September 14 is a very special day. Can you believe it's been 30 years since The Golden Girls premiered? Three decades later and I still can't get enough of the show that first came on the air in 1985 and lasted for seven seasons. Whenever I see reruns on TV Land or Hallmark channel, you can count on me tuning in to watch Dorothy (Bea Arthur), Blanche (Rue McClanahan), Rose (Betty White), and Sophia (Estelle Getty). There's no doubt this show put women on the map and demonstrated that no matter our age, women can be successful, independent, comedic geniuses, and dominate in the bedroom. With that said, let's celebrate this milestone anniversary by looking back on all of the celebrities who once starred on The Golden Girls?
If you don't watch syndicated episodes, then there's a good chance you don't recall all of the famous faces who once guested on the comedy. You may just be surprised by all of the celebs, which include a former Saved by the Bell star, an Oscar nominee, and a Grease actress.
With that said, here are 18 people (and some before they became super famous) you might have forgot once starred on The Golden Girls.
1. George Clooney
This is before Clooney turned into a silver fox. Anyways, he played police officer Bobby Hopkins who tryied to help catch jewel thieves living next door to the ladies.
2. Mario Lopez
This was way before Lopez was strutting his stuff as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell. He played a kid named Mario, who was not only Dorothy's prized student, but was also an illegal immigrant who Dorothy tried to help.
3. Dinah Manoff
Recognize that face? You should, because it's Marty from Grease. Anyways, she played Carol Weston, a character who also starred on Empty Nest.
4. Dick Van Dyke
The iconic Dick Van Dyke popped up as not only as an aspiring clown, but as one of Dorothy's many love interests.
5. Quentin Tarantino
Yep, Tarantino played an Elvis impersonator. Who knew?
6. Jeffrey Tambor
Before he was winning major awards for his role on Transparent, Tambor played Dorothy's doctor who tried to help her figure out why she was feeling tired and sick all the time.
7. Mickey Rooney
How can you forget Mickey Rooney who tried to woo Sophia?
8. Burt Reynolds
In Burt Reynolds' episode he played himself. Plus, Sophia even romances him. Get it, girl!
9. Debbie Reynolds
Reynolds, who played Truby Steele, almost replaced Dorothy as Blanche, Rose, and Sophia's roommate, but thankfully that didn't happen, because, you know, Dorothy came to her senses and didn't marry Stan — again.
10. Bob Hope
Bob Hope doesn't need to play a character, because he's a legend. He portrayed himself in the episode in which Rose is convinced Bob Hope is her father. FYI, he wasn't.
11. Ruby Dee
Veteran actress and activist Ruby Dee played Viola Watkins, Blanche's childhood nanny and the woman who was in love with Blanche's father back in the day.
12. Jerry Orbach
Jerry Orbach, who will forever be known for Dirty Dancing and Law & Order, played Glen O'Brien, the married man who Dorothy fell for and had an affair with. As you can imagine, their relationship ended.
13. Hal Linden
Barney Miller himself portrayed another one of Dorothy's suitors. However, in this instance, he played the guy who stood her up at her senior prom, but contacted her years later to make a date.
14. Meshach Taylor
The late Designing Women star actually popped up in the very first episode ever The Golden Girls as a cop.
15. Rita Moreno
Oscar-winning actress Rita Moreno played Renee Corliss. Per IMDb, her episode was the initial spin-off for another TV show titled Empty Nests.
16. Sonny Bono
Sonny Bono popped up as himself during the episode where Dorothy dreams Sonny is pursuing her. To be clear, this isn't the episode where Dorothy and Sophia portrayed Sonny and Cher.
17. Alex Trebek
Before you ask, yes, Alex Trebek played himself in a dream of Dorothy's, where she's auditioning to be on Jeopardy.
18. Leslie Nielsen
In the final episodes ever of The Golden Girls, Nielsen showed up as Lucas Hollingsworth. Not only was he Blanche's uncle, but he ended up becoming Dorothy's husband in the series finale.
The Golden Girls will forever remain timeless. Thanks for the memories — and all those celebrity guest stars.
Images: NBC (3); Screengrab/NBC (6); Vestron Pictures; CBS
