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Golden Girls Star Beatrice Arthur Dies - Tributes, Bea Arthur : People.com



Golden Girls Star Beatrice Arthur Dies
By Stephen M. Silverman

Beatrice Arthur, the larger-than-life actress who scored on Broadway as the original matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof and the hard-drinking actress in Mame before she went on to star in the groundbreaking '70s TV series Maude and, in the '80s, the beloved sitcom The Golden Girls, died early Saturday morning. She was 86.

Dan Watt, a spokesman for Arthur's family, told the Associated Press that the star had been suffering with cancer, though he did not specify what kind. She died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family by her side, said Watt, who remembered Arthur as "a brilliant and witty woman."

Maude, which debuted on CBS in 1972 (and ran until 1978) was a spin-off of the hit All in the Family. As the liberal cousin of archconservative Archie Bunker's wife Edith, the much-married Maude wasn't afraid to broach such controversial (especially for TV at the time) topics as abortion and civil rights.

Golden Girls, a popular NBC Saturday-night staple from 1985 to 1992, featured Arthur as the outspoken Dorothy Zbornak, who shared a Florida home with three other women, including her mother, played by Estelle Getty – who died last July, at 84. The other stars were Rue McClanahan and Betty White.

"Bea was such an important part of a very happy time in my life and I have dearly loved her for a very long time," White said in a statement Saturday. "How lucky I was to know her."

New York Origins

Born Bernice Frankel in New York City but raised in Maryland, where her parents ran a women's clothing store, Arthur debuted on the Off Broadway stage in New York in the 1940s, with her Broadway musical triumphs – though her singing voice was deep and scratchy – in the mid-'60s.

Married and divorced twice, Arthur took her stage name (in part) from her first husband, the screenwriter, director and producer Robert Alan Aurthur, whose credits include the Bob Fosse film All That Jazz. With second husband, Mame director Gene Saks, she adopted two sons, Matthew, 47, and Daniel, 44. They survive her.

Of her powerful stage and TV persona, which often found her cast in the same sort of role, Arthur once said, "Look – I'm 5-feet-9, I have a deep voice and I have a way with a line. What can I do about it? I can't stay home waiting for something different. I think it's a total waste of energy worrying about typecasting."

What sad news. My condolences go to her family.

Barrybgb

This is sad. Really sad. I loved Bea Arthur. She was so brilliant. knee slapping hilarious. I loved her humor, and her reactions to things. The sort of stern look on her face reacting to something inane or absurd. Lol. It is very sad that she is gone, and sad to know there are only 2 Golden Girls left.

One of the last times I saw Bea Arthur was on the Comedy Central Roast Of Pamela Anderson. It was classic Bea Arthur. Reading excerpts from Pamela's raunchy tell all book with that look on her face, and reciting from it like it was a great novel. God. Such a talent. She will be missed.

Rainstorm Jenny

Aww that is really sad. I loved Golden Girls, one of my favorite shows back then. They were all so funny.

Marki

i was sad to hear about her passing she was really wonderful at acting her part and really is sad to see another golden girl to go.

jjlover01

I'm very sad. Bea Arthur was an wonderfull actress. She will be missed.

Barrybgb

I wanted to say that they had Bea's final one on one interview(that has never aired yet)on ET last night. Classic Bea, well into her 80's. Of her career she said :

"I've done everything....except porn, but there's still time"

I loved this woman.

Marki

I saw that ET too still funny through her age.

playgroundDiaries

!

Barrybgb

Yep. Still had it. You know, there are lots of funny people who can make me bust a gut, but there have been only two who can make me laugh by just sitting there looking at you. Bob Newhart and Bea Arthur.

Rose : Dorothy, what did the doctor say about your foot?
Dorothy : I'm going to need surgery
Rose : Surgery?!. Why?!.
Dorothy : For kicks, Rose!!