I know I'm getting old when the "old ladies" I watched on TV are dying in their 80's. I liked Bea Arthur; I thought she was one heck of an actress. She had great timing and she could say a thousand words with just one look. She was a big woman in stature, yet graceful and stylish at the same time.
Saturday, April 25, 2009 Bea Arthur died at home surrounded by her loving family. The only details were that she died of cancer. No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.
Bea Arthur was on Broadway for many years before she was offered a part in "All in the Family". She played Edith's liberal cousin, Maude Finley. Maude loved to get into heated debates with Archie. The chemistry of those two prompted Norman Lear to give Bea author her own series called, "Maude". Who can forget her as the star of "Maude" many years back? Maude dealt with real life situations including having an abortion. Her husband, Walter, fell into the entrapment of alcohol. Maude was a success although some thought the abortion episode was out of line. When the ratings dropped Bea Arthur announced she was leaving the show.
Bea Arthur then was hired to play Dorothy, one of the stars of "The Golden Girls"....along with Rue McClanahan, Betty White and Estelle Getty. The show collected 10 Emmy awards as well as several individual awards for the ladies. The shows always centered on men: whether it was dating men, not dating men, getting ready for a date, a date sleeping over and on and on. It made for a lot of laughter and the show was a hit for many years. Estelle Getty was perfect in the part of Dorothy's mother, Sophia.
One of her Broadway musicals that Bea was in was Mame, for which she won a Tony Award for best supporting actress. She was in several movies including, "Lovers and Other Stranger" and "The History of the World: Part I".
Arthur did some recent guest appearances on "Malcom in the Middle". But she had not done any major work in several years.
She was divorced from her husband of 28 years, Gene Saks and has two sons and two grandchildren.
Saturday, April 25, 2009 Bea Arthur died at home surrounded by her loving family. The only details were that she died of cancer. No funeral arrangements have been announced yet.
Bea Arthur was on Broadway for many years before she was offered a part in "All in the Family". She played Edith's liberal cousin, Maude Finley. Maude loved to get into heated debates with Archie. The chemistry of those two prompted Norman Lear to give Bea author her own series called, "Maude". Who can forget her as the star of "Maude" many years back? Maude dealt with real life situations including having an abortion. Her husband, Walter, fell into the entrapment of alcohol. Maude was a success although some thought the abortion episode was out of line. When the ratings dropped Bea Arthur announced she was leaving the show.
Bea Arthur then was hired to play Dorothy, one of the stars of "The Golden Girls"....along with Rue McClanahan, Betty White and Estelle Getty. The show collected 10 Emmy awards as well as several individual awards for the ladies. The shows always centered on men: whether it was dating men, not dating men, getting ready for a date, a date sleeping over and on and on. It made for a lot of laughter and the show was a hit for many years. Estelle Getty was perfect in the part of Dorothy's mother, Sophia.
One of her Broadway musicals that Bea was in was Mame, for which she won a Tony Award for best supporting actress. She was in several movies including, "Lovers and Other Stranger" and "The History of the World: Part I".
Arthur did some recent guest appearances on "Malcom in the Middle". But she had not done any major work in several years.
She was divorced from her husband of 28 years, Gene Saks and has two sons and two grandchildren.
- Bea Arthur, was one of the Golden Girls
- Bea Arthur, star of Maude
- Bea Arthur: Broadway, TV and the Movies
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Comments
David Laman
(Guest)
(Guest)
08/22/2009
One of my favorite %22Golden Girl%22 bits involving Ma and Dorothy. Ma tells Dorothy to taste something%2C and gives her a spoonful. She asks Dorothy how it tastes. Dorothy says it tastes good and then Ma tells her there was a recall on the product. Great stuff. LOL.
This was sad, but her tv mom from Golden Girls passed away last year :(
I did know her... but I will miss her
I watch those old Golden Girls reruns every single day. It's almost impossible to believe this vibrant woman is gone.
A very nice tribute.
I only watched a little of the "Golden Girls" series, but I still recall one greaat scene between her and Estelle Getty. The mother is hiding something in a metal box and when Bea Arthur asks what's in it, she responds, "Mexican jumping beans!" When Bea gives her a withering stare, the mother says, "All right, hispanic jumping beans."
Good tribute
Maria jones
(Guest)
(Guest)
04/28/2009
this is heart breaking to me I loved the golden girls i watch them everyday.i even know what each one is going to say. I also remeber playing maude.they were all so funny they each had their own personality that you just love them as a whole i will miss bea i even have the first season of them.i never thought this day would come i was so upset about estelle.now bea iknow we all have to go but it's still hard.my husband once said if i have to put you in a nursing home i make sure thay have tha golden girls on for you every morning. i can't get your attention when they on bea i will miss you but i will always have memories of you god bless you all rue and betty i love you!
Bea was a great actress! There's no doubt about that; the only one I don't remember is her playing on All in the Family. That doesn't meant I can't see her on the show easily, because I do remember Maude very well and loved that show. Johnny Yuma
I liked Bea Arthur too. Thanks for this great article.
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