This show came on when I was a small child, and I was under the impression that the characters were women over 65 who had a slightly more youthful appearance . But when I caught re-runs, I realized that they ranged in age from as young as early 50s to Sophia who was over 80.

With the exception of Sophia, the girls were in their 50s. I guess back in the 1980s, it was considered a novelty for a woman over 50 to be dating and sexy, etc, but nowadays, wouldnt be kind of passe? I was kind of thinking, if Blanche was right about her age she wouldnt have even been technically a Senior Citizen (age 55 and older) when the series starts.

So Im not sure, but the Golden Girls really weren't all that Golden, but rather middle aged women living with an elderly woman.

That's very true and don't you find it weird that people tend to look so much younger today? I mean I look at pictures of actresses that were taken like 20 years ago when they were in their 40's and they look a lot older than that. I think the Golden Girls looked a lot older than 50! Wow...

That's very true and don't you find it weird that people tend to look so much younger today? I mean I look at pictures of actresses that were taken like 20 years ago when they were in their 40's and they look a lot older than that. I think the Golden Girls looked a lot older than 50! Wow...


True, although if I remember correctly, the actresses on GG were up to 10 years older than the part they were playing (except for Sophia who was actually younger than Bea Arthur). Rue McClanahan was in her 50s, but to me she did look older and acted older. But yeah, 50s today is more like 40s. and so on. I think if the show were made today, they would cast 80 somethings.

Think about it this way: Madonna, who just performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, is now a few years older than Rue McClanahan was when The Golden Girls started.

Honestly, I think the clothes, hairstyles, and makeup had a lot to do with them looking older. The fashion of the 80's in general made everyone look older than they really were. I've seen pictures of my cousins when they were in their 20's and in some cases they looked older than they do today even though they are now in their 40's!

Ages of the "girls" when the show started airing:

Betty White: 63
Bea Arthur: 63
Estelle Getty: 62
Rue McLanahan: 51

Ages of the "girls" when the show started airing:

Betty White: 63
Bea Arthur: 63
Estelle Getty: 62
Rue McLanahan: 51


Were't the characters supposed to all be 50 somethings when the show began (except Sophia, of course). So with the exception, of Rue, all the actresses were at least 10 years older than their characters were supposed to be.

Its just hard to think of a 50 something today as "golden".

I think Dorothy was supposed to be 55 when the show started; she also said to Rose, "you're 55..." when Rose's grief-counseling center closed.

The Blanche character was at least 50 when the show started- when she thinks she's pregnant in the first show of season two, she says she'll be 65 when the kid graduates high school- to which Sophia quips, "Try 70." :)

But, we know keeping facts straight was never the show's strongest suit.

Think about it this way: Madonna, who just performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, is now a few years older than Rue McClanahan was when The Golden Girls started.

Wow!

Plus keep in mind Betty White is the OLDEST of the main cast yet all main cast members younger than her have died!

Even Betty White has commented on this!

Wow!

Plus keep in mind Betty White is the OLDEST of the main cast yet all main cast members younger than her have died!

Even Betty White has commented on this!

The GG would not work today if they were supposed to be mere 50 somethings. They would have to be in their 70s. Sophia would need to be over 90.

The GG would not work today if they were supposed to be mere 50 somethings. They would have to be in their 70s. Sophia would need to be over 90.

Why do you say that??

Why do you say that??
Because 50 ain't old anymore.

Because 50 ain't old anymore.

That's true but some people in their 50s look much older because of bad genes and/or lifestyle.

This show came on when I was a small child, and I was under the impression that the characters were women over 65 who had a slightly more youthful appearance . But when I caught re-runs, I realized that they ranged in age from as young as early 50s to Sophia who was over 80.

With the exception of Sophia, the girls were in their 50s. I guess back in the 1980s, it was considered a novelty for a woman over 50 to be dating and sexy, etc, but nowadays, wouldnt be kind of passe? I was kind of thinking, if Blanche was right about her age she wouldnt have even been technically a Senior Citizen (age 55 and older) when the series starts.

So Im not sure, but the Golden Girls really weren't all that Golden, but rather middle aged women living with an elderly woman.
So true!! I think about that all the time...

That's very true and don't you find it weird that people tend to look so much younger today? I mean I look at pictures of actresses that were taken like 20 years ago when they were in their 40's and they look a lot older than that. I think the Golden Girls looked a lot older than 50! Wow...
I saw an old episode and Dorthy said Rose was 55. She looked older, not because she had wrinkels but because of the way she had her hair and dressed. I guess that's how it was in the 80's. I don't remember.

Bea, Betty and Estelle were in their 60's during the shows run. The character of Sophia was in her '80's. I believe the characters of Dorothy and Rose were in their 60's, and Blanche was like 59, although she always lied about her age!

Blanche's real age can easily be figured out...watch the mother's day episode where Blanche is remembering visiting her mom in the nursing home and she is remembering how on Christmas Day she, 17 years old, ran off to marry a man. Blanche's mother states the exact date. I want to say it was 1941 but I would have to watch the episode again.

1941 - 17 = 1924 - She would have been 61 in 1985.

Just rewatched the Mother's Day episode Blanche was 17 in 1949 not 1941 as I previously thought.

1949-17 = 1932 which means she was 53 in 1985.

http://i39.tinypic.com/168tv9e.jpg

Funny, when I was younger I thought they were old. Now when I catch the show in reruns, they really don't seem as old to me as they used to :lol:

Dorothy apparently is one year younger than Blanche..we know she got pregnant while still in high school...in one of the first season shows she states it happened at a drive in theater when Stan told her he was being sent to the Korean War which began in 1950. So if it was at least 1950 and she was 17 would make her 52 in 1985 yet she is supposed to be older than Blanche. On another episode she gives a totally different story about how she got pregnant (the story about Stan "running" out if gas). In the episode when Blanche's dead husband returns Dorothy describes herself as a woman "in the 50's".

The GG would not work today if they were supposed to be mere 50 somethings. They would have to be in their 70s. Sophia would need to be over 90.
Sure it would've worked today. The show is about funny women living together. Not about old age.

In 1985, I was 21. I am now 49, so....:(

In 1985, I was 21. I am now 49, so....:(
..So?

Wow!

Plus keep in mind Betty White is the OLDEST of the main cast yet all main cast members younger than her have died!

Even Betty White has commented on this!
On All in the Family Edith and Archie were in their 40's. They looked like somebody in their 60's to me.

Carroll was 44 when he began AITF, but he was 60 by the time he finished Archie Bunker's Place.

Jean was just a year older than Carroll.

Think about it this way: Madonna, who just performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, is now a few years older than Rue McClanahan was when The Golden Girls started.
That is just insane when you think about, women today I guess just age slowly or good genes or a good plastic surgeon who knows.

I mean compare the GG ladies with Cindy Crawford at 48, Valerie Bertinelli at 54 and Christie Brinkley at 60. :eek: the mind boggles.

In 1985, I was 21. I am now 49, so....:(
I feel for you buddy. I'll be 49 this June. :(

On All in the Family Edith and Archie were in their 40's. They looked like somebody in their 60's to me.

I agree. They looked older than people in their 40s.

I think it's because people live longer now than they did in the 1970s, and they take better care of themselves. in 1970, the average life expectancy of an American was 70. Today it's 79. And people take better care of themselves: they eat better, they smoke and drink less, etc.