The widely celebrated television series The Golden Girls is undoubtedly a household name, unless you’ve somehow managed to avoid it. Running from 1985 to 1992, this beloved show captured the hearts of viewers worldwide.
Even today, more than three decades after the series finale aired, people still reminisce about this iconic show, which was originally expected to last only a single season!
Stan Zimmerman, a writer for the first season of The Golden Girls, recently shared some fascinating behind-the-scenes insights during an interview with Newsner. Keep reading to uncover hidden gems about this cherished series.
The Golden Girls | Cast, Betty White, Bea Arthur, & Description ... (Source: www.britannica.com)
Estelle Getty’s Endearing Warmth
Estelle Getty, known for her portrayal of Sophia Petrillo and her sharp one-liners, remains a fan favorite. However, Zimmerman remembers her most for her genuine warmth and kindness.
“I was thrilled that she came over to talk to me and my writing partner, Jim,” Zimmerman recalled. At the time, he was a young writer when Getty first approached him. “She said, ‘I’m so small. Come here, come here,’” he shared, recounting how she took them aside during her layover.
Zimmerman described how Getty led them to a private space backstage, saying, “We just followed her. She was Estelle Getty, after all!” She reassured them by saying, “Your secret is safe with me.” Zimmerman assumed she was referring to their shared Jewish heritage, but instead, she was acknowledging their sexuality. “She met a lot of LGBTQ individuals through the Torch Song Trilogy,” he explained.
At the time, Zimmerman’s management had advised him to hide his identity while working. “It’s hard for people to imagine now,” he said. “But back in 1985, we couldn’t openly talk about who we were. Our representatives told us to keep it quiet. Estelle’s willingness to protect our secret meant a lot to me.”
Steal the Room: Golden Girls Kitchen — Julia en Route (Source: www.juliaenroute.com)
A Maternal Presence Off-Screen
While Sophia Petrillo was known for her biting wit, Getty was nurturing and motherly in real life. Zimmerman recalled her caring nature: “She had this very maternal quality. Years later, even when I wasn’t working on The Golden Girls, we’d still talk on the phone. She’d always ask, ‘Who are you dating? Where are you working?’ And she wasn’t shy about giving advice on those topics.”
Getty’s age was a surprise to many. Though she played the oldest Golden Girl, she was actually younger than both Bea Arthur and Betty White. Makeup artists had to use special techniques to age her appearance for the role. Zimmerman recounted a humorous moment when, after a facelift between seasons, the makeup team remarked, “Estelle, why do you look better now?” He added, “She was so excited to be in Hollywood, achieving her dreams after years of struggle.”
Facing Health Challenges
Zimmerman shared that Getty’s health began to decline later in her career. “At the time, we didn’t realize she was experiencing early-onset dementia,” he explained. Her anxiety about performing in front of live studio audiences and her struggles with memory were increasingly evident. “Friday night tapings were incredibly stressful for her,” he said. Yet, her co-stars were protective, ensuring she felt supported.
Few on set knew that Getty attended therapy multiple times a week. “People in the writer’s room assumed she was out at Hollywood parties,” Zimmerman revealed. Instead, she was working hard to prepare for her performances. To help her, the production team resorted to unconventional measures. “If you see her eating raisins on the show, it’s because we wrote lines on her hands or taped them to furniture. There were even cue cards to assist her in her later years.”
Despite these struggles, Getty consistently delivered outstanding performances. “Every time she delivered a line, it was like a home run,” Zimmerman said. “We knew she would always land the final joke perfectly.”
Rookie » Literally the Best Thing Ever: The Golden Girls (Source: www.rookiemag.com)
Betty White’s Humor and Bea Arthur’s Dedication
Zimmerman admitted his initial impression of Betty White wasn’t entirely positive. During tapings, White would sometimes make jokes about Getty’s line struggles to the studio audience. “I thought it was unkind,” Zimmerman shared. However, with time, he reconsidered: “I’ve come to think maybe she was trying to divert attention and give Estelle time to regroup.”
