Bea Arthur

TV Actress

Beatrice Arthur 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 ...

Full Name

Beatrice Arthur

Birthday

May 13, 1922

deathday

Apr 25, 2009

AGE

BORN

United States

BIrth SIGN

Taurus

RElationship

Height

5′ 10″

Net Worth

About

Beatrice “Bea” Arthur was born on May 13th, 1922 in New York City. She was the daughter of Jewish immigrants, Philip and Rebecca Pressman. Her father was a manufacturer of men’s clothing, and her mother was a homemaker. As a child, she attended public schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn, then went on to study drama at Hunter College. After college, she moved to Los Angeles where she began her career as an actress on the stage.

In the 1950s and 60s, Bea made several appearances on television shows such as The United States Steel Hour and Playhouse 90. In 1971, she landed her first major role on the hit sitcom Maude. On the show she played an outspoken feminist who frequently challenged traditional values. The show became a huge success and ran for six seasons until 1978.

In 1982, Bea made her return to television with The Golden Girls which aired for seven seasons until 1992. This time around Bea played Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced woman living with two other elderly women in Miami Beach.The show quickly became one of the most popular sitcoms of all time and won many awards including multiple Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and Best Actress in a Comedy Series for Bea herself.

Throughout her career Bea won multiple awards including four Emmy Awards for Maude (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) and The Golden Girls (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series). In 2009, she passed away at the age of 86 due to cancer-related causes. She left behind an incredible legacy that continues to influence pop culture today.

Life Timeline

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1922</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Bea Arthur is Born</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On May 13, 1922, Beatrice Arthur was born in New York City.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1953</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Broadway Debut in "The Threepenny Opera"</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Arthur makes her Broadway debut in the musical "The Threepenny Opera" as Lucy Brown.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1971</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Star of "Maude"</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Bea stars as the title character in the television series "Maude". The show ran for six seasons from 1971 to 1978.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1985</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Star of "The Golden Girls"</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Bea stars as the beloved Dorothy Zbornak in the television series "The Golden Girls". The show ran for seven seasons from 1985 to 1992.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">1993</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Wins an Emmy Award</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Arthur wins an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on "The Golden Girls".</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2000</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Receives Lifetime Achievement Award</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">Bea receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Screen Actors Guild.</p></div>

<div id="" class="timeline-item"><p id="" class="timeline-year">2009</p><h3 id="" class="timeline-title">Passes Away at 86</h3><p id="" class="timeline-text">On April 25, 2009, Bea passes away at the age of 86 from cancer.</p></div>

Why We Love Them

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">A.</span> She Was a Groundbreaking Actress</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Bea Arthur was a groundbreaking actress who paved the way for female comedians and comedic actresses. She was one of the first women to star in her own TV series, The Golden Girls, and she also starred in All in the Family, Maude, and several other shows.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">B.</span> She Had a Great Sense of Humor</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Bea Arthur had a great sense of humor that made her stand out among her peers. Her comedic timing was impeccable and her delivery of lines always hit the mark. When it came to delivering a joke or making an audience laugh, Bea Arthur was always on point.</p></div>

<div id="" class="whywelove-item"><h3 id="" class="whywelove-title"><span class="whywelove-leter">C.</span> She Was an Advocate for Women's Rights</h3><p id="" class="whywelove-text">Bea Arthur was an advocate for women's rights. She believed strongly in equal pay for equal work, and she fought for fair treatment of women in the workplace. She was also a strong supporter of feminism, and she used her platform to speak out against gender discrimination.</p></div>

Interesting Facts

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">1.</span> Started out as a Singer</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Before becoming an actress, Bea Arthur was a stage singer and she also performed in musicals on Broadway.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">2.</span> Refused to Audition for 'The Golden Girls'</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Bea Arthur initially refused to audition for the role of Dorothy Zbornak in The Golden Girls, but later changed her mind and agreed to do so.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">3.</span> Honorary Marine Corps Member</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">In 1988, Bea Arthur was made an honorary Marine Corps member after performing for U.S troops in Iraq.</p></div>

<div id="" class="facts-item"><h3 id="" class="facts-title"><span class="facts-number">4.</span> Appeared in Star Trek Episode</h3><p id="" class="facts-text">Bea Arthur appeared in a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode entitled “The Big Goodbye” as the character Mrs. Barlow.</p></div>