Post by jasong on Dec 19, 2017 12:12:15 GMT
Estelle, Estelle, Estelle... What can I say about Estelle that hasn't been said by the Girls? There is a lot to be said for someone who never had TV credits until 1978 on the move known as "Team Mates" was released.. Estelle was dedicated to her life on the stage. She gave her passion to the stage, she gave her passion to acting as well, she is always and will be remembered.
Why does this make it so hard to write? Because she was a true gem. Her breakthrough role on TV was Golden Girls which led to Golden Palace and 52 episodes of Empty Nest. That's 10 seasons of her playing the character Sophia Petrillo, and that takes dedication to play a character for more than 7 years, its dedication to a role that brought her into the "Golden Age" of TV, which many consider the 80s.
Before the golden girls, Estelle was on the stage, in the work known as "Torch Song Trilogy.", which was successful for its run. Determined as ever to be an actress, she found moderate compensation performing in community theatre plays. Adept at playing abrasive, insinuating types, she had an innate gift for comedy and stole many scenes. - Why is that important?
Because while on tour with Torch Song in Los Angeles she secured an audition, but nearly lost out on the part because she was too "young", I mean too young she was 14 months younger than fellow Golden Girl Bea Arthur.. "Too Young" my butt. But she got the character, after she came back with makeup, a wig and that handbag that we saw for 7 years on Golden Girls, Palace and Empty Nest..
But where does my respect come from? The fact that if you watch her "Intimate Portrait" video, she wanted to help those suffering with HIV/AIDS in a decade were it was a stigma where people were "scared" to catch it. That's where my respect comes from. Estelle had seen so many people she knew ill, and in need of help, she would cook them soup or another food and go and give it to them. That's respect it really is.
More respect is how she never took any day on Golden Girls for granted, she said in an interview that she was scared of failing and being seen on the set as a "Fraud", that the other three ladies were more experienced (Bea Arthur, had her series Maude. Rue McClanahan came from Maude and did several other shows as well. Betty was on her own shows, plus the Mary Tyler Moore Show, before the show ended..) so they were more experienced than she was, but she didn't let that get her down, she produced a character with a signature catchphrase that is still being said to this day.. You know what it is... "Picture it"
Estelle's time on the Golden Girls was magnificent, and you cannot deny it. She was a talent and great at bringing her comedic actions to the big screen..
In her time Estelle won.. A Golden Globe in 1986 (tied with Cybil Shepard), and an Emmy in 1988 (The same night Bea Arthur did), two American Comedy Awards, a Golden Apple (shared with the girls), A razzie (Wait.... what?) for Worst Actress in the movie Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (That makes me sad..) and the TV Land Award (Shared with the girls).
She gave all to her craft, she made it onto the screen. She will always be remembered. -Miss you Estelle.
"Being tiny has been difficult for me in a business that regarded physicality as the most important part of your life. And I always had to fight against the fact that I could do things even though I was small. And eventually I proved to them I could play mother to six footers"."- Estelle Getty
"People assume that I'm wiser than I am because I'm somewhat successful. Age does not bring you wisdom, age brings you wrinkles. If you're dumb when you're young, you're going to be dumb when you're old."- Estelle Getty
Why does this make it so hard to write? Because she was a true gem. Her breakthrough role on TV was Golden Girls which led to Golden Palace and 52 episodes of Empty Nest. That's 10 seasons of her playing the character Sophia Petrillo, and that takes dedication to play a character for more than 7 years, its dedication to a role that brought her into the "Golden Age" of TV, which many consider the 80s.
Before the golden girls, Estelle was on the stage, in the work known as "Torch Song Trilogy.", which was successful for its run. Determined as ever to be an actress, she found moderate compensation performing in community theatre plays. Adept at playing abrasive, insinuating types, she had an innate gift for comedy and stole many scenes. - Why is that important?
Because while on tour with Torch Song in Los Angeles she secured an audition, but nearly lost out on the part because she was too "young", I mean too young she was 14 months younger than fellow Golden Girl Bea Arthur.. "Too Young" my butt. But she got the character, after she came back with makeup, a wig and that handbag that we saw for 7 years on Golden Girls, Palace and Empty Nest..
But where does my respect come from? The fact that if you watch her "Intimate Portrait" video, she wanted to help those suffering with HIV/AIDS in a decade were it was a stigma where people were "scared" to catch it. That's where my respect comes from. Estelle had seen so many people she knew ill, and in need of help, she would cook them soup or another food and go and give it to them. That's respect it really is.
More respect is how she never took any day on Golden Girls for granted, she said in an interview that she was scared of failing and being seen on the set as a "Fraud", that the other three ladies were more experienced (Bea Arthur, had her series Maude. Rue McClanahan came from Maude and did several other shows as well. Betty was on her own shows, plus the Mary Tyler Moore Show, before the show ended..) so they were more experienced than she was, but she didn't let that get her down, she produced a character with a signature catchphrase that is still being said to this day.. You know what it is... "Picture it"
Estelle's time on the Golden Girls was magnificent, and you cannot deny it. She was a talent and great at bringing her comedic actions to the big screen..
In her time Estelle won.. A Golden Globe in 1986 (tied with Cybil Shepard), and an Emmy in 1988 (The same night Bea Arthur did), two American Comedy Awards, a Golden Apple (shared with the girls), A razzie (Wait.... what?) for Worst Actress in the movie Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot (That makes me sad..) and the TV Land Award (Shared with the girls).
She gave all to her craft, she made it onto the screen. She will always be remembered. -Miss you Estelle.
"Being tiny has been difficult for me in a business that regarded physicality as the most important part of your life. And I always had to fight against the fact that I could do things even though I was small. And eventually I proved to them I could play mother to six footers"."- Estelle Getty
"People assume that I'm wiser than I am because I'm somewhat successful. Age does not bring you wisdom, age brings you wrinkles. If you're dumb when you're young, you're going to be dumb when you're old."- Estelle Getty