List of awards and nominations received by The Golden Girls explained

Awards and nominations Award Won Nominated American Comedy Awards ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards BMI Film & TV Awards Directors Guild of America Award Emmy Awards Golden Globe Awards TCA Awards TV Land Award Viewers for Quality Television Writers Guild of America Award Young Artist Award
Total number of wins and nominations
References

The Golden Girls is an American television sitcom created by Susan Harris and produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. The series focuses on four older women all sharing a home in Miami, Florida. Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty portray the four main characters Dorothy Zbornak, Rose Nylund, Blanche Devereaux and Sophia Petrillo. The Golden Girls aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, to May 9, 1992, broadcasting 180 episodes over seven seasons during its initial run.

During the series' run, The Golden Girls received nominations for a variety of different awards, including 68 Emmy Awards (with 11 wins), 21 Golden Globe Awards (with 4 wins), 5 American Comedy Awards (all wins), 3 Directors Guild of America Awards (with 2 wins), and 5 Writers Guild of America Awards (with one win). The lead actresses all won Emmy Awards — Arthur, McClanahan and White won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and Getty won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. The cast were named Disney Legends in 2009.^[1]

Awards and nominations

American Comedy Awards

Betty White won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication in 1987 and received a nomination for the award in 1990. In 1990, White also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy. Estelle Getty won the award for Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series in 1991 and 1992.

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1987	Funniest Female Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication	Betty White		^[2]
1990				^[3]
	Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy
1991	Funniest Supporting Female Performer in a TV Series	Estelle Getty		^[4]
1992				^[5]

ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1988	Top TV Series			^[6]
1989			^[7]
1990			^[8]
1991			^[9]

BMI Film & TV Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1987	Best TV Series			^[10]
1988			^[11]
1989			^[12]
1990			^[13]
1991			^[14]

Directors Guild of America Awards

Director Jay Sandrich won a Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series in 1985 for his work on the pilot episode "The Engagement". Terry Hughes, one of the series' most prominent directors, received the award the following year for his work on the second-season episode "Isn't it Romantic?". Hughes was also nominated for the same award in 1987, but lost to Will Mackenzie, for the Family Ties episode "My Name is Alex".

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1985	Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series	Jay Sandrich		^[15]
1986	Terry Hughes		^[16]
1987	Terry Hughes		^[17]

Emmy Awards

The Golden Girls received 58 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, with eleven wins — eight Primetime and three Creative Arts. The series won the award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 1986 and 1987. All four principal stars won an Emmy Award for their performances, a milestone that three other series (All in the Family, Will & Grace, and Schitt’s Creek) have achieved; of these four series, it is the only one whose cast had actors competing against each other in the same category. Betty White won the award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986, with Rue McClanahan winning the award in 1987 and Bea Arthur winning in 1988. In 1988, Estelle Getty won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for the first-season episode "A Little Romance". Terry Hughes won the award for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series for the season two episode "Isn't It Romantic?". The three Creative Arts Emmy Awards the series won were for Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series in 1986, 1988 and 1992.

Primetime Emmy Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Episodes(s)	Result	Ref
1986					^[18]
1987	Outstanding Comedy Series	Barry Fanaro, Terry Grossman, Susan Harris, Winifred Hervey, Mort Nathan, Kathy Speer, Tony Thomas, Marsha Posner Williams, and Paul Junger Witt
	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Bea Arthur
		Rue McClanahan
		Betty White
	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Estelle Getty
	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series	Terry Hughes
		Jeffrey Duteil
1988		Jeffrey Ferro, Terry Grossman, Susan Harris, Winifred Hervey, Kathy Speer, Tony Thomas, Fredric Weiss, Marsha Posner Williams, and Paul Junger Witt
	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Bea Arthur
		Rue McClanahan
		Betty White
	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Estelle Getty
	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series	Terry Hughes
	Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series
1989	Outstanding Comedy Series	Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, Susan Harris, Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, Barry Fanaro, Eric Cohen, Martin Weiss, and Robert Bruce
	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Bea Arthur
		Rue McClanahan
		Betty White
	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Estelle Getty
	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series	Terry Hughes
	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
1990	Outstanding Comedy Series	Robert Bruce, Tracy Gamble, Susan Harris, Terry Hughes, Philip Jayson Lasker, Gail Parent, Marc Sotkin, Tony Thomas, Richard Vaczy, Martin Weiss, Tom Whedon, and Paul Junger Witt
	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Betty White
	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Estelle Getty
	Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series	Terry Hughes
	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
1991	Outstanding Comedy Series	Nina Feinberg, Tracy Gamble, Susan Harris, Paul Junger Witt, Philip Jayson Lasker, Gail Parent, Jerry Perzigian, Don Seigel, Marc Sotkin, Tony Thomas, Richard Vaczy, and Tom Whedon
	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Betty White
	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Estelle Getty
	Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
1992	Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series	Betty White
	Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series	Estelle Getty