Zimmerman also mentioned whispers of tension between Bea Arthur and Betty White. “They had different working styles. Bea, being a stage actor, stayed in character even during breaks. She didn’t appreciate it when Betty would step out of character and chat with others mid-scene.”
Honoring the Writers
Zimmerman expressed gratitude for the cast’s acknowledgment of the writers. “Those four women always praised the writers during interviews,” he said. “That’s rare in Hollywood, and I’m forever thankful for their appreciation.”
Contrary to popular belief, the show’s iconic moments were not improvised. “Viewers often think the women came up with lines on the spot, but that wasn’t the case,” Zimmerman explained. “They followed the script to the letter.”
Zimmerman documented his experiences with The Golden Girls and other notable figures in his book The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore. He also wrote a play, Right Before I Go, inspired by the loss of a close friend.
Thank You for Being a Friend: Life Lessons I Learned from The ... (Source: pinkandpetrichor.com)
A Legacy That Endures
The Golden Girls remains a timeless classic, thanks to its extraordinary cast and talented writers. Share this article with fellow fans who would enjoy these little-known stories about a beloved show.
This Hollywood Icon Proved That True Love Exists by Caring for Her Husband of 46
Years After His Stroke – A Love Story That Inspires
Her life appeared to be a glamorous Hollywood fairytale — working alongside some of the biggest stars on movies that became classics. Yet, her greatest happiness came from a love story that lasted nearly fifty years. When her husband's health declined in his later years, she stayed by his side, dedicating herself to his care.
She gained fame in the 1950s, earning a spot in Hollywood's golden era with roles in movies like "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Funny Face." Her career lasted over sixty years, making her well-known on stage, TV, and in films.
Her charm and lively personality made her capable of singing, dancing, and acting, and she remained a constant in the entertainment industry for many years. Her marriage lasted 46 years, enduring many tough times, especially in the later years, but her dedication to her husband through life's hardest moments showed that love can survive anything.
Her first TV appearance was on the popular "Burns and Allen" show when she was only 16. It wasn't a big break, but it allowed her to join the union and begin her career in show business.
Her early TV work led to better opportunities, and soon she tried out for the 1954 movie "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." The producers needed dancers for the musical, and her ballet skills caught their attention.
When asked if she could perform a more "folksy" number, she wowed them with a Lithuanian polka — reflecting her Eastern European family roots. Her distinct charm and talent earned her the part of Ruth Jepson.
The musical was a huge hit, and the experience made a lasting mark on her. She remembered once slipping during rehearsal and hitting her head on the stage, leaving her unconscious. She described it as sliding back and falling onto her face so hard she briefly fainted.
Despite bumping her head, she joked that she was just looking for a lost coin, and she quickly recovered and kept rehearsing. The film's success elevated her position in Hollywood, leading to other notable roles, including appearances in "Funny Face" with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire, as well as "Witness for the Prosecution."
Her wide-ranging talents kept her busy for many decades in movies, TV shows, and theater. She admitted she never achieved true superstardom but enjoyed a steady, fulfilling career. She took pride in being a "triple threat," able to adapt to many roles.
Beyond acting, she spent five successful years working on the Home Shopping Network, where her lively personality connected with viewers. Reflecting on her long journey, she said, "I've always managed to make a living at it."
Despite her professional achievements, her heart belonged to her marriage. She met and married Webb Lowe, a charming real estate man from Texas. She described him as handsome in every way, with an even better personality inside. Their relationship was filled with love, laughter, and adventure, traveling together and enjoying simple joys. Their union lasted an impressive 46 years.
In February 2020, she marked their 44th wedding anniversary with an emotional message on social media, expressing her love. She praised her husband, wishing everyone love, whether they are paired or single, and emphasizing the importance of loving oneself.
Their marriage endured through life's highs and lows, supporting each other all the way, until her husband's health problems began. When Lowe suffered a stroke, her supportive care became her main focus.
She spoke openly about the emotional difficulties, admitting she sometimes lost patience. His calm and grateful nature helped her stay strong through the hardest times. As he developed dementia later, watching him decline was heartbreaking.
