Moore Show. After her stint in the cast Golden girlsWhite also played several famous film characters, including Beatie White in Toy Story 4 and Grandma Annie Offer. Over the course of her career, she became known as a beloved character actress, albeit one with an often dirty mouth. The famous actor died in December 2021.just weeks before his 100th birthday.

Character: Probably the most memorable of Betty White’s TV and film roles, the comedic legend plays Rose Nylund, a ditzy and sweet retiree who often regales her pals with strange stories from her life on a Minnesota farm. She is a widow whose husband Charlie died of a heart attack, and she moved in with Blanche after she was kicked out of her apartment for having a pet. Of all the women, she is the most supportive and the only person who is always ready to help someone in need.

Rue McClanahan as Blanche Deveraux

McClanahan died in 2010 at the age of 76.

Actor: In addition to roles in Hollywood films such as Starship Troopers, where she played a biology teacher, Rue McClanahan achieved fame on television with roles such as Fran in the cast Mom’s familyand she previously worked with co-star Bea Arthur when she played Vivian on the series. Maud. Rue also returned for the spin-off series. Golden Palace. After this, she spent the rest of her career primarily appearing in made-for-TV films. McClanahan died in 2010. at the age of 76 years.

Character: As part of the main cast Golden girlsRue McClanahan plays Southern belle Blanche Deveraux. Although she is recently widowed, she is often looking for a man, and her friends usually pick on her for her playful promiscuity. She owns the house into which all the ladies move, and they all rent rooms from her. She is the more arrogant of the women and often gets upset when asked to do things for others, but she always shows that underneath that façade she has a heart of gold.

Estelle Getty as Sofia Petrillo

Getty died in 2008 at the age of 84.

Actor: Although Estelle Getty was always remembered for her comedic role as Sofia in Golden girlsShe also had a fruitful film career with dramatic roles, such as Evelyn in Peter Bogdanovich’s film. Mask. Getty played Tutti opposite Sylvester Stallone in the film Buddy Cop. Stop! Or my mom will shootand she played department store owner Claire Timkin in Dummy. Getty died at the age of 84. in 2008.

Character: Sofia Petrillo played by Estelle Getty. Golden girlsDorothy’s mother. Her undeniable charisma and quick wit make her the endearing bane of her daughter’s existence. Of all the women, Sofia is the most outspoken, she has no problem telling anyone how she feels and honestly expresses her thoughts on any topic, no matter how inappropriate it may be. In some fun trivia, even though Getty played Dorothy’s mother, she was actually a year younger than Bea Arthur.

Herb Edelman as Stanley Zbornak

Edelman died in 1996 at the age of 62.

Actor: A seasoned supporting actor, Herb Edelman was already a big screen veteran by the time he appeared on the sitcom. Best known for his role as Murray in Odd couple. Edelman also played Harry Pepper in the film adaptation Barefoot in the park and Bill in the classic drama What we were like. He also had a recurring role in the successful hospital drama series. st. Elsewhere. In 1996 Herb Edelman died at the age of 62..

Character: Herb Edelman played Stanley Zbornak, Dorothy’s ex-husband, whom she is angry with throughout the series for his infidelities. Stanley abandoned Dorothy and divorced her to run off with the flight attendant before the start of the series, which is what caused her to move in with Blanche with Sophia. However, Stan redeemed himself. Golden girls ending when he supported Dorothy in her new marriage and told her he was glad she had found happiness. ​​​​​​

Harold Gould as Miles Webber

Gould died in 2010 at the age of 86.

Actor: Before he appeared on Golden girlsHarold Gould was nominated for an Emmy Award for the series. Rhoda. Although most of his later career consisted of one-off appearances on shows such as Los Angeles Law And Cold Casehe was best known for his film role as Kid Twist. Sting. Gould played Grandpa in the 2003 version. Freaky Fridayand he played the leading role of Arthur Mendelssohn in Patch Adams. Gould died at the age of 86. in 2010.

