Former Golden Girl star Estelle Getty has died at the age of 84, just three days shy of her 85th birthday.
Getty had been suffering for years with Lewy Body Dementia, reports TMZ.
Her official website, EstelleGetty.com, also had an official announcement:
“To all of Estelle‘s Fans,
“Sadly, today July 22, 2008 at 5:35 a.m. Pacific Time, we said our last good-byes to our little friend Estelle, who passed away and made her journey to the great beyond. Although it was a trip that she never wanted to take, she went gracefully, in the comfort of her own home (in Los Angeles), surrounded by her family and her very loving care-givers.
“Estelle‘s legacy will live on and on through the comedy and laughter she gave to us all, which will forever keep us laughing out loud.”
Estelle is best known for playing sarcastic, wise-cracking Sophia Petrillo on The Golden Girls.
RIP.
