The Golden Girls Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids The Golden Girls
Main characters in the final scene from the season-two episode "Big Daddy's Little Lady" (from left): Estelle Getty as Sophia, Rue McClanahan as Blanche, Betty White as Rose, and Beatrice Arthur as Dorothy
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	Susan Harris
Starring	Bea Arthur Betty White Rue McClanahan Estelle Getty
Theme music composer	Andrew Gold
Opening theme	"Thank You for Being a Friend" by Cynthia Fee
Ending theme	"Thank You for Being a Friend Instrumental
Composer(s)	George Tipton
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	7
No. of episodes	173 (original run) 180 (syndication) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Susan Harris Paul Junger Witt Tony Thomas
Camera setup	Videotape Multiple-camera
Production company(s)	Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions
Distributor	Touchstone Television Disney-ABC Domestic Television
Release
Original network	NBC
Original release	September 13, 1985 (1985-09-13) – May 9, 1992 (1992-05-09)
Chronology
Followed by	The Golden Palace
Related shows	Empty Nest Nurses

The Golden Girls was a very popular American comedy TV show. It aired on the NBC channel from 1985 to 1992. The show was about four older women who shared a house in Miami, Florida. It showed their daily lives, friendships, and funny adventures.

Main Characters of The Golden Girls
Other Important Characters
Images for kids
See also

Main Characters of The Golden Girls

The TV show focused on four main characters who lived together:

Dorothy Zbornak: The Smart One

Dorothy Zbornak was played by Bea Arthur. She was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her parents, Salvatore and Sophia, came from Sicily. Dorothy has a sister, Gloria, and a brother, Phil. She was married to Stan Zbornak for 38 years, and they had two children, Kate and Michael. After her marriage ended, Dorothy moved into the shared house with Blanche and Rose. She often made witty and sarcastic comments.

Rose Nylund: The Sweet One

Rose Nylund was played by Betty White. She grew up on a farm in Sankt Olaf, Minnesota, with many siblings. Rose was married to an insurance agent named Charlie Nylund until he passed away in 1970. They had five children: three daughters (Kirsten, Bridget, and Gunilla) and two sons (Adam and Charlie Jr.). She also had grandchildren. Rose worked at a counseling center and sometimes volunteered at a hospital. She was known for being very honest and kind. Rose loved animals and often told funny stories about her life in Sankt Olaf.

Blanche Devereaux: The Lively One

Blanche Devereaux was played by Rue McClanahan. She grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, and had several brothers and sisters. Blanche was the owner of the house where the women lived. She used to live there with her husband, George. They had five children: two daughters (Rebecca and Janet) and three sons (Biff, Doug, and Skippy). Blanche also had four grandchildren. She was known for her outgoing personality and her love for meeting new people.

Sophia Petrillo: The Sassy One

Sophia Petrillo was played by Estelle Getty. She was Dorothy's mother. Sophia moved in with the other women after her nursing home, The Shady Pines, burned down. She was born in Sicily in 1906 and later moved to the USA. Sophia was married to Salvatore and had a sister, Angela, and a brother, Angelo. She often told stories about her life in Sicily, usually starting with, "Picture it, Sicily, nineteen hundred...!" Sophia was known for her sharp wit and direct comments.

Other Important Characters

Besides the main four, a few other characters appeared often in the show:

Stanley Zbornak: Dorothy's Ex-Husband

Stanley "Stan" Zbornak was played by Herb Edelman. He was Dorothy's classmate and later her husband for 38 years. Stan was a seller of joke items and often wore a toupée. Even after their divorce, he remained a part of Dorothy's life and sometimes visited the house.

Miles Webber: Rose's Boyfriend

Miles Webber was played by Harold Gould. He was Rose's boyfriend during some seasons of the show. Their relationship was a sweet part of Rose's story.

Salvatore Petrillo: Sophia's Husband

Salvatore "Sal" Petrillo was played by Sid Melton. He was Sophia's husband. He passed away before the show began, so he was only seen in flashbacks or mentioned in stories told by Sophia.