Despite the pain, she stayed committed. She explained that caregiving was an extension of their deep love. It was difficult, but she was determined to care for him until the end.
Lowe passed away in July 2020, just short of his 89th birthday. Although her grief was deep, she focused on gratitude for the years they shared together. She said, "When he died, all I could do was look back with a smile. I had 46 wonderful years with him. He was a kind, loving person with a big heart." Watching him slip away in his final years was one of her hardest experiences.
She recalled how each passing month brought more decline. Despite this, she honors his memory by celebrating the life they built together. On what would have been their 48th anniversary, she posted a heartfelt message online, saying, "Happy Heavenly Anniversary. Although no longer with me… my beloved Webster is always in my heart."
Supporters expressed their admiration for her loyalty and love. One commented, "Beautiful love story," another called it a "wonderful romantic tale," and someone else remarked, "It's so touching that you miss him that much."
Even after losing him, she stayed hopeful, finding comfort in memories of their shared life. She said, "I thank God every day. I'm sad he's gone, but I'm grateful for all those wonderful years with him."
Later, she dedicated herself to a cause close to her heart—helping mental health efforts through The Thalians, a Hollywood nonprofit. Her involvement began years ago, initially supporting psychiatric care for children, then focusing on service members coming home from war. She fully supported this mission.
She shared that her work with The Thalians was her greatest source of pride. Currently, the group concentrates on aiding returning veterans' mental health. Helping others gave her a new purpose, just like her long entertainment career did.
Even at 89, she stays active and involved, with no plans to slow down. Fans have admired her for decades, expressing their affection online. One admirer called her "a forever fan since the 1960s," praising her timeless beauty and spirit, and calling her "a gorgeous lady" whose beauty and energy they cherish.
Despite all her achievements, she believes she still has more to accomplish. She joked that she hasn't had her big breakthrough yet, and she feels she has more to offer in the future.
Oscar Winner Shares the Unexpected Moment Trump Tried to Woo Her
Emma Thompson stood on a sunny stage in Switzerland, smiling as fans cheered. It was August 2025, the 78th Locarno Film Festival, and she was there to talk about movies, craft, and life. Emma is easy with a crowd. She jokes. She listens. She tells stories with that warm, quick humor people love. Then she shared a memory that made the audience lean forward—a funny, odd, very Hollywood moment from the late 1990s. It was the day she picked up the phone in her trailer and heard a stranger say, “Hello, this is Donald Trump.”
Back to the Late 1990s
To place the moment, Emma guided everyone back a few decades. It was the late ’90s. She was filming Primary Colors, a sharp political drama. She was doing long days, learning lines, and settling into the rhythm of an American production. It was also a time of personal change. She had finalized her divorce from actor and director Kenneth Branagh not long before. Her life was busy, public, and a little fragile. Work kept her steady.
The Phone Rings in the Trailer
Emma described the trailer as small and quiet—scripts on the table, a cup of tea going cold, the usual set noise in the distance. The phone rang. She picked it up. A crisp voice said, “Hello, this is Donald Trump.” For a second, she thought it was a prank. The name was everywhere in the 1990s. Trump was a celebrity developer, the face of flashy towers and talk shows. In that moment, hearing his name felt unreal, like a joke a crew member might play between takes.
An Unexpected Invitation
But it wasn’t a joke. The voice kept talking. He wanted to say hello. He wanted to invite her out. It was, as Emma put it with a raised eyebrow, “a date offer.” She laughed on stage when she told it, because the situation was so strange. Here she was, a British actress in an American political film, newly divorced, sitting in a trailer—and the phone brings a proposal from one of the loudest names in New York. She would later tease that maybe he was looking for “a nice divorcee” to be seen with.
Timing, Taste, and a Gentle No
Emma is polite, but she is also clear. She declined. It did not feel right. The timing was off. The offer was odd. She had work to do and a heart still mending. She kept the call short and went back to her script. At Locarno, she told the story the way she tells everything: with humor and grace. She even joked, “Saying yes might have given me a wild story to tell—and who knows, maybe even changed the course of history.” The line made people laugh. It also said something about Emma’s style. She lets a joke hold the weight so a hard truth doesn’t have to.
