Actress-comedienne famous for her acid wit. The majority of her work has been on the stage and in television, but she has made some films. She was a regular on Sid Caesar's show "Caesar's Hour" (1954) for one season in the 1950s. She first gained attention on stage while appearing in the musical play "The Threepenny Opera" with Lotte Lenya. Then, in 1964, she truly became famous when she appeared in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof" as Yente the Matchmaker. In this supporting role, she stole the show night after night. In 1966, she went to work on a new Broadway musical, "Mame", directed by her second husband, Gene Saks. For the featured role of Vera Charles in "Mame" she won a Tony. The star of the show, Angela Lansbury, also won a Tony. In 1971, Bea appeared on the hit sitcom "All in the Family" (1971) as Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker's cousin, who was forever driving Archie Bunker crazy with her liberal politics. This guest appearance led to her own series, entitled "Maude" (1972), in 1972. The show was a hit, and ran for six years, during which time many controversial topics, including abortion, were tackled. Bea also won an Emmy for her work on "Maude" (1972). During the show's run, Bea repeated the role of Vera Charles in the film version of Mame (1974), again directed by Gene Saks, and she was one of the few bright spots in a rather abysmal film. She also appeared on none other than The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) (TV). In 1983, she started work on a new sitcom, "Amanda's" (1983), which was patterned after British situation comedy "Fawlty Towers" (1975), but it didn't last long. In 1985, however, she got sweet compensation when her new sitcom, "The Golden Girls" (1985) hit the air. Co-starring Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, it was a show about four middle-aged women living in Miami. It was an immediate hit, and ran for seven seasons. All of the cast members, including Bea, won Emmys during the show's run. It should be worth noting that both "Maude" (1972) and "The Golden Girls" (1985) had to be canceled when Bea announced she was leaving each of them. In both cases, she left when she thought each show was at its peak and, in both cases, the producers of the shows realized the shows just wouldn't be the same without her. Since "The Golden Girls" (1985) was canceled in 1992, Bea had kept a low profile, appearing in only a couple of movies: For Better or Worse (1995) and Enemies of Laughter (2000). In 1999, she made a very successful and welcome Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller (1999) (TV). She lives on a ranch in California.

Bea won an award of achievement from Emerson College's Musical Theater Society, in Boston, in the spring of 2000.Survived by two sons, Matthew Saks (born July 14, 1961) and Daniel Saks (born May 8, 1964).She was best friends with Angela Lansbury, since appearing together in "Mame". A friendship she spoke fondly of in her one-woman show.She did not like to watch her own performances on television or film.Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 29-30. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387In 1966, she won a Tony Award as Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for playing Vera Charles in "Mame" a part she recreated in the film version of the same name, Mame (1974).Her series "Maude" (1972) and "The Golden Girls" (1985) were both canceled because Bea left them.Was a qualified medical technician.Once appeared on "Judge Judy" (1996) as a witness for a defendant who was involved in the animal rights organization PETA. The defendant won.In 2002, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event for her one-woman show "Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends".According to a television interview, Arthur claimed that her start in comedy came when she was only a lounge singer. Apparently, when she got up on stage to sing torch songs, the audience would laugh at her because of her deep voice and her height. The nightclub manager then approached her and told her she was in the wrong business. She should be doing comedy instead.Served in the United States Marine Corps.Considered "Amanda's" (1983) and an episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) as her worst career experiences.Her first real name, Bernice, is pronounced like Bur-ness.Best known by the public for her starring roles as the title character in "Maude" (1972) and as Dorothy Zbornak in "The Golden Girls" (1985).Her mother, Rebecca Frankel, died in 1986.Her former "Maude" (1972) co-star, Adrienne Barbeau, was reunited with her on "The View" (1997), in 2007.Arthur was one of the first women to become an active-duty United States Marine. She volunteered and served during World War II.She is survived by two granddaughters.Was 5'9-1/2" by the time she was 12 years old.Her idol when she was young was June Allyson.Was best friends with: Angela Lansbury, Rue McClanahan, Norman Lear and Betty White.Remained good friends with Adrienne Barbeau during and after "Maude" (1972).After her death, The Ali Forney Center, a New York not-for-profit agency devoted to providing emergency shelter, medical services, and help getting off the streets to young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender homeless people, learned that she had left them $300,000.00 in her will. The center plans to use the bequest to buy a building that will become permanent housing for some of these youths. The center plans to name the building The Bea Arthur Residence for LGBT Homeless Youth.As a young girl, Bea attended Linden Hall High School, an all girls school in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Later, she attended Blackstone College for Girls in Blackstone, Virginia, where she was active in drama productions.