Bea Arthur
Known for: Acting
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.
Filmography
Series
Futurama
Femputer (voice)
1999
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Malcolm in the Middle
Mrs. White
2000
Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry's Mother
2000
Series
Tony Awards
Self - Host
1956
Series
The Golden Girls
Dorothy Zbornak
1985
Series
Ellen
Bea Arthur
1994
Series
Bambi
Self
1948
Series
Judge Judy
Self - Defendant's Witness
1996
Series
Studio One
1948
Series
Intimate Portrait
Self
1993
Series
People's Choice Awards
Self
1975
Series
Empty Nest
Dorothy Zbornak
1988
Series
Maude
Maude Findlay
1972
Series
All in the Family
Maude Findlay
1971
Series
Dinah!
Self
1974
Series
Omnibus
Ugly Witch
1952
Series
Dave's World
Mel Bloom
1993
Series
Boulevard Bio
Self
1991
Series
Comedy Central Roasts
Self
2003
Series
So Graham Norton
Self - Guest
1998
The Terry and Gaby Show
2003
Series
The Golden Palace
Dorothy Hollingsworth
1992
The George Gobel Show
Self
1954
Series
Beggars and Choosers
1999
Film
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Ackmena
1978
Film
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
Film
The Best of So Graham Norton
Self (archive footage)
2004
Series
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Mrs. Abercrombie
1951
Film
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987
Film
History of the World: Part I
Dole office clerk (uncredited)
1981
Film
Mame
Vera
1974
Series
Amanda's
Amanda Cartwright
1983
Series
Emily of New Moon
The Voice
1998
Film
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage)
2016
Max Liebman Presents
1954
Film
The Earth Day Special
Dorothy Zbornak
1990
Film
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Self
2021
Film
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Film
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
Self / Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
2025
Film
Lovers and Other Strangers
Bea Vecchio
1970
Film
My First Love
Jean Miller
1988
Back to the Grind
2007
Film
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
Film
Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
2004
a.k.a. Pablo
1984
Film
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
Self
2005
Film
Mickey's 60th Birthday
Self
1988
Film
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Self
2003
Film
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Self (archive footage)
2023
Film
For Better or Worse
Beverly Makeshift
1995
Film
Betty White: First Lady of Television
Self (archive Footage)
2018
P.O.P.
Rosalyn Gordon
1984
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Self (uncredited)
1986
Film
The Golden Girls: Ageless
Self (archive footage)
2021
Film
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
2003
Film
Henry Fonda for President
Maude (archival footage)
2025
Film
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
Self
1999
Film
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self
1980
Series
Golden Girls 3033
Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)
2022
Film
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
Self
1987
Film
That Kind of Woman
WAC (uncredited)
1959
Film
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury
Self
1996
Film
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
1994
Film
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
Self / Dorothy Zbornak
2003
Film
Enemies of Laughter
Paul's Mother
2000
Film
The Beatrice Arthur Special
Herself
1980
Film
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
1988
Film
The Gift of the Magi
Mrs. Abercrombie
1958
Film
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
Dorothy Zbornak
2021
Film
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
Self
1986