Creative Arts Emmy Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Episodes(s)	Result	Ref
1986	Outstanding Art Direction for a Series
	Outstanding Achievement in Costuming for a Series	Judy Evans
	Outstanding Editing for a Series (Multi-Camera Production)	Harold McKenzie
	Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series	Alan Walker
	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special	Terri Lynn Fraser, Allen Patapoff, Craig Porter, and Ken Quale
	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	Randy Baer, Victor Bagdadi, Gerry Bucci, Dale Carlson, Steve Jones, and Donna Quante
1987	Outstanding Editing for a Series (Multi-Camera Production)	Harold McKenzie
	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special	Richard Burns, Ed Epstein, Allen Patapoff and Craig Porter
		Edward L. Moskowitz, John S. Orr, Allen Patapoff and Craig Porter
	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	O. Tamburri, Jack Chisolm, Ritch Kennedy, Ken Tamburri, Carol Wetovich, and Bob Kaufman
1988	Outstanding Editing for a Series (Multi-Camera Production)	Jim McElroy
	Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series	Alan Walker
	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special	Edward L. Moskowitz, Allen Patapoff, and Craig Porter
	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	O. Tamburri, Jack Chisolm, Stephen A. Jones, Ritch Kenney, Ken Tamburri, and Bob Kaufman
1989	Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series	Alan Walker
	Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy Series or Special	Edward L. Moskowitz, Allen Patapoff, and Craig Porter
	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	O. Tamburri, Ritch Kenney, Ken Tamburri, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, and John O'Brien
1990	Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series	Alan Walker
	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	O. Tamburri, Ritch Kennedy, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, Dave Heckman, Randy Johnson
1991	Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Series	Alan Walker
	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	Kenneth Tamburri, Ritch Kennedy, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, Dave Heckman, Randy Johnson
1992	Outstanding Technical Direction/Electronic Camerawork/Video Control for a Series	Dave Heckman, Chester Jackson, Stephen A. Jones, Randy Johnson, Ritch Kennedy, Bob Keys, John O'Brien, Richard Steiner, and Kenneth Tamburri

Golden Globe Awards

The Golden Girls received 21 Golden Globe Award nominations during its tenure, with four wins — three for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy in 1986, 1987, and 1988. Estelle Getty won the award for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy, tying with Moonlightings Cybill Shepherd for the award.

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
align=center rowspan="5"					align=center rowspan="5"	^[19]
align=center rowspan="5"		Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy			align=center rowspan="5"	^[20]
Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy
align=center rowspan="4"		Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy			align=center rowspan="4"	^[21]
Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy
align=center rowspan="3"		Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy			align=center rowspan="3"	^[22]
Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy
	Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy			^[23]
	Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy			^[24]
align=center rowspan="2"		Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy			align=center rowspan="2"	^[25]

TV Land Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
2003	Quintessential Non-Traditional Family	Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White		^[26]
2004	Favorite "Big, Bad Momma"	Estelle Getty		^[27]
2007	Favorite Elvis Impersonation	Quentin Tarantino		^[28]
2008	Pop Culture Award	Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan and Betty White		^[29]

Viewers for Quality Television Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1987	Best Actress in a Quality Comedy Series			^[30]
1988			^[31]
	Best Quality Comedy Series

Writers Guild of America (WGA)

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1987	Award for Television: Episodic Comedy	James Berg and Stan Zimmerman		^[32]
1988	Barry Fanaro and Mort Nathan		^[33]
	Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman, Mort Nathan, and Barry Fanaro
1989	Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman		^[34]
1992	Marc Sotkin		^[35]

