How Well Do You Remember ‘The Golden Girls’ Sophia Petrillo?

Karen Ruud October 3, 2025

Golden Girls Sophia Trivia Header image — Everett Collection

Famously, Estelle Getty, who played Sophia Petrullo, the wise-cracking mother of Dorothy, was actually younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter on The Golden Girls. A late bloomer, Getty spent decades as a working theater actress but didn’t get her big break until she was almost 60, and appeared on Broadway in The Torch Song Trilogy in 1982. The role won her a Drama Desk Award and the attention of Hollywood, and three short years later, she donned the curl-haired grey wig that made her famous.

“Picture it: Sicily.” Sophia was born in the old country, and spoke of it often, though viewers could not help noticing her accent hailed from New York, not Italy. Vocal mysteries aside, Sophia was just as acidic as her daughter, giving as good as she got — and she didn’t keep her barbs in the family, with Rose and Blanche also frequently falling victim to her bon mots. Getty eventually won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy for playing the pint-sizes, sharp-tongued octogenarian. Nearly 20 years after her death at the age of 84, Golden Girls re-runs are still minting new fans.

But how much do you really remember about Sophia? Get out some cheesecake, and get ready to put your wisdom to the test.