Golden Girls Cast & Character Guide

The classic sitcom featured an all-star line-up, and some of the Golden Girls Cast had major careers before and after the show was on the air. Debuting in the fall of 1985, the series follows a group of older women who live in Miami and bond over their shared life experiences and complicated love lives. Over its seven season run on the air, The Golden Girls Not only did it boost its roster of established stars like Betty White and Bea Arthur, but it was also one of the most progressive TV shows of its time.

The Golden Girls Breaking new ground for its portrayal of independent adult women, the series has often been a platform for other issues including race, class and sexual identity. The series was a critical success, earning 68 Emmy nominations, And it found new life on streaming. The Golden Girls‘ short-lived sequel, The Golden PalaceKicked off a number of spinoffs, but none were able to capture the magic of the original. While cast members like Betty White are already famous from their years in television, The Golden Girls Turned his big four into bona fide household names.

Beau Arthur as Dorothy Zbornak

Arthur died in 2009 at the age of 2006

Actor: Already a decades-long veteran of the small screen in the mid-1980s, Beau Arthur made a big splash as the title character in the All in the family Spinoff Mod. At the same time, she graced the big screen as Vera Charles in the Hollywood adaptation of the musical mother and memorably appeared in the Notorious Star Wars Holiday Special. Arthur died in 2009 At the age of 86.

Character: Played by Beau Arthur in the cast of The Golden GirlsDorothy Zbornak is a no-nonsense woman whose quick temper is offset by her acerbic and biting wit. She moved to Florida after her husband, Stanley, divorced her for running off with a flight attendant. She then moved in with her mother, Sophia, and her friends Rose and Blanche. Dorothy is always the one who acts as the mature member of the group, but she also likes to pick fights and create arguments for her own amusement.

Betty White as Rose Nylund

White died in 2021 at the age of 99

Actor: Betty White rose to fame in her long-running stint as Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Taylor Moore Show. After her time in the cast of The Golden GirlsWhite also played several notable movie characters, including Bitey White in Toy Story 4 and Grandma Annie in The proposal. Throughout her career, she became known as a beloved character actor, albeit often with a foul mouth. The celebrated actor died in December 2021Just weeks before her 100th birthday.

Character: Perhaps the most well-remembered of Betty White’s television and movie roles, the comedic legend plays Rose Nylund, the ditzy and lovable retiree who often regales her friends with funny stories from her life on the farm in Minnesota. She is a widow whose husband, Charlie, died of a heart attack, and she moved in with Blanche after her apartment kicked her out for a pet. Of all the women, she is the most supportive and the one person always ready to help someone in need.

Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux

McClanahan died in 2010 at the age of 76

Actor: Outside of her roles in Hollywood movies viz starship troopers, Where she played a biology teacher, Rue McClanahan’s claim to fame came on television with roles such as Fran in the cast of Mama’s familyAnd she previously worked with co-star Beau Arthur when she played Vivian on Mod. Roo also returned for the spinoff series The Golden Palace. After that, she spent the rest of her career mostly appearing in made-for-television movies. McClanahan died in 2010 At the age of 76 years.

Character: as part of the main cast of The Golden GirlsRue McClanahan plays Southern belle Blanche Devereux. Although recently widowed, she is often on the lookout for a man and is usually picked on by her friends for her mischievous promiscuity. She owns the house in which all the ladies go, and all rent her rooms. She is the most arrogant of the women and often seems withdrawn when asked to do something for others, but she always shows that she has a heart of gold under that facade.

Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo

Getty died in 2008 at the age of 84

Actor: Although Estelle Getty is always remembered for her comedy role as Sophia in The Golden GirlsShe also had a full career in films with dramatic parts as Evelyn in Peter Bogdanovich Mask. Getty starred as Tutti alongside Sylvester Stallone in the Buddy Cop movie Stop! Or my mom will shootAnd she played department store owner Claire Timkin in Mannequin. Getty passed away at the age of 84 in 2008.

Character: Sophia Petrillo, played by Estelle Getty in The Golden Girlsis Dorothy’s mother. Her undeniable charisma and quick wit make her the darling of her daughter’s existence. Of all the women, Sophie is the most outspoken, has no problem telling anyone how she feels, and will give you honest thoughts on any subject, however inappropriate. In some fun trivia, despite playing Dorothy’s mother, Getty was actually one year younger than Beau Arthur.

Rabbi Edelman and Stanley Zbornak

Edelman died in 1996 at the age of 62

Actor: An excellent actor, Rabbi Edelman was already a veteran of the big screen when he arrived on the sitcom. He is best known for the role of Murray in The odd couple. Edelman also played Harry Pepper in the film adaptation of Barefoot in the park And Bill in the classic drama The way we are. He also had a recurring role in the hit hospital drama series St. Elsewhere. in 1996, Rabbi Edelman died at the age of 62.

Character: Herb Edelman played Stanley Zbornak, Dorothy’s ex-husband, whom she has a grudge against throughout the series for his cheating ways. Stanley left Dorothy and divorced her to run off with a stewardess before the series began, and this is what caused her to move to Blanche with Sophia. However, Stan buys himself in The Golden Girls Finale when he supports Dorothy on her new marriage and tells her that he is glad that she found happiness.