Where Emma Was in Life
To understand the moment, it helps to remember where Emma stood then. She was already a major star. She had won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Howards End earlier in the decade. She had also written the screenplay for Sense and Sensibility and won an Oscar for it—the rare artist who has won for both acting and writing. Work was not a question. Respect was not a question. But her personal life was shifting. Her marriage to Kenneth Branagh, a highly visible creative partnership, had ended in 1995. The world had watched the split, and the tabloids had a feast. Anyone who has been through a breakup knows the quiet after is the tender part. That was the air she was breathing when the phone rang.
Emma and Kenneth: A Public Love Story
Emma and Kenneth had been a golden couple for British film and theater. They married in 1989, collaborated on stage and screen, and often felt like a matched set—two bright, disciplined talents chasing big ideas. They worked with the same friends, ran in the same circles, and made art that reached both critics and audiences. When they divorced, it was sad not just for them but for people who loved their work together. The world talked and guessed and filled in blanks, as it always does with famous people.
Headlines, Rumors, and Moving On
The split came with public speculation about Kenneth’s working relationship with Helena Bonham Carter, another celebrated actor. The rumor machine is never kind, and in those years it was especially loud. Over time, though, everyone moved on. They kept working. They kept living. They found new partners and new projects. The edges softened. By the time Emma told her Locarno story, the old pain had long ago become a set of lessons and memories.
Filming [object Object]
While Primary Colors rolled cameras, Emma played Susan Stanton, a smart, complex woman trying to keep a political marriage and a campaign afloat. The role required wit and control, and it let Emma stretch into another rich American character. She was adjusting to American rhythms—accents, political talk, the different energy of a U.S. film set. The trailer phone call landed in the middle of that focused work, a glittering, odd interruption.
Emma’s Early Roots and Rise
A quick step back helps explain why Emma meets even strange moments with calm. She grew up around storytelling. Born in London in 1959, Emma is the daughter of actors—Eric Thompson, who brought The Magic Roundabout to British TV, and Phyllida Law, a beloved stage and screen performer. She studied at Cambridge, where she joined the Footlights, a famous comedy troupe that shaped her timing and sense of play. She came up through sketch and satire, then moved into serious drama without losing that mischievous sparkle. By the early 1990s, she had become a rare thing: a writer-actor who could break your heart with a look and then fix it with a line.
Meeting Greg Wise and Building a Family
After the storm of her divorce, life surprised Emma in a kinder way. On the set of Sense and Sensibility, she met actor Greg Wise. There’s a sweet story he has told, about a feeling he had that he would meet the person he would marry while making that film. In time, Emma and Greg found each other for real. They married in 2003. They built a home with two children: their daughter, Gaia, and Tindyebwa Agaba Wise, whom they welcomed into their family and later adopted. Family became Emma’s anchor. It gave her something steady and private, far from red carpets and headlines.
What Became of the Other Players
Everyone in the earlier chapter found their path. Helena Bonham Carter later spent many years with filmmaker Tim Burton, and they shared projects and a family. Kenneth Branagh married art director Lindsay Brunnock in 2003. Careers continued. People changed and grew. The scandal years faded into regular years, the way time kindly blurs sharp corners. Emma’s story about the phone call is a light note in that larger, human arc.
Work That Lasts
Emma kept doing what she loves: acting and writing. She charmed families with Nanny McPhee. She brought tenderness and bite to Love Actually. She became Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter films and gave that eccentric teacher a beating, gentle heart. She offered quiet strength in Saving Mr. Banks and a wicked grin in Cruella. Through all of it, she stayed herself—smart, direct, funny, and unwilling to pretend. When she tells a story, she doesn’t flatter herself. She also doesn’t flatter the moment. She lets it sit, true and a little awkward, and trusts that the audience will meet it honestly.
