Her notable television roles included the title role on the popular sitcom Maude in the 1970s, and a starring role on The Golden Girls in the 1980s and 1990s. In the former she played Maude Findlay, an outspoken "limousine liberal" and "New Deal fanatic", living in the community of Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York, with her husband, Walter (Bill Macy).
The show was a spinoff from All in the Family, on which Arthur had appeared in the same role, playing Edith Bunker (Jean Stapleton)'s cousin, a feminist Democrat, and alter-ego to the prejudiced, conservative Republican Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor).
In The Golden Girls, she played Dorothy Zbornak, a past-middle-aged substitute teacher who lived in a Miami, Florida, house owned by man-hungry Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan). Her other roommates included dim-but-sweet Rose Nylund (Betty White) and Dorothy's short-tempered, yet "hip" Sicilian mother, Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). Getty was actually two months younger than Arthur in real life, and was heavily made up to look significantly older. Dorothy had an acidic sense of humor and was prone to making witty, often biting wisecracks.
On stage, her roles included "Lucy Brown" in the 1954 Off-Broadway premiere of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, "Yente the Matchmaker" in the 1964 premiere of Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway, and a 1966 Tony Award-winning portrayal of "Vera Charles" to Angela Lansbury's Mame (she recreated the role on film opposite Lucille Ball in 1974). In 1981, she appeared in Woody Allen's The Floating Lightbulb.
Two decades later, she toured the U.S. with a one-woman show in which she made a triumphant return to Broadway. 2002's Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends, a collection of stories and songs (with musician Billy Goldenberg) and based on her life and long career, was nominated for a Tony award for Best Special Theatrical Event, but lost to Elaine Stritch At Liberty.
Bea was married for many years to her second husband, director Gene Saks, with whom she had two sons, but the marriage ended in divorce.
Arthur has also been a committed animal rights activist, taking part in numerous campaigns for PETA.[2] In the late 1990's, a Bea Arthur fan attracted considerable attention for his bumper sticker campaign, "Bea Arthur - Be Naked", as well as for a CK1 ad spoof, "Just Bea".
Arthur is a gay icon, and has long maintained a loyal gay fanbase. She has frequently been mistaken as a lesbian. Arthur has come out in strong support of gay rights, while proclaiming her own heterosexuality, and has granted cover interviews to a variety of gay magazines.
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A Brief Filmography
Enemies of Laughter- Paul's Mom (2000)
For Better or Worse- Beverly Makeshift (1996)
The Golden Girls- Dorothy Zbornak
Maude- Maude Findlay