Harold Gould as Miles Webber

Gould died in 2010 at the age of 86

Actor: Before he appeared Golden GirlsHarold Gould was an Emmy-nominated actor in the television series Rhoda. Although much of his later career was made up of one-off appearances on shows like LA Law And Cold caseHe is mostly known for his movie role as Kid Twist In The Sting. Gould played Grandpa in the 2003 version of Freaky FridayAnd he featured in the lead role of Arthur Mendelssohn in Patch Adams. Gold died at the age of 86 in 2010.

Character: appearing in the guise of The Golden Girls From season 5 onwards, Harold Gould played Miles Webber, Rose’s boyfriend, who was eventually revealed to be in the witness protection program. He first appeared in the fifth season of the show, and he was Rose’s first serious relationship since her husband died. He stayed on the show until it ended and then had a role in the spinoff series, The Golden PalaceWhere the two end their relationship.

The Golden Girls supporting cast & characters

Sid Melton as Sal Petrillo – introduced after The Golden Girls Season 1, Sid Melton joined the cast As Sal Petrillo, Sofia’s late ex-husband who is only seen in flashbacks and dream sequences. Best known for his role as Ikky Mudd in the series Captain MidnightMelton also appeared as Joe in the gripping war drama film The steel helmet. Melton died in 2011 at the age of 94.

Sean Scheps as Rebecca Deveraux – Shawn Schepps was the first performer to play the role of Rebecca Devereaux, Blanche’s daughter who is a former model. Although she largely works behind the scenes on shows like WeedsSchepps is best known for her role in front of the camera as Nancy In The Terminator.

Debra Engle as Rebecca Devereaux – Debra Engle took over the role of Rebecca Devereaux in season 5 of The Golden Girls And reprized the role in The Golden Palace. Engle has had a lot of one-off roles on TV series like He And Across Jordan. She died in 2023 at the age of 69.

Monty Markham as Clayton Hollingsworth – Starring as one of The Golden Girls‘ Most progressive characters, Monty Markham played Clayton Hollingsworth, Blanche’s brother who has a hard time revealing his sexuality to her. Markham had a long-running stint as Captain Thorpe on Baywatch And starred in the indie horror film We are still here Like Dave McCabe.

Sheree North as Virginia Hollingsworth Warren – Sheree North appeared in the cast of The Golden Girls As Virginia Hollingsworth Warren, Blanche’s estranged sister. A perennial genre actor, North starred as Myrna in the film Prison outbreak, And like Jewel in Charlie Verrick. She died at the age of 73 in 2005.

Bill Donna as Angelo Grisanti – Playing one of the relatives of The Golden Girls‘ Main characters, Bill Dana appears as Angelo Grisanti, Sofia’s brother. Donna is best remembered for his variety show, The Bill Donna ShowBut he also starred as Johnathan Seigle in the Get smart movie, The naked bomb. He died in 2017 at the age of 92.

Nancy Walker as Angela Grisanti Vecchio – Also playing one of Sophia’s siblings, Nancy Walker appears in the cast of The Golden Girls Like Angela Grisanti Vecchio. Walker made a splash in her 40-episode stint as Ida on the sitcom RhodaAnd as Mildred on the series Macmillan & Mrs and became an advertising icon by appearing in many commercials for Bounty Paper Towels. She died in 1992 at the age of 69.

Doris Belack as Gloria Petrillo-Harker – First played by Doris Belack, Gloria Petrillo-Harker is Dorothy’s sister who is married to a rich man in California. Black played Dr. Tomsky in the Bill Murray comedy What about Bob? And also starred as Rita in Tutsi. She died in 2011 at the age of 85.

Dena Dietrich as Gloria Petrillo-Harker – Dena Dietrich, taking over for Doris Belack, also played the role of Gloria Petrillo-Harker on The Golden Girls. Dietrich is best remembered for her turn as Competence in the Mel Brooks comedy History of the World: Part IAnd she also appeared in multiple episodes of the series Philly Like Judge Armstrong.

Scott Jacoby as Michael Zbornak – appearing in the form of The Golden Girls As Michael Zbornak, Scott Jacoby played Dorothy’s son who works as a traveling musician. Jacobi turned heads in this terrifying horror film The little girl who lives down the lane When he played Mario, and he also appeared as the title character in the film Baxter!

Lisa Jane Persky as Kate Zbornak – Kate Zbornak is played first by Lisa Jane Persky, the daughter of Dorothy, who works as an interior decorator in New York. Persky is mostly remembered for her turn as Alice in Wonderland When Harry met SallyAnd she also played the role of Frances in The Cotton Club.

Deena Freeman as Kate Zbornak – Deena Freeman joined the cast of The Golden Girls Later in the show’s run when she took over the role of Kate Zbornak. Freeman appeared in 16 episodes of the sitcom Too close for comfort As April Rush, she played the role of the casting agent in the HBO series Together.