Behind the Scenes of The Golden Girls – Hidden Stories and Special Moments
You’ve definitely heard of The Golden Girls, unless you’ve been living under a rock! This iconic show, which ran from 1985 to 1992, won the hearts of viewers all over the world. The adventures of Dorothy, Rose, Blanche, and Sophia became legendary, and even now, over 30 years after the show ended, people still love talking about it. In fact, the show was never even supposed to last more than one season! But somehow, it became a timeless classic.
Stan Zimmerman, who was a staff writer for the first season of The Golden Girls, recently sat down for an interview with Newsner. He shared some amazing behind-the-scenes stories, giving us a glimpse into what really happened on the set. Let’s dive into some of the hidden details about the show that you might not know!
The Warmth of Estelle Getty
One of the most memorable characters on The Golden Girls was Sophia Petrillo, played by the legendary Estelle Getty. While fans know her for her sharp one-liners and quick-witted insults, Stan Zimmerman remembers her in a very different way. He recalls her as incredibly warm and caring.
“I was so excited when Estelle came over to talk to me and my writing partner, Jim,” Stan said, remembering a moment when Estelle first approached him. “She said, ‘I’m so small, come here, come here,’ and then dragged us to the back of the set.”
Stan described how Estelle wasn’t just kind, but also protective of those around her. “She told us, ‘Your secret is safe with me,’” he recalled. At the time, Zimmerman and his writing partner were keeping their sexuality private because of the fears and challenges faced by LGBTQ people in the 1980s.
“She had a huge heart. She didn’t hesitate to help us,” he added. “I think she had a real understanding of what it meant to be different, especially after her experience with the Torch Song Trilogy play, where she met many LGBTQ people.”
A Motherly Side to Sophia
Even though Estelle’s character, Sophia, was full of sass and sarcasm, in real life, she had a much softer, more maternal side. “She had a very motherly quality,” Stan remembers fondly. “We would even stay in touch after The Golden Girls ended. She’d call me up and ask, ‘Who are you dating? What’s going on in your life?’ She always gave the best advice.”
Despite Estelle being younger than Bea Arthur and Betty White, who played her older sisters on the show, Estelle had to wear heavy makeup to look like the oldest Golden Girl. Stan laughed, recalling a funny story: “They had to put on old age makeup to make her look like she was 80.
And after she had a facelift between seasons one and two, the makeup crew said, ‘Estelle, you look better now! What happened?’ She was just so happy to finally be in Hollywood and working after all those years of trying.”
The Struggles Estelle Faced
Unfortunately, Estelle’s health began to decline. At the time, no one knew it, but she was suffering from early onset dementia. “We didn’t know at the time that she was dealing with dementia,” Stan admitted. “It was hard for her, especially with the live studio audience and the pressure to remember all her lines.”
Stan explained how the Friday night tapings were especially difficult for Estelle. “It became really stressful for her. But the other women—Bea, Betty, and Rue—were so protective. They wanted to make sure she was in the best mental state to perform.”
What many didn’t know was that Estelle was going through intense treatment, attending therapy multiple times a week. “In the writer’s room, people thought she was out partying, but she wasn’t. She was at home, studying her lines.” Stan revealed that even though Estelle’s struggles weren’t widely known, the writers and crew took action to make sure she was supported.
“We even had to write her lines on cue cards and sometimes tape them to furniture. And if you ever saw her eating raisins on the show, that’s because we wrote her lines on her hands to help her remember,” Stan shared. Despite everything, Estelle’s performances were always incredible. “She always delivered. Every time she said her lines, it felt like a home run.”
Betty White’s First Impressions
Not all the backstage moments were as sweet, though. Stan admitted that his first impression of Betty White wasn’t all that positive. During tapings, Betty would often joke around with the studio audience if Estelle fumbled her lines. “She would go up to the stands and crack jokes at Estelle’s expense. I thought it was unkind at the time,” Stan said.
However, as he grew older, Stan realized Betty’s intentions might have been different. “I think she was trying to help Estelle gather herself. Maybe she was just trying to give Estelle some space to get back on track.”
He also mentioned that there were whispers of tension between Betty and Bea Arthur, as their acting styles were very different. “Bea didn’t like it when Betty would break character. Bea was a stage actress, and she didn’t believe in stepping out of character during filming.”
The Golden Girls Were More Than Just a Show
One of the most special things about The Golden Girls was how much the stars appreciated the writers. “I have to give credit to those four women,” Stan said. “They always spoke about us, the writers, on talk shows. It wasn’t something you saw often. They were always grateful for the work we did.”
Contrary to what many fans think, the Golden Girls never ad-libbed their lines. “Every word, every comma, every period was in the script. What we wrote was exactly what they said,” Stan explained.
Stan also shared his memories of working with other big names like Lily Tomlin, Lauren Graham, and Roseanne, along with the four Golden Girls. He’s written about these experiences in his book The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore.
Currently, Stan is touring with his moving play Right Before I Go, a story inspired by the tragic suicide of a close friend.
What do you think of these behind-the-scenes stories? Were you surprised to learn more about Estelle Getty’s challenges? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