Character: Appearance in the cast Golden girls Beginning in season 5, Harold Gould played Miles Webber, Rose’s boyfriend who is revealed to be in the witness protection program. He first appeared in the show’s fifth season and was Rose’s first serious romance after her husband’s death. He remained with the series until its end and was later cast in a spin-off series. Golden Palacewhere they end their relationship.

Supporting Golden Girls and Characters

Sid Melton as Sal Petrillo Submitted after Golden girls Syd Melton joined the cast in the first season as Sal Petrillo, Sofia’s late ex-husband, who is only seen in flashbacks and dreams. He is best known for his role as Ikki Mudd in the series. Captain MidnightMelton also appeared as Joe in the thrilling war drama film. Steel helmet. Melton died in 2011 at the age of 94.

Sean Schepps as Rebecca Deveraux Sean Schepps was the original cast member as Rebecca Deveraux, Blanche’s daughter and former model. Although she mostly works behind the scenes on shows such as WeedsSchepps is best known for her role as Nancy on camera in Terminator.

Debra Engle as Rebecca Deveraux Debra Engle took over the role of Rebecca Deveraux in the fifth season of the series. Golden girls and repeated the role in Golden Palace. Angle had numerous one-off roles in TV series such as ambulance And Crossing Jordan. She died in 2023 at the age of 69.

Monte Markham as Clayton Hollingsworth Starring one of Golden girlsThe most progressive character, Monte Markham played Clayton Hollingsworth, Blanche’s brother who has trouble revealing his sexuality to her. Markham had a long career as Captain Thorpe in Baywatch and starred in an indie horror film We’re still here as Dave McCabe.

Sheri North as Virginia Hollingsworth Warren Sheri North will join the cast Golden girls as Virginia Hollingsworth Warren, Blanche’s former sister. A longtime genre actor, North played Myrna in the prison film. Break out, and like Jewell in Charlie Verrick. She died at the age of 73 in 2005.

Bill Dana as Angelo Grisanti – Playing as one of your relatives Golden girlsMain Characters Bill Dana appears as Angelo Grisanti, Sofia’s brother. Dana is best remembered for his variety show. The Bill Dana Showbut he also starred as Jonathan Seagle in Get smarter movie, Nude bombshell. He died in 2017 at the age of 92.

Nancy Walker as Angela Grisanti Vecchio Nancy Walker, also playing one of Sophia’s siblings, appears in the cast Golden girls as Angela Grisanti Vecchio. Walker made a splash with her 40-episode role as Ida on the sitcom. Rhodaand as Mildred in the series McMillan and wife and became an advertising icon, appearing in numerous commercials for Bounty paper towels. She died in 1992 at the age of 69.

Doris Belak as Gloria Petrillo-Harker Gloria Petrillo-Harker, first played by Doris Belak, is Dorothy’s sister who is married to a wealthy man from California. Belak played Doctor Tomsky in Bill Murray’s comedy. What about Bob? and also starred as Rita in Tootsie. She died in 2011 at the age of 85.

Dena Dietrich as Gloria Petrillo-Harker Replacing Doris Belak, Dena Dietrich also played the role of Gloria Petrillo-Harker in the series. Golden girls. Dietrich is best remembered for her role as Competence in the Mel Brooks comedy. History of the World: Part Iand she also appeared in several episodes of the series Philadelphia as Judge Armstrong. She died in 2010 at the age of 91.

Scott Jacoby as Michael Zbornak Appearing in the cast Golden girls as Michael Zbornak, Scott Jacoby played Dorothy’s son, who works as a traveling musician. Jacoby turned heads in a creepy horror film A little girl who lives in an alley when he played Mario and also appeared in the film as the main character Baxter!

Lisa Jane Persky as Kate Zbornak Kate Zbornak, first played by Lisa Jane Persky, is Dorothy’s daughter who works as an interior decorator in New York City. Persky is best remembered for her role as Alice in When Harry Met Sallyand she also played the role of Frances in Cotton Club.

Dina Freeman as Kate Zbornak Dina Freeman joined the cast Golden girls later in the series when she took over the role of Kate Zbornak. Freeman appeared in 16 episodes of the sitcom. Too close for comfort as April Rush, and she played the role of a casting agent in the HBO series. Unity.