The first Golden Girl to leave the show was Bea Arthur, who played the role of Dorothy Zbornak. She departed the series in 1988, after seven seasons.
Bea Arthur's decision to leave was due to her desire to pursue other acting opportunities. She was also reportedly unhappy with the direction the show was taking, feeling that it was becoming too sentimental.
While Bea Arthur was the first to leave, the show continued for two more seasons with the remaining three cast members:
- Betty White (Rose Nylund)
- Rue McClanahan (Blanche Devereaux)
- Estelle Getty (Sophia Petrillo)
The show ended in 1992 after a total of seven seasons.