Why the Phone Call Felt So Strange
Hearing “Donald Trump” in the ’90s was like hearing a brand name step out of a billboard and ask for dinner plans. He was not yet a politician. He was a builder, a TV personality, a quote machine. He loved attention. Emma, in contrast, was navigating grief and work. She was carrying a quiet heart into a loud business. In that light, her no makes simple sense. It wasn’t a comment on him as much as it was a choice for herself: not that, not now.
The Joke About History
Emma’s joke—“Maybe it would have changed the course of history”—works because it shows her lightness and perspective. She is not rewriting the past. She is smiling at it. It is her way of saying the moment was odd enough to feel like a fork in the road, even if it wasn’t. She turned left instead of right. Life went on. The joke lets air in. It also keeps the story where it belongs: as a footnote, not a headline.
The Woman Behind the Story
Emma is not only an artist. She is also a citizen. She speaks out about climate, justice, and kindness. She supports causes that fit her values. She is known for plain talk and soft eyes. She laughs easily but does not shy from pain, either in roles or in real life. Those qualities show up in the way she told this tale at Locarno. There is no point-scoring. No drama. Just a funny memory, shared with a mix of modesty and wit, and tucked into a larger conversation about work and love.
What the Memory Says About Fame
This little story also says something about the strange dance of fame. People who live in the public eye end up on each other’s phones. One call can feel like a headline. But to the person holding the receiver, it is just a ring in a trailer on a long workday. Emma remembered the timing, the tone, the oddness of it. She did not turn it into a big confession. She did not shame anyone. She simply held it up to the light and let people see the pattern inside.
A Life Chosen, Not Chased
The best part of Emma’s account is the quiet decision at its center. She chose her path: do the job, take care of herself, keep faith with her own timing. That pattern repeats across her life. She learned to write because she wanted better roles for women. She said yes to films that made children laugh because she wanted stories for families. She built a home that felt safe. She kept friendships that lasted. In many ways, the phone call is interesting only because it reveals what she values. She picks her own yes and no.
Everyone Else Moves Forward Too
It is worth saying again: everyone in Emma’s orbit moved forward as well. Helena Bonham Carter continued to shape unforgettable characters. Kenneth Branagh directed and starred in projects that won awards and audiences. Greg Wise built a steady career and a steady home with Emma. These are grown lives, full and complicated. Emma’s story lives inside that calm, well-lived landscape. It is a flash of glitter tossed into the air and laughed at, then allowed to settle.
The Festival Moment
At Locarno, the audience loved her for it. They were there to celebrate cinema, and she gave them a slice of the life behind it. You could picture the trailer, the dusty lot, the ring of the phone, the quick conversation, and the soft click at the end. You could feel the relief of a simple decision made for the right reasons. You could also hear the version of Emma that fans adore: smart, generous, and open about the odd parts of her journey.
A Footnote Worth Keeping
Will this story change how we see Emma Thompson? Probably not. She has already given us so much to hold—performances, scripts, characters, and words that stick. What it does give us is a grin and a human beat in a famous life. It joins the pile of small memories that make a person feel real. And it shows, again, that Emma knows how to shape a scene, even when it happened by accident, even when it was just a phone call that went nowhere.
The Gentle Ending
The call came. She said no. She finished her day’s work. She kept going. Later, she met Greg, married, and built a family. She kept acting. She kept writing. She won hearts. She stayed herself. Now, years later, she can tell the story without sting. It is a Hollywood footnote with a warm smile attached. It reminds us that even the biggest stars sit alone in small rooms sometimes, making choices no one else can make for them.
What Stays With Us
What remains is simple: a talented woman at a turning point, a phone that rang, and a choice that felt right. The late ’90s were loud. Emma chose quiet. At a festival in 2025, she turned that quiet choice into a shared laugh and a small lesson. Fame is noisy. Life is not. Emma Thompson, with her usual clear voice, showed us the difference. And then she waved, thanked the crowd, and moved on—back to the work, back to the life she built, leaving this odd, funny memory behind like a bright pebble on a well-walked path.
Little-known mistakes and bloopers in ‘Leave It to Beaver’
Imagine if the world were more like the show Leave It to Beaver. Things would be much nicer. But, even this classic show had its mistakes and funny moments behind the scenes.
