Golden girl sweetheart Estelle Getty died this morning at the age of 84.

Getty's son says his mother passed away at her home in Los Angeles after suffering from advanced dementia. Getty spent 40 years struggling for success before landing the role of a lifetime in 1985 as the sarcastic Sophia on Golden Girls.

Getty once said she thought the show was an incredible boost to older people and her role helped older actors break out of stereotypical roles.