See what the cast of 1980s classic The Golden Girls looked like years before they became famous

Bea Arthur was born on May 13, 1922 in New York City. As a young adult, Bea served in the United States Marine Corps Women’s Reserve during World War II. After she returned from her service in North Carolina, she enrolled in the School of Drama at The New School.

Bea had a successful theater career before The Golden Girls. She won a Tony Award for her role in the musical Mame. She then transitioned to film and television, and won her first Emmy Award in 1977 for the show Maude, which was a spinoff of All in the Family.

Betty White lived until she was 99-years-old. Long before she was a comedy queen, the actress hosted and produced a daily talk show called The Betty White Show, which ran for two years. Under her leadership, Betty’s show became the first American variety show to feature a Black performer as a series regular.

While her decision received some backlash, Betty reportedly told them: “I’m sorry. Live with it.”

Before her national talk show ended, Betty starred in the comedy Life with Elizabeth. While on the show, the actress met comedian Lucille Ball and the two became fast friends. 

During the ’60s, Betty was a staple on network game shows. She regularly appeared on Password, and even married the show’s host Allen Ludden in 1963 until his death in 1981. Betty also starred on The Mary Tyler Moore Show before landing the role of Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls.

Rue McClanahan was best known for portraying Blanche Deveraux on The Golden Girls. But before the hit show, she had a successful career on Broadway. Rue made her Broadway debut in 1969 as Sally Webber in the play Jimmy Shine.

A few years later, she appeared on a string of TV shows – All in the Family, Maude, Apple Pie, and Mama’s Family – but didn’t gain real notoriety until The Golden Girls.

The fourth member of The Golden Girls gang was Estelle Getty. Before she portrayed Sophia Petrillo on the ’90s comedy, Estelle was a tenured Broadway actress. In 1982, at almost 60 years old, she finally landed her breakthrough role as Mrs. Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy.

The role was the inspiration for Sophia on Golden Girls. On the show, the actress used wigs and makeup to make her appear much older than she actually was. And for her work on the sitcom, Estelle won an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress.