For years, Estelle Getty won roles in the New York theater circuit, while simultaneously holding a job & raising her 2 sons, but she struggled to gain notice for her talent. Finally, in 1982, nearing 60 years old, she found her breakthrough role as Mrs. Beckoff in the Broadway production of Torch Song Trilogy, a character that playwright Harvey Fierstein had created specifically with her in mind. She received widespread praise for her appearance in the play & went on to reprise the role in both