The 'Golden Girls': Remembering Rue McClanahan & Estelle Getty

While ‘The Golden Girls’ continues to find new generations of fans, each of the leading ladies had storied careers after the show ended. Rue McClanahan, who earned an Emmy for playing the flirtatious Blanche Devereaux, also remained active in television and theater following the show's success and even joined the Broadway cast of ‘Wicked’ in 2005 as Madame Morrible. McClanahan passed away in 2010 at age 76. Estelle Getty became a fan favorite as Sophia Petrillo, Dorothy’s quick-tongued mother. Despite actually being younger than her co-star Bea Arthur in real life, she famously played the oldest member of the household. Getty retired from acting later in life and died in 2008 at the age of 84.