
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.
35Credits19 TV · 16 films
1948–2025Years activefirst to latest
10.0 Highest ratedGolden Girls 3033
7.1 Average ratingacross 31 titles
Top TV shows 19best Bea Arthur shows
- 1
Golden Girls 3033Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound) · 1 ep · 2022 - 2
Emily of New MoonThe Voice · 1 ep · 1998 - 3
Hallmark Hall of FameMrs. Abercrombie · 1 ep · 1951 - 4
Malcolm in the MiddleMrs. White · 1 ep · 2000 - 5
FuturamaFemputer (voice) · 1 ep · 1999 - 6
The Golden GirlsDorothy Zbornak · 1985–1992 · Drama - 7
Curb Your EnthusiasmLarry's Mother · 1 ep · 2000 - 8
All in the FamilyMaude Findlay · 2 eps · 1971 - 9
MaudeMaude Findlay · 141 eps · 1972 - 10
Amanda'sAmanda Cartwright · 13 eps · 1983 - 11a.k.a. Pablo1 ep · 1984
- 12
Dave's WorldMel Bloom · 3 eps · 1993 - 13
The Golden PalaceDorothy Hollingsworth · 2 eps · 1992 - 14
EllenBea Arthur · 1 ep · 1994 - 15
Empty NestDorothy Zbornak · 1 ep · 1988 - 16
Studio One3 eps · 1948 - 17
Beggars and Choosers2 eps · 1999 - 18Back to the Grind1 ep · 2007
- 19Max Liebman Presents1 ep · 1954
Top movies 16best Bea Arthur movies
- 1
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden GirlsDorothy Zbornak · 2021 - 2
My First LoveJean Miller · 1988 - 3
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait SeriesDorothy Zbornak (archive footage) · 2003 - 4
Broadway's Lost Treasures IIVera Charles (segment "Mame") · 2004 - 5
The Gift of the MagiMrs. Abercrombie · 1958 - 6
Henry Fonda for PresidentMaude (archival footage) · 2025 - 7
History of the World: Part IDole office clerk (uncredited) · 1981 - 8
The Earth Day SpecialDorothy Zbornak · 1990 - 9
That Kind of WomanWAC (uncredited) · 1959 - 10
MameVera Charles · 1974 - 11
Enemies of LaughterPaul's Mother · 2000 - 12
Lovers and Other StrangersBea Vecchio · 1970 - 13
For Better or WorseBeverly Makeshift · 1995 - 14
The Star Wars Holiday SpecialAckmena · 1978 - 15P.O.P.Rosalyn Gordon · 1984
- 16
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There1985