Bea Arthur
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- May 13, 1922
- Died
- Apr 25, 2009 (aged 86)
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Credits
- 75
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
Malcolm in the Middle
2000TV
Mrs. White
Futurama
1999TV
Femputer (voice)
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000TV
Larry's Mother
History of the World: Part I
1981Movie
Dole office clerk (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
1975TV
Self - Cameo (uncredited), Self - Host
The Star Wars Holiday Special
1978Movie
Ackmena
Filmography
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
2025Movie
Self / Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
Henry Fonda for President
2025Movie
Maude (archival footage)
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
2023Movie
Self (archive footage)
Golden Girls 3033
2022TV
Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021Movie
Dorothy Zbornak
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2021Movie
Self
The Golden Girls: Ageless
2021Movie
Self (archive footage)
Betty White: First Lady of Television
2018Movie
Self (archive Footage)
O.J.: Made in America
2016Movie
Self (archive footage)
Back to the Grind
2007TV
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
2005Movie
Self
Broadway's Lost Treasures II
2004Movie
Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
The Best of So Graham Norton
2004Movie
Self (archive footage)
Comedy Central Roasts
2003TV
Self
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003Movie
Self / Dorothy Zbornak
The Terry and Gaby Show
2003TV
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003Movie
Self
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003Movie
Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
Enemies of Laughter
2000Movie
Paul's Mother
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000TV
Larry's Mother
Malcolm in the Middle
2000TV
Mrs. White
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
1999Movie
Self
Beggars and Choosers
1999TV
Futurama
1999TV
Femputer (voice)
So Graham Norton
1998TV
Self - Guest
Emily of New Moon
1998TV
The Voice
The View
1997TV
Self
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury
1996Movie
Self
Judge Judy
1996TV
Self - Defendant's Witness
For Better or Worse
1995Movie
Beverly Makeshift
Ellen
1994TV
Bea Arthur
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
1994Movie
Self
Intimate Portrait
1993TV
Self
Dave's World
1993TV
Mel Bloom
The Golden Palace
1992TV
Dorothy Hollingsworth
Boulevard Bio
1991TV
Self
Night of 100 Stars III
1990Movie
Self
The Earth Day Special
1990Movie
Dorothy Zbornak
My First Love
1988Movie
Jean Miller
Mickey's 60th Birthday
1988Movie
Self
Empty Nest
1988TV
Dorothy Zbornak
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988Movie
Self
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988Movie
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
1987Movie
Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987Movie
Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986Movie
Self (uncredited)
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
1986Movie
Self
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985Movie
The Golden Girls
1985TV
Dorothy Zbornak
P.O.P.
1984Movie
Rosalyn Gordon
a.k.a. Pablo
1984TV
Amanda's
1983TV
Amanda Cartwright
Night of 100 Stars
1982Movie
Self
History of the World: Part I
1981Movie
Dole office clerk (uncredited)
The Beatrice Arthur Special
1980Movie
Herself
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
1980Movie
Self
The Star Wars Holiday Special
1978Movie
Ackmena
Saturday Night Live
1975TV
Self - Cameo (uncredited), Self - Host
People's Choice Awards
1975TV
Self
Dinah!
1974TV
Self
Mame
1974Movie
Vera
Maude
1972TV
Maude Findlay
All in the Family
1971TV
Maude Findlay
Lovers and Other Strangers
1970Movie
Bea Vecchio
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962TV
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
1961TV
Self - Co-Host
That Kind of Woman
1959Movie
WAC (uncredited)
The Gift of the Magi
1958Movie
Mrs. Abercrombie
Tony Awards
1956TV
Self - Host
The George Gobel Show
1954TV
Self
Max Liebman Presents
1954TV
Omnibus
1952TV
Ugly Witch
Hallmark Hall of Fame
1951TV
Mrs. Abercrombie
Studio One
1948TV
Bambi
1948TV
Self