Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur

Acting
Born 1922-05-13 - Died 2009-04-25New York City, New York, USA

Biography

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.

Movies (40)

The Star Wars Holiday Special
3.4

The Star Wars Holiday Special

1978Movie3.4
History of the World: Part I
6.8

History of the World: Part I

1981Movie6.8
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
7.0

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

2003Movie7.0
My First Love
9.5

My First Love

1988Movie9.5
Night of 100 Stars
5.8

Night of 100 Stars

1982Movie5.8
The Earth Day Special
6.1

The Earth Day Special

1990Movie6.1
O.J.: Made in America
8.4

O.J.: Made in America

2016Movie8.4
Mame
5.8

Mame

1974Movie5.8
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

2021Movie
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
4.0

The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's

1980Movie4.0
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
6.0

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

1987Movie6.0
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
9.0

The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20

2025Movie9.0
The Best of So Graham Norton

The Best of So Graham Norton

2004Movie
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
8.0

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

1988Movie8.0
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There

1985Movie
Mickey's 60th Birthday
6.8

Mickey's 60th Birthday

1988Movie6.8
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
5.7

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller

1999Movie5.7
Betty White: First Lady of Television
7.3

Betty White: First Lady of Television

2018Movie7.3
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
6.6

Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson

2005Movie6.6
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
9.0

Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl

1994Movie9.0
Henry Fonda for President
7.0

Henry Fonda for President

2025Movie7.0
Lovers and Other Strangers
5.1

Lovers and Other Strangers

1970Movie5.1
Night of 100 Stars III
4.3

Night of 100 Stars III

1990Movie4.3
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
6.0

Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC

1988Movie6.0
Broadway's Lost Treasures II
8.3

Broadway's Lost Treasures II

2004Movie8.3
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
9.4

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

2003Movie9.4
For Better or Worse
4.7

For Better or Worse

1995Movie4.7
Enemies of Laughter
6.0

Enemies of Laughter

2000Movie6.0
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
6.8

The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments

2003Movie6.8
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
5.7

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

2023Movie5.7
That Kind of Woman
6.2

That Kind of Woman

1959Movie6.2
The Beatrice Arthur Special

The Beatrice Arthur Special

1980Movie
The Golden Girls: Ageless
10.0

The Golden Girls: Ageless

2021Movie10.0
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
10.0

Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls

2021Movie10.0
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury

A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury

1996Movie
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
6.0

All Star Party for Clint Eastwood

1986Movie6.0
The Gift of the Magi
8.0

The Gift of the Magi

1958Movie8.0
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
7.0

Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour

1987Movie7.0
P.O.P.

P.O.P.

1984Movie
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
8.0

Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary

1986Movie8.0

TV Shows (35)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
7.5

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962Series7.5
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Futurama
8.4

Futurama

1999Series8.4
The View
4.3

The View

1997Series4.3
The Mike Douglas Show
5.8

The Mike Douglas Show

1961Series5.8
Curb Your Enthusiasm
8.1

Curb Your Enthusiasm

2000Series8.1
Malcolm in the Middle
8.5

Malcolm in the Middle

2000Series8.5
The Golden Girls
7.6

The Golden Girls

1985Series7.6
Judge Judy
5.8

Judge Judy

1996Series5.8
Tony Awards

Tony Awards

1956Series
Ellen
6.1

Ellen

1994Series6.1
Intimate Portrait
4.5

Intimate Portrait

1993Series4.5
Omnibus
7.0

Omnibus

1952Series7.0
Studio One
5.4

Studio One

1948Series5.4
Dinah!
7.0

Dinah!

1974Series7.0
All in the Family
7.8

All in the Family

1971Series7.8
Empty Nest
5.9

Empty Nest

1988Series5.9
People's Choice Awards
9.2

People's Choice Awards

1975Series9.2
Bambi
9.0

Bambi

1948Series9.0
Dave's World
6.5

Dave's World

1993Series6.5
Maude
6.9

Maude

1972Series6.9
Comedy Central Roasts
7.2

Comedy Central Roasts

2003Series7.2
Boulevard Bio
7.0

Boulevard Bio

1991Series7.0
So Graham Norton
7.4

So Graham Norton

1998Series7.4
The Terry and Gaby Show
7.0

The Terry and Gaby Show

2003Series7.0
The George Gobel Show
7.8

The George Gobel Show

1954Series7.8
The Golden Palace
6.4

The Golden Palace

1992Series6.4
Beggars and Choosers
4.2

Beggars and Choosers

1999Series4.2
Emily of New Moon
8.8

Emily of New Moon

1998Series8.8
Hallmark Hall of Fame
8.8

Hallmark Hall of Fame

1951Series8.8
Max Liebman Presents

Max Liebman Presents

1954Series
Amanda's
6.8

Amanda's

1983Series6.8
a.k.a. Pablo
6.7

a.k.a. Pablo

1984Series6.7
Back to the Grind

Back to the Grind

2007Series
Golden Girls 3033
10.0

Golden Girls 3033

2022Series10.0