Person Details

Birthday: 1922-05-13 00:57:44

Death: 2009-04-25 00:57:44

Aliases: Beatrice Arthur

Gender: Female

Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 22

TV Involvements: 5


Most Famous Work

Biography

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. 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. IMDb Mini Biography By: Tommy Peter

Most Famous Work

Bambi Awards
Average
9

Bambi Awards

(1948) Self
Judge Judy
Average
6

Judge Judy

(1996) Self - Defendant's Witness
Intimate Portrait
Average
5

Intimate Portrait

(1993) Self
Tony Awards
Average
5

Tony Awards

(1956) Self - Host
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Average
9

Hallmark Hall of Fame

(1951) Mrs. Abercrombie
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Average
3
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Average
8

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

(2023) Self (archive footage)
A Disturbance in the Force: How the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened
Average
5

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2023 Self (archive footage)
Self (archive footage)
2022 Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)
Dorothy
2021 Dorothy Zbornak
Self
Self (archive footage)
2018 Self (archive Footage)
2010 Herself (archive footage)
2007 N/A
2005 Self
2004 Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
2003 Dorothy Zbornak
N/A
Self
N/A
2000 Paul's Mother
Larry's Mother
Mrs. White
1999 Herself
N/A
Femputer (voice)
1998 Self - Guest
1997 Self
1996 Herself
Self - Defendant's Witness
1995 Beverly Makeshift
1994 Bea Arthur
Herself
1993 Self
1992 Dorothy Hollingsworth
1991 Self
1990 Self
Dorothy Zbornak
1988 Jean Miller
Self
Dorothy Zbornak
N/A
Self (archive footage)
1987 Self
1986 Self
1985 Dorothy Zbornak
1984 Rosalyn Gordon
N/A
1983 Amanda Cartwright
1982 Self
1981 Dole office clerk (uncredited)
1980 Herself
Self
1978 Ackmena
1975 Self - Host / Various
Self (uncredited)
1974 Vera Charles
1972 Maude Findlay
1971 Cousin Maude
1970 Bea Vecchio
1961 Self - Co-Host
1959 WAC (uncredited)
1958 Mrs. Abercrombie
1956 Self - Host
1954 N/A
1952 N/A
1951 Mrs. Abercrombie
1948 N/A
Self
Year Character Movie/Tv

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