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Beatrice Arthur was an American actress, comedian, and singer. She 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).
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entertainment · American actress and comedian (1922–2009) · television actor · singer · stage actor · film actor · voice actor · activist · comedian · actor · musician · also Bea Arthur, Beatrice Arthur, Arthur
Born 13 May 1922 · Died 25 April 2009 · Q138576
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Snopes rated the claim “In March 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense removed a webpage reporting the history of "Golden Girls" actor Bea Arthur enlisting in the Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War II.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Snopes rated the claim “Bea Arthur served in the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve in World War II.” True.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
Is an 18-bed residence in Manhattan for homeless LGBTQ youth operated by the Ali Forney Center
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A public tribute to Arthur was held at the Majestic Theatre in Manhattan, where friends and colleagues including Angela Lansbury, Norman Lear, Rosie O'Donnell and Rue McClanahan paid tribute to the actress
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Awarded Disney Legends (2009).
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The Broadway community paid tribute to Arthur by dimming the marquees of New York City's Broadway theater district in her memory for one minute at 8:00 p
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Died 2009-04-25.
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“I watch news programs and I love Comedy Central. I love The Daily Show-it's smarter than anything else. I also like The Critic and Celebrity Death Match and South Park. I love all of that.”
“You know, the way I'm accepted, I almost feel like Judy Garland, truly. It makes no sense to me because I don't think that I've been any more outspoken... Or maybe I have, I don't know. But everyone I know supports anything that has to do with raising money or with AIDS.”
Reported net worth: $8M (as of 2009).
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“It was like the Beatles had arrived, you know. These four elderly ladies, and they were screaming for us-screaming for us. It was wonderful.”
“PETA has a proven track record of success. Each victory PETA wins for the animals is a stepping stone upon which we build a more compassionate world for all beings - and we will never give up our fight until all animals are treated with respect and kindness.”
“I've been a Democrat my whole life. That's what makes Maude and Dorothy so believable, we have the same viewpoints on how our country should be handled.”
“I can't imagine working without an audience.”
“Making lasting gifts for animals in our estate plans is perhaps the single most important thing we can do to ensure animals have the strongest possible voice for their protection.”
“I... was not too happy to suddenly take on this public role thrust upon me. They just assumed I was the Joan of Arc of the women's movement. And I wasn't at all. It put a lot of unnecessary pressure on me.”
“There were subjects we tackled that had never been even discussed, like I had an abortion. Nobody ever talked about that.”
Awarded TV Land Award (2008).
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The Golden Girls was awarded the Pop Culture award at the Sixth Annual TV Land Awards
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Participated in the Comedy Central roast of Pamela Anderson, where she recited sexually explicit passages from Anderson's book Star Struck in a deadpan fashion
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Appeared in Richard Barone's "There'll Be Another Spring: A Tribute to Miss Peggy Lee" at the Hollywood Bowl, performing "Johnny Guitar" and "The Shining Sea"
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Starred in the one-woman show Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends
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Returned to Broadway, starring in Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends, a collection of stories and songs (with musician Billy Goldenberg) based on her life and career
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Released album “Just Between Friends”.
Arthur told an interviewer of the three influences in her career: "Sid Caesar taught me the outrageous; [method acting guru] Lee Strasberg taught me what I call reality; and [original Threepenny Opera star] Lotte Lenya,
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“Sid Caesar taught me the outrageous; [method acting guru] Lee Strasberg taught me what I call reality; and [ Threepenny Opera star] Lotte Lenya, whom I adored, taught me economy.”
“Sid Caesar taught me the outrageous; [method acting guru] Lee Strasberg taught me what I call reality; and [original Threepenny Opera star] Lotte Lenya, whom I adored, taught me economy.”
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Starred opposite Renée Taylor and Joseph Bologna in Bermuda Avenue Triangle in Los Angeles
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Portraying the Duchess of Krakenthorp in Gaetano Donizetti's La fille du régiment
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It was retooled as The Golden Palace with the other three actresses and aired on CBS as it was not picked up by NBC
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Awarded Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The Golden Girls (1989).
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Awarded Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for The Golden Girls (1988).
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Arthur was cast in The Golden Girls, in which she played Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced mother and substitute teacher living in a Miami, Florida, house owned by widow Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan, who had previously co
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Arthur, who routinely declined commercial endorsements, accepted a lucrative offer from Canadian drugstore chain Shoppers Drug Mart to be their commercial spokeswoman, on the condition that the commercials would not air
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Appeared on stage in Woody Allen's The Floating Light Bulb
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Leading a musical comedy revue with Rock Hudson, Melba Moore and Wayland Flowers with Madame
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Appeared in the Star Wars Holiday Special, in which she performed a song in the Mos Eisley cantina
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Awarded Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Maude (1977).
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For Maude and again in 1988 for The Golden Girls
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For Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
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The series found her living in the affluent community of Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York, with her fourth husband, Walter (Bill Macy) and divorced daughter, Carol (Adrienne Barbeau)
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Moved to Los Angeles and sublet her apartment on Central Park West in New York City and her country home in Bedford, New York
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Awarded Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Mame (1966).
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Awarded Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Mame (1966).
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Arthur auditioned for the title role in the musical Mame, which her husband Gene Saks was set to direct, but Angela Lansbury (who would become a good friend of Arthur's) won the role instead
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As Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance that year as Vera Charles in the original Broadway production of Jerry Herman's musical Mame
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Married director Gene Saks with whom she adopted two sons, Matthew, an actor and Daniel, a set designer
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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 i
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To enroll in the School of Drama at The New School
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During her time in the military when she wed fellow Marine Robert Alan Aurthur, later a screenwriter, television and film producer and director
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The Frankel family relocated to Cambridge, Maryland, where her parents subsequently operated a women's clothing shop
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In the Brooklyn borough of New York City, to Rebecca (née Pressner, born in Austria) and Philip Frankel (born in Poland)
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Born 1922-05-13.
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