Bea Arthur
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Beatrice Arthur (born Bernice Frankel; May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009) was an American actress and comedian. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Arthur began her career on stage in 1947, attracting critical acclaim before achieving worldwide recognition for her work on television beginning in the 1970s as Maude Findlay in the popular sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1972) and Maude (1972–1978) and later in the 1980s and 1990s as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls (1985–1992). She won several accolades throughout her career, beginning with the 1966 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for playing Vera Charles in Mame. She won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1977 for Maude and 1988 for The Golden Girls. Arthur has received the third most nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series with nine; only Julia Louis-Dreyfus (11) and Mary Tyler Moore (10) have more. She was inducted into the academy's Television Hall of Fame in 2008. Her film appearances include Lovers and Other Strangers (1970) and the film version of Mame (1974). In 2002, she starred in the one-woman show Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends. An obituary described Arthur as "the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star." She served in the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve in World War II.
Known for
Credits
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)
as Ackmena
The Earth Day Special (1990)
as Dorothy Zbornak
For Better or Worse (1995)
as Beverly Makeshift
Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988)
as Self
O.J.: Made in America (2016)
as Self (archive footage)
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2025)
as Self / Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
Mame (1974)
as Vera Charles
History of the World: Part I (1981)
as Dole office clerk (uncredited)
Night of 100 Stars III (1990)
as Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003)
as Self
Night of 100 Stars (1982)
as Self
That Kind of Woman (1959)
as WAC (uncredited)
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (2021)
as Self
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (1985)
Actor
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood (1987)
as Self
My First Love (1988)
as Jean Miller
Lovers and Other Strangers (1970)
as Bea Vecchio
The Golden Girls: Ageless (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
Broadway's Lost Treasures II (2004)
as Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's (1980)
as Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood (1986)
as Self (uncredited)
Enemies of Laughter (2000)
as Paul's Mother
Henry Fonda for President (2025)
as Maude (archival footage)
The Gift of the Magi (1958)
as Mrs. Abercrombie
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed (2023)
as Self (archive footage)
Betty White: First Lady of Television (2018)
as Self (archive Footage)
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson (2005)
as Self
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (2003)
as Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
P.O.P. (1984)
as Rosalyn Gordon
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration (1988)
as Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC (1988)
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller (1999)
as Self
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments (2003)
as Self / Dorothy Zbornak
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury (1996)
as Self
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour (1987)
as Self
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls (2021)
as Dorothy Zbornak
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary (1986)
as Self
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl (1994)
as Self
The Beatrice Arthur Special (1980)
as Herself