Young Artist Awards

Year	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
1987	Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor, Guest Starring in a Television, Comedy or Drama Series	Billy Jayne		^[36]
1989	Best Young Actress Guest Starring in a Drama or Comedy Series	Jenny Lewis		^[37]
1992	Best Young Actress Guest Starring or Recurring Role in a TV Series	Alisan Porter		^[38]

Other awards

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref
Bambi Awards	1992	TV Series International	Bea Arthur		^[39]
Online Film & Television Association Television Awards	2004	TV Hall of Fame — Television Programs			^[40]
People's Choice Awards	March 13, 1986	Favorite New TV Comedy Program			^[41]
Retirement Research Foundation Awards	1989	Television and Theatrical Film Fiction	Susan Harris, Paul Junger Witt, and Tony Thomas		^[42]
TCA Awards	1986	Outstanding Achievement in Comedy			^[43]
	2021	Heritage Award			^[44]
TP de Oro	1989	Best Foreign Series (Mejor Serie Extranjera)			^[45]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2009 Disney Legends Award Recipients to Be Honored During D23 Expo in Anaheim . . 27 August 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214011248/https://www.reuters.com/article/2009/09/01/idUS158754%2B01-Sep-2009%2BPRN20090901 . 14 December 2013 . dead .
2. Web site: American Comedy Awards, USA - Awards for 1987. Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 15 April 2015.
3. Web site: American Comedy Awards, USA - Awards for 1990. Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 15 April 2015.
4. Web site: American Comedy Awards, USA - Awards for 1991. Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 15 April 2015.
5. Web site: American Comedy Awards, USA - Awards for 1992. Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 15 April 2015.
6. Web site: ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1988). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
7. Web site: ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1989). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
8. Web site: ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1990). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
9. Web site: ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1991). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
10. Web site: BMI Film & TV Awards (1987). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
11. Web site: BMI Film & TV Awards (1988). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
12. Web site: BMI Film & TV Awards (1989). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
13. Web site: BMI Film & TV Awards (1990). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
14. Web site: BMI Film & TV Awards (1991). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
15. Web site: Honoring Outstanding Directorial Achievement for 1985. DGA.org. Directors Guild of America. 2 May 2015.
16. Web site: Honoring Outstanding Directorial Achievement for 1986. DGA.org. Directors Guild of America. 2 May 2015.
17. Web site: Honoring Outstanding Directorial Achievement for 1987. DGA.org. Directors Guild of America. 2 May 2015.
18. Web site: The Golden Girls – Awards & Nominations. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. September 6, 2022.
19. Web site: The 43rd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1986). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
20. Web site: The 44th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1987). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
21. Web site: The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1988). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
22. Web site: The 46th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1989). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
23. Web site: The 47th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1990). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
24. Web site: The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1991). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
25. Web site: The 49th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1992). HFPA.org. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. 2 May 2015.
26. Web site: TV Land Awards (2003). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
27. Web site: TV Land Awards (2004). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
28. Web site: TV Land Awards (2007). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
29. Web site: TV Land Awards (2008). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
30. Web site: Viewers for Quality Television Awards (1987). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
31. Web site: Viewers for Quality Television Awards (1988). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
32. Web site: Writers Guild of America, USA (1987). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
33. Web site: Writers Guild of America, USA (1988). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
34. Web site: Writers Guild of America, USA (1989). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
35. Web site: Writers Guild of America, USA (1992). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
36. Web site: Young Artist Awards (1987). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
37. Web site: Young Artist Awards (1989). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
38. Web site: Young Artist Awards (1992). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 14 May 2015.
39. Web site: Bambi Awards (1992). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 15 April 2015.
40. Web site: Online Film & Television Association (2004). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
41. Web site: People's Choice Awards, USA (1986). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
42. Web site: Retirement Research Foundation, USA (1989). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.
43. Web site: Television Critics Association Awards (1986). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 27 August 2015.
44. Web site: 'Ted Lasso,' Michaela Coel & Jean Smart Among TCA Award Winners . Cordero . Rosy . September 15, 2021 . . September 15, 2021.
45. Web site: TP de Oro, Spain (1989). Internet Movie Database. Amazon.com. 4 June 2015.