Throwback Photos Of The Golden Girls Cast That Are Full Of '80s Nostalgia

The 1980s were a golden age for sitcoms. The decade hosted traditional family-friendly shows like "Family Ties," genre-breaking series like "It's Garry Shandling's Show," and, of course, "Cheers," one of the greatest sitcoms of all time that helped set up the format for the next generation. While Sam, Norm, and the gang at Boston's most famous bar were the kings of TV comedy during the decade, the queens of the genre were living it up in Miami. 

Over seven seasons, and with an outstanding 68 Emmy nominations, "The Golden Girls" gave older women a show of their own, but it also had something for everyone to enjoy. The series, which starred Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty, ran from 1985 to 1992 and has become a generational favorite. It lives on not only in reruns, but it has also been adapted into new shows around the world, turned into a hit off-Broadway play, and even became a series of best-selling mystery books where the four women solve murders. 

No matter how many adaptations there are, the original "The Golden Girls" will always reign supreme in fans' hearts, living on not only as a cozy and funny show to watch while relaxing after a long day, but also as a time capsule of the 1980s. Seeing the four women, both in the show and out in the real world, during the decade that gave us some of the biggest pop culture moments of all time instantly triggers feelings of nostalgia of a time gone by but never forgotten.

This promotional image of Rue McClanahan, Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, and Betty White shows just how different the show was for its time, and still is today. Focused on the lives of four older women, "The Golden Girls" showcased a demographic that is all too often ignored by Hollywood. 

Each of the actors brought something special to their roles, building a series that elicits fond memories to those who watched it when it first aired or who got hooked when they came across it in reruns. Thanks in no small part to McClanahan's Blanche Devereaux, the series also showed the world that beauty doesn't quit with aging.

Estelle Getty played Sophia Petrillo, the oldest member of the quartet on "The Golden Girls," but in reality she was younger than two of her co-stars. Fans were often surprised to see Getty without her white hair and out of the makeup the show used to age her up. 

Here, Getty shows off her more youthful visage, wearing a sparkling black dress while holding up her Golden Globe alongside fellow TV icon and "Moonlighting" star Cybill Shepherd. These women were two of the biggest stars of the 1980s, and seeing them together is an instant flashback.

With its mix of wicker furniture, pastel cushions, and gold fixtures, the living room of "The Golden Girls" screams 1980s. In the above photo, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Bea Arthur posed on that set, wearing colorful, patterned clothes that were also indicative of the time period.

The other important set was the kitchen, which wasn't as distinctly '80s, but a quick glance at the floor tiling or the faux-wood covering the refrigerator will make older fans remember those halcyon days when eating pepperoni pizza didn't include an antacid for dessert. 

While there was often drama behind the scenes of "The Golden Girls," the stars never let it spill out in front of the cameras. In 1986, the four women attended the Hollywood Women's Press Club's Golden Apple Awards, where they were all named "Female Star of the Year" for their work on the hit sitcom.

Along with their matching red flowers, each of the women was wearing a print that could only exist in the mid-'80s. Bea Arthur's outfit, with a rather confusing collar that has too many buttons, almost seems like it was made for "Star Trek: The Next Generation," which was just a year away from debuting.

A lot of 1980s fashion was a hodgepodge of pastels, nostalgia for the 1950s and '60s, and shiny fabrics. Here, Bea Arthur managed to bring all of those elements together in one outfit. 

The big bow tie and tuxedo shirt gave off a sense of 1950s sophistication, while the lava lamp-esque design on her blazer and skirt harkened back to college dorms of the 1960s. The teal coloring of her outfit — with plenty of help from whatever material it was made of — shined the lights of the cameras back at the photographers, creating a gleam that tied it all together. An outfit like this could only exist in the '80s.

Three of "The Golden Girls" decided to go silver when they attended the 1986 Emmys. They all looked amazing while showing off their personal styles, rocking 'fits that would've been considered the height of awards show fashion at the time — and are still stunning today. Rue McClanahan's glittery dress had a very '80s sci-fi feel to it, which matched her pixie cut. Meanwhile, Estelle Getty was decked out in silver fur over a coordinating dress, and Betty White's silver gown had a low-cut top that she carefully covered with a see-through capelet.

Sometimes, nostalgia takes the form of nightmares, and Rue McClanahan's home seemed to be filled with '80s decorations designed to terrify children. The above photo was taken around 1980, five years before McClanahan took on the role of Blanche. The lion by the fireplace isn't so bad, but the two large cloth dolls that may or may not get up and walk around when everyone goes to bed take the cake. 

A lot of the 1980s was neon and big hair, but there are plenty of elements from the decade that anyone who grew up then will look back on and shiver. Those dolls, and other weird aesthetics like them, are high up on the list of creepy stuff from the time. 

In this snapshot from an event in 1986, Betty White was photographed with one of the decade's most beloved child entertainers, Pee-wee Herman. Created and played by Paul Reubens, Pee-wee was a perfect representation of the '80s, mixing new wave with mid-century kitsch to create something that felt very of the moment. Being a star since the 1950s, Betty White was all too familiar with the fashions and styles Reubens was playing with.

Adding to it all is Dixie Carter, the star of "Designing Women," a series that started a year after "The Golden Girls" and was clearly cut from the same cloth. These three celebrities encapsulated the decade perfectly.

Taking the name of their show literally, the four stars of "The Golden Girls" showed up at the 1990 "Night of 100 Stars" after-party wearing all gold. The event, which saw the biggest stars of the 1980s come together to raise money for the Actors Fund, was held three times, starting in 1982 and ending in 1990.

While technically not a photo from the '80s, the above snap still evokes that decade's nostalgia. In their shiny gold outfits, and covered in pearls and gems, the true Golden Girls showed off the style of the bright and glitzy '80s before the new decade changed the pop culture landscape.