Setting a Higher Standard
Though the show was about a made-up family, Leave It to Beaver set a high bar for wholesome values. Many fans believe TV shows today aren't as good as they used to be. The show ran from 1957 to 1963, winning hearts with its family values and clean humor.
Funny Goofs You Didn't Notice
Even well-made shows have their funny mistakes. Some moments were left in by accident. One of the most surprising is a blooper that wasn’t edited out.
One famous mistake involves June Cleaver’s calendar. The Cleaver family was known for their tidy home. But, in the 1963 episode “The Poor Loser,” you can spot a small error. The calendar in their home showed the wrong year—it was from 1961, not 1963.
In the same episode, Ward and Beaver have baseball tickets. If you look closely, the town “Mayfield” is misspelled as “Mayfied” in the small print.
In earlier days, special effects weren’t as advanced as they are today. In the episode “The Silent Treatment,” a scene shows Beaver painting a door when a bee starts buzzing around. Instead of using a real bee, they used a fake one on a string. If you pay attention, you can see the string bouncing near Beaver’s face.
Jerry Mathers as Beaver
Jerry Mathers played the role of Theodore "Beaver" Cleaver. Fans loved him as the adorable younger brother. Mathers, who turned 76 in 2024, is still alive and doing well. People often ask him if he was like Beaver in real life.
“Well, I got into a lot less trouble,” he joked. He shared that filming felt like being part of a big family. The crew kept him busy between scenes by playing catch and making sure he enjoyed his time on set.
Jerry Mathers' Audition
Jerry Mathers’ audition for the role of Beaver is quite famous. He showed up in his Cub Scout uniform because he had a meeting right after. He wasn’t too excited about the audition, but his honesty won over the show’s creators. They found him to be the perfect fit for the role, and the rest is history. After landing the part, Mathers had to focus on school during breaks between filming.
A Smart Business Move
Jerry Mathers was the first child actor to negotiate a deal that gave him a share of the show’s merchandising profits. This smart move has earned him money long after the show ended.
Tony Dow Wasn’t the First Wally
Tony Dow played Wally, Beaver’s older brother, but he wasn’t the original choice. The first actor, Paul Sullivan, was replaced after a growth spurt made him look too old for the role.
June Cleaver’s Pearls
Barbara Billingsley, who played June Cleaver, is known for her stylish pearls. She wore them to hide a scar on her neck from surgery. She also wore high heels to look taller next to her growing sons.
Real-Life Friendship
Jerry Mathers and Tony Dow had a close bond in real life. Photos from the set show their connection. They became best friends while filming and stayed that way for life. When Dow passed away in 2022, Mathers expressed his deep sadness, saying he had lost a brother both on-screen and in life.
The Rumor of Jerry Mathers’ Death
There was once a rumor that Jerry Mathers died in Vietnam. Luckily, this wasn’t true. Mathers wasn’t sent to Vietnam. He tried to join the Marines but was turned away to avoid any bad press if something happened to him. Instead, he served in the Air National Guard.
The Show’s Most Expensive Episode
One of the most memorable episodes aired in 1961. In this episode, Beaver climbs a billboard and falls into a giant soup cup. This episode cost $40,000 to make, the highest of the series, and became one of Mathers' favorites, despite his fear of heights.
A Toilet on TV
Leave It to Beaver broke new ground by showing a toilet on TV. In the 1950s, it was unheard of to show bathrooms on screen. But in one episode, Wally holds a toilet seat, and while the tank was all you saw, it was still a big deal for TV at the time.
Almost Didn’t Air
The first episode almost didn’t make it to air. Wally and Beaver bought a pet alligator, and in the episode, they tried to keep it in the toilet. Showing a bathroom was not allowed back then, so producers had to fight with censors to show just the back of the toilet tank.
No Laughing Allowed
The creators of the show didn’t want over-the-top humor. They preferred subtle chuckles. If a joke got too many laughs, they’d cut it from the final version. This style gave the show a unique, family-friendly feel.
