When you think of The Golden Girls, the iconic images of Beatrice (aka Bea) Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty in their Miami pad likely pop into your brain. These actresses are still perhaps most well-known for the iconic roles that they played from 1985–1992 on the beloved sitcom, and it's hard to imagine them as anyone other than Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux, Sophia Petrillo and Dorothy Zbornak living that glamorous BFF life. But, these actresses did have lives and careers before they took that first bite of cheesecake, and some of them even crossed paths before they traveled down the road and back again. So picture it, the 1950s, '60s and '70s — these women are making their way through Hollywood.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
1
Betty White - 1954
Bettmann//Getty Images
Betty was such a, well, a Betty! She's giving off major bombshell vibes in this striped shirt in the mid '50s.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
2
Betty White - 1954
Graphic House//Getty Images
We doubt St. Olaf would have known what to do with a fabulous spitfire and style icon such as Betty.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3
Betty White - 1958
ABC Photo Archives//Getty Images
Betty's makeup is flawless in this promo shot for the aptly-named Betty White Show.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
4
Betty White - 1968
NBC//Getty Images
White was the hostess with the mostess. Here she's seen narrating the 80th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade, but she also frequently gave a play-by-play of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade as well.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
Betty White - 1968
CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images
Allen Ludden and Betty White are major couple goals. Don't believe it? Go find some old episodes of Password and see these two in action.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
6
Bea Arthur - 1972
Martin Mills//Getty Images
Known for playing some more serious characters, its nice to see Bea Arthur looking so jovial.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Bea Arthur - 1973
Michael Ochs Archives//Getty Images
Not sure exactly why Bea Arthur was strutting her stuff in this all-black ensemble, but you've gotta love that runway style.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
8
Betty White - 1973
CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images
Before she became sweet Rose, White starred as the perky, sexy and mischievous Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Sue Ann hosted the "The Happy Homemaker", and flirted her way through all the single men in Minneapolis.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
9
Bea Arthur - 1974
Warner Bros.//Getty Images
Belting it out as boozy actress Vera Charles in the film Mame. If you catch the film she sings a fun and brutally honest duet, "Bosom Buddies," with Lucille Ball.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
10
Bea Arthur - 1974
CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images
Here Arthur is pictured in her other famed role Maude Findlay, the much-married, super opinionated feminist icon who guest starred on the show All in the Family before getting her own CBS spinoff Maude.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11
Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan - 1975
CBS Photo Archive//Getty Images
No, this isn't a flashback scene from Golden Girls, this is a pic from the series Maude, that starred Arthur, and featured appearances by McClanahan as her neighbor.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
12
Rue McClanahan - 1977
Michael Ochs Archives//Getty Images
Could Rue be any cuter? Seriously, this headshot is just adorable.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
Rue McClanahan - 1978
ABC Photo Archives//Getty Images
Anyone who was anyone took a trip on The Love Boat, and McClanahan took multiple cruises. Here she's playing April on an episode from season 2.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
14
Rue McClanahan - 1978
Walt Disney Television Photo Archives//Getty Images
Almost unrecognizable in this wig, McClanahan starred on the short lived series Apple Pie on ABC which only aired two episodes before getting canceled.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15
Rue McClanahan - 1978
Ron Galella//Getty Images
All glammed up for the Iris Awards banquet.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
16
Bea Arthur - 1979
Michael Ochs Archives//Getty Images
Arthur sporting a casual candid look at an Actors and Others for Animals celebrity fair at the Columbia Ranch in Burbank, California.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
17
Rue McClanahan - 1980
ABC Photo Archives//Getty Images
Another spin on The Love Boat, as a completely different character, partnering up with former Mary Tyler Moore star Ted Knight.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
18
Rue McClanahan and Bea Arthur - 1981
Ron Galella//Getty Images
At the 3rd Annual Media Awards, McClanahan and Arthur chatted during a smoking break (yes, that was a big thing back in the '80s) along with Dick Maury.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
19
Betty White -1982
NBC//Getty Images
This short lived game show aired in 1983, and Betty White hosted this show where women had to predict answers from male celebrity contestants.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
20
Betty White and Rue McClanahan - 1982
NBC//Getty Images
Before they took their iconic Golden Girls roles, White and McClanahan worked together on the sitcom Mama's Family, that starred Vickie Lawrence.