Behind the Scenes of The Golden Girls: Hidden Stories from the Show’s Writer
You’ve probably heard of The Golden Girls, the hugely popular TV show that aired from 1985 to 1992, unless you’ve been living under a rock! Even though it ended more than 30 years ago, the show still has a special place in many people’s hearts.
In fact, the show was never supposed to last beyond its first season, but it captured the world’s attention and became a legendary hit.
Stan Zimmerman, who worked as a staff writer for Season 1 of The Golden Girls, recently spoke with Newsner to share some incredible behind-the-scenes stories about the show that fans might not know. Let’s dive into the hidden details of one of everyone’s favorite TV classics!
Estelle Getty: A Star with a Heart of Gold
Estelle Getty, who played the quick-witted Sophia Petrillo, will forever be remembered for her hilarious one-liners and sharp comebacks. But to Stan Zimmerman, Estelle was known for something else entirely—her warmth.
“I was so excited when she came over to talk to me and my writing partner, Jim,” Stan recalls. “She was so small and cute, and she said, ‘Come here, come here,’ pulling us along behind her.”
Stan fondly remembers how Estelle’s kindness left a lasting impression. She told him, “Your secret is safe with me,” referring to the fact that she believed they were both Jewish, though they were actually gay. Estelle had become close to many members of the LGBT community through her work in the show Torch Song Trilogy, and she made sure to support them in any way she could.
At the time, the 1980s were much more conservative, and Stan’s management even advised him to hide his true identity while working on the show. “People found it hard to believe,” Stan admits. “Back in 1985, we had to keep quiet about who we really were at work, but Estelle was always ready to back us up. That was incredibly sweet of her.”
The Lesser-Known Side of Estelle Getty
While fans adored Sophia’s sharp tongue on screen, Estelle had a completely different side. “She had this very motherly quality in real life,” Stan says. “Even after I stopped working on the show, we’d still talk on the phone. She’d always ask, ‘Who are you dating? What job are you doing?’ She loved giving advice on everything!”
Interestingly, Estelle was younger than her co-stars Bea Arthur and Betty White, yet she played the oldest Golden Girl. To make her look older, the makeup artists had to use special aging makeup on her. But in between seasons one and two, something happened that surprised everyone.
Stan laughs as he recalls, “I think she had a facelift, and when the makeup crew asked her to do her makeup, they said, ‘Estelle, you look better! What happened?’”
Estelle was just thrilled to finally be working in Hollywood. “Imagine working for years and thinking about quitting, but then finally, you get your big break. She was over the moon!” Stan adds.
The Hidden Struggles: Estelle’s Health Battle
Sadly, as time went on, Estelle began facing some serious health issues. Stan reveals, “We didn’t know at the time, but she was struggling with early-onset dementia. It was heartbreaking for her because she had a fear of performing in front of a live studio audience and often forgot her lines.”
Stan recalls that the tapings on Friday nights were stressful for Estelle, and the rest of the cast did everything they could to help her. “All three of the women—Bea, Betty, and Rue—were really protective of Estelle. They made sure she was in the best mental state to perform.”
Stan remembers how Estelle confided in him, telling him she was receiving treatment several times a week. “The rest of the team thought she was out partying in Hollywood, but in reality, she was at home, studying her lines for hours.”
To help Estelle, they had to get creative. “Sometimes we’d write her lines on her hands or even tape them to the furniture!” Stan laughs. “And in later years, we used cue cards to help her get through her scenes.”
Despite all her challenges, Estelle delivered her lines like a pro. “Every time she said her lines, they were perfect,” Stan says. “It was like watching a home run. We always knew she’d hit the punchline at the end of the scene, so we’d often turn to her for the funniest moments.”
Betty White: A Different Perspective
But it wasn’t always smooth sailing behind the scenes. At first, Stan didn’t have the best impression of Betty White. “Betty would often crack jokes about Estelle when she fumbled her lines, and I thought it was a little unkind,” he admits. “She’d walk over to the audience and make light of it.”
However, over time, Stan realized Betty might have been trying to help Estelle. “Maybe Betty was just trying to lighten the mood, giving Estelle some time to regroup and remember her lines,” he reflects.
Stan also noticed some tension between Bea Arthur and Betty White. “I heard whispers about it,” he says. “Bea was a serious stage actor, and she didn’t like when Betty would break character during a scene, especially when Betty would talk to the audience. Bea preferred to keep things strictly professional.”
The Golden Girls’ Unique Bond
Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, one thing stood out to Stan: the incredible bond between the four women. “What made The Golden Girls so special was how the women always gave credit to the writers,” Stan says. “They were always complimenting us in interviews, which is something you rarely see in Hollywood. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
And contrary to popular belief, the women never ad-libbed their lines. “People thought they made up their own jokes, but that wasn’t the case,” Stan explains. “Every word, every comma, every period was written by us.”
Stan’s book The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore dives deeper into his experiences with The Golden Girls and his work with other legendary women in television. His play Right Before I Go, inspired by the suicide of a close friend, is currently touring across the country.
What do you think of these behind-the-scenes stories? Do you have a favorite Golden Girls moment? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
