Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur Headshot

Actress

Birth Date: May 13, 1922

Death Date: April 25, 2009

Birth Place: New York City, New York

As much a cultural institution as a famed actress of stage and screen, Beatrice Arthur was immediately recognizable for her towering physique, caustic wit and sonorous baritone voice. She first came to prominence on Broadway, originating the role of Yente the Matchmaker in "Fiddler on the Roof" opposite Zero Mostel and winning a Tony for playing Vera Charles in "Mame," but television would be where she made her greatest impact. As Maude Findlay, the acerbic title character of the groundbreaking 1970s sitcom "Maude" (CBS, 1972-78), Arthur embodied a feminist intellectual who never shrank from tackling controversial issues, including abortion. Arthur won an Emmy for her iconic portrayal, and won another - as well as the opportunity to create an equally beloved character - in the next decade as Dorothy Zbornak on the massively popular comedy series "The Golden Girls" (NBC, 1985-1992). Lovingly entrenched in the popular imagination for her wit, sarcasm, and peerless reaction shots, Arthur spent her post-"Golden" years working in television when she felt like it and doing musical theater acts. When she shockingly died of cancer in 2009, she was universally mourned as one of the all-time great comedic talents.

Credits

Betty White: Pure GoldStream

Self
Movie
2022

Back to the Grind

Self
Show
2007

The Roast of Pamela Anderson (Uncensored)

Actor
Show
2007

Broadway: The Golden Age

Self
Movie
2004

Curb Your EnthusiasmStream

Guest Star
Larry's Mother
Series
2000
92%

Malcolm in the MiddleStream

Guest Star
Series
2000

FuturamaStream

Guest Voice
Femputer
Series
1999

The Daily Show With Jon StewartStream

Guest
Talk
1999

Judge JudyStream

Self
Reality
1996

For Better or Worse

Actor
Beverly Makeshift
Movie
1996

EllenStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

Dave's World

Guest Star
Series
1993

42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation

Actor
Show
1990

My First Love

Actor
Jean Miller
Movie
1988

Tenth Annual Circus of the Stars

Actor
Show
1985

The Golden GirlsStream

Actor
Dorothy Zbornak
Series
1985

P.O.P.

Actor
Rosalyn Gordon
Show
1984

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Joan Collins

Guest
Show
1984

Amanda's

Actor
Amanda Cartwright
Show
1983

The 35th Annual Tony Awards

Self
Show
1981

Beatrice Arthur Special

Host
Show
1980

Saturday Night LiveStream

Host
Series
1975

Mame

Actor
Vera Charles
Movie
1974

MaudeStream

Actor
Maude Findlay
Series
1972

All in the FamilyStream

Guest Star
Series
1971

Lovers and Other Strangers

Actor
Bea Vecchio
Movie
1970

The Dick Cavett ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1968

The Merv Griffin Show

Guest
Talk
1965

The Connie Francis Show

Self
Guest
Show
1961

Pontiac Star Parade: Four for Tonight

Actor
Show
1960

Studio OneStream

Actor
Series
1948

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