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Bea Arthur
Born
Died
Place
Acting

Bea Arthur

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.

As actor

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

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

Henry Fonda for President

Henry Fonda for President

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed

Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls

Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls

The Golden Girls: Ageless

The Golden Girls: Ageless

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age

Betty White: First Lady of Television

Betty White: First Lady of Television

O.J.: Made in America

O.J.: Made in America

Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson

Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson

Broadway's Lost Treasures II

Broadway's Lost Treasures II

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

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

The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments

The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

Enemies of Laughter

Enemies of Laughter

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller

The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller

A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury

For Better or Worse

For Better or Worse

Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl

Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl

Night of 100 Stars III

Night of 100 Stars III

The Earth Day Special

The Earth Day Special

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

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

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration

My First Love

My First Love

Mickey's 60th Birthday

Mickey's 60th Birthday

Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour

Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood

Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary

Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary

All Star Party for Clint Eastwood

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There

P.O.P.