Bea Arthur
Acting • Born 1922-05-13 – Died 2009-04-25
Biography
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
74 credits
History of the World: Part I
Movie • 1981
Dole office clerk (uncredited)
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
Movie • 2021
Dorothy Zbornak
That Kind of Woman
Movie • 1959
WAC (uncredited)
Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Movie • 2004
Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
Mame
Movie • 1974
Vera Charles
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Movie • 1980
Self
Lovers and Other Strangers
Movie • 1970
Bea Vecchio
Betty White: First Lady of Television
Movie • 2018
Self (archive Footage)
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Movie • 1978
Ackmena
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
Movie • 1999
Self
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Movie • 2003
Self
For Better or Worse
Movie • 1995
Beverly Makeshift
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Movie • 1988
Self (archive footage)
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Movie • 2023
Self (archive footage)
Enemies of Laughter
Movie • 2000
Paul's Mother
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
Movie • 1987
Self
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
Movie • 2003
Self / Dorothy Zbornak
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Movie • 1988
Self
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
Movie • 2005
Self
Night of 100 Stars III
Movie • 1990
Self
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
Movie • 1986
Self
The Golden Girls: Ageless
Movie • 2021
Self (archive footage)
O.J.: Made in America
Movie • 2016
Self (archive footage)
My First Love
Movie • 1988
Jean Miller
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Movie • 2003
Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
Mickey's 60th Birthday
Movie • 1988
Self
The Beatrice Arthur Special
Movie • 1980
Herself
A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury
Movie • 1996
Self
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
Movie • 1994
Self
The Gift of the Magi
Movie • 1958
Mrs. Abercrombie
P.O.P.
Movie • 1984
Rosalyn Gordon
Night of 100 Stars
Movie • 1982
Self
The Earth Day Special
Movie • 1990
Dorothy Zbornak
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Movie • 2021
Self
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Movie • 1987
Self
All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Movie • 1986
Self
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship
Movie • 2025
Self / Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
Movie • 1985
Henry Fonda for President
Movie • 2025
Maude (archival footage)
Ellen
TV • 1994
Bea Arthur
Futurama
TV • 1999
Femputer (voice)
The Golden Girls
TV • 1985
Dorothy Zbornak
All in the Family
TV • 1971
Maude Findlay
Maude
TV • 1972
Maude Findlay
The View
TV • 1997
Self
Malcolm in the Middle
TV • 2000
Mrs. White
The Terry and Gaby Show
TV • 2003
Omnibus
TV • 1952
Empty Nest
TV • 1988
Dorothy Zbornak
The Golden Palace
TV • 1992
Dorothy Hollingsworth
Studio One
TV • 1948
Hallmark Hall of Fame
TV • 1951
Mrs. Abercrombie
a.k.a. Pablo
TV • 1984
Amanda's
TV • 1983
Amanda Cartwright
Beggars and Choosers
TV • 1999
So Graham Norton
TV • 1998
Self - Guest
Back to the Grind
TV • 2007
Max Liebman Presents
TV • 1954
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Saturday Night Live
TV • 1975
Self - Host
Judge Judy
TV • 1996
Self - Defendant's Witness
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV • 2000
Larry's Mother
The Mike Douglas Show
TV • 1961
Self - Co-Host
Golden Girls 3033
TV • 2022
Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)
Intimate Portrait
TV • 1993
Self
Bambi
TV • 1948
Self
Comedy Central Roasts
TV • 2003
Self
Dave's World
TV • 1993
Mel Bloom
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The George Gobel Show
TV • 1954
Self
Dinah!
TV • 1974
Self
Emily of New Moon
TV • 1998
The Voice
Boulevard Bio
TV • 1991
Self
People's Choice Awards
TV • 1975
Self