

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.
40 movies · 35 shows

The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
2025·9.0

Henry Fonda for President
2025·7.0

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
2023·5.7

Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021·10.0

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
2021·0.0

The Golden Girls: Ageless
2021·10.0

Betty White: First Lady of Television
2018·7.4

O.J.: Made in America
2016·8.4

Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
2005·6.6

Broadway's Lost Treasures II
2004·8.3

The Best of So Graham Norton
2004·0.0

The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003·6.8

Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
2003·7.0

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003·9.4

Enemies of Laughter
2000·6.0

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
1999·5.7
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury
1996·0.0

For Better or Worse
1995·4.7

Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
1994·9.0

Night of 100 Stars III
1990·4.0

The Earth Day Special
1990·6.1

My First Love
1988·9.5

Mickey's 60th Birthday
1988·6.8

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
1988·8.0

Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
1988·6.0

Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
1987·7.0

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987·6.0
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
1986·6.0

Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
1986·8.0

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985·0.0
P.O.P.
1984·0.0

Night of 100 Stars
1982·5.8

History of the World: Part I
1981·6.8

The Beatrice Arthur Special
1980·0.0

The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
1980·4.0

The Star Wars Holiday Special
1978·3.4

Mame
1974·5.9

Lovers and Other Strangers
1970·5.1

That Kind of Woman
1959·6.2

The Gift of the Magi
1958·8.0