Last I heard she was unable to come to the reunion. I heard she could not even remember the Golden Girls anymore.

I think she is still alive. Sadly, she is a very ill woman. :(

Yes, she is, but is very ill with dementia. I haven't heard them say Alzheimer's exactly, but it's either that, or something very similar. I saw an interview with Rue and Betty recently who had seen her, but she didn't have a clue who they were and she sounded pretty bad. Rue said she didn't want to visit again since it hurt so much to see her like that. It's been a few years now.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear of her passing anytime though. :(

So unfair for anyone to go like that - especially when she had been such a little spitfire.

Yes, she is, but is very ill with dementia. I haven't heard them say Alzheimer's exactly, but it's either that, or something very similar. I saw an interview with Rue and Betty recently who had seen her, but she didn't have a clue who they were and she sounded pretty bad. Rue said she didn't want to visit again since it hurt so much to see her like that. It's been a few years now.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear of her passing anytime though. :(

So unfair for anyone to go like that - especially when she had been such a little spitfire.
I Think it time for her to go it sad she too ill now i dont want her ill anymore

Yes, she is, but is very ill with dementia. I haven't heard them say Alzheimer's exactly, but it's either that, or something very similar. I saw an interview with Rue and Betty recently who had seen her, but she didn't have a clue who they were and she sounded pretty bad. Rue said she didn't want to visit again since it hurt so much to see her like that. It's been a few years now.

I wouldn't be surprised to hear of her passing anytime though. :(

So unfair for anyone to go like that - especially when she had been such a little spitfire.


I've heard that too, and it's just heart breaking. :( :(

I looked through all of her Biography sites and they all read that she is still alive!!

yes she is still alive. I heard from Betty that she doesn't remember her, Bea and Rue anymore. They would call her up and just say "Yes" like may I help you. When they go and visit her Estelle looks at them like "who are these people. And that was a nice woman" It's really sad. But she still is hanging in there. Now the girls don't visit her anymore or call her becuase it's too hard on them to handle.

so sad that now Estelle is the same age Sophia was, but she's too sick to be like Sophia was :(

[QUOTE=missjohnR]yes she is still alive. I heard from Betty that she doesn't remember her, Bea and Rue anymore. QUOTE]

Very sad. The saddest part is she apparently DOES remember "Stop Or My Mom Will Shoot."

Rue also said that she does not remember that she did a Long Running tv series

It's her birthday today. Poor thing won't know it, but wish her all the best.

Rue also said that she does not remember that she did a Long Running tv series
Yea I saw that interview on ET. . She provided us with so much laughter, it is a tragedy what has happened to her. :(

Yea I saw that interview on ET. . She provided us with so much laughter, it is a tragedy what has happened to her. :(


I always found it a nasty irony that she played Sophia with a bit of dementia, and then this had to happen to her. Its never fair, but with Estelle seems even moreso.

She reminded me of my mother a bit - she'd say exactly what was on her mind and didn't care. It was usually out of love so you could take it, but there were times! :lol: Thanks for the laughter Estelle - it'll all come back in heaven. ;)

very true, I feel the same way Tripper.

My mom died last year, and whenever I watch GG, I kinda feel close to her, because my mom had Blanche's looks (Rue McClanahan and my mom looked quite a bit alike), Rose's softness and Sophia's bite.

very true, I feel the same way Tripper.

My mom died last year, and whenever I watch GG, I kinda feel close to her, because my mom had Blanche's looks (Rue McClanahan and my mom looked quite a bit alike), Rose's softness and Sophia's bite.


Oh she sounded lovely Buffy!! What a perfect combo of them!

Wanna hear something weird? My mother looked very much like Bea (more like the character of Maude realy), but had Sophia's personality!

I feel close to them too when I watch it. That's what is so cool about the show. Here it was about older women, yet it can appeal to young males as well. My eldest brother loves it - it was one of his favourite shows of all time.

Take this with a grain of salt considering its source, but I read a bit in the Enquirer that suggested Estelle's mind wasn't totally gone. She apparently still watches the show and says her lines before her character says them. Although people speaking on her behalf notes she has her good days and bad days, she is still aware of herself and her close family, and it seems the other Girls no longer visit because they sad to see she isn't as vibrant as she used to be. The story was in response to quotes from Rue saying she was pretty far gone.

she played that character with such heart that it just is a shame to hear shes so ill

Take this with a grain of salt considering its source, but I read a bit in the Enquirer that suggested Estelle's mind wasn't totally gone. She apparently still watches the show and says her lines before her character says them. Although people speaking on her behalf notes she has her good days and bad days, she is still aware of herself and her close family, and it seems the other Girls no longer visit because they sad to see she isn't as vibrant as she used to be. The story was in response to quotes from Rue saying she was pretty far gone.

Well, being that it IS the Enquirer, I'll go with the several reports I've heard about her over the past several years - not just from Rue either - they've interviewed all the "Girls" and they all concur - also, I'm sure they've interviewed other sources such as her former PR person and she is in very poor condition. They officially announced the alzheimers years ago so it would only make sense that she's in that condition by now. My father-in-law was diagnosed a few years after her and he's starting to not recognize his own sons on some visits now and needs round the clock care in a nursing home.

my grandfather has been in this type of shape for the last 6 years somedays he knows you somedays he doesn't it is a very heartbraking thing to watch.his longtime memory is much better than his short term memory.