Image of Beatrice Arthur

Beatrice Arthur

Actress-comedienne famous for her acid wit. The majority of her work has been on the stage and in television, but she has made some films. She was a regular on Sid Caesar's show "Caesar's Hour" (1954) for one season in the 1950s. She first gained attention on stage while appearing in the musical play "The Threepenny Opera" with Lotte Lenya. Then, in 1964, she truly became famous when she appeared in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler on the Roof" as Yente the Matchmaker. In this supporting role, she stole the show night after night. In 1966, she went to work on a new Broadway musical, "Mame", directed by her second husband, Gene Saks. For the featured role of Vera Charles in "Mame" she won a Tony. The star of the show, Angela Lansbury, also won a Tony. In 1971, Bea appeared on the hit sitcom "All in the Family" (1971) as Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker's cousin, who was forever driving Archie Bunker crazy with her liberal politics. This guest appearance led to her own series, entitled "Maude" (1972), in 1972. The show was a hit, and ran for six years, during which time many controversial topics, including abortion, were tackled. Bea also won an Emmy for her work on "Maude" (1972). During the show's run, Bea repeated the role of Vera Charles in the film version of Mame (1974), again directed by Gene Saks. She also appeared on none other than The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) (TV). In 1983, she started work on a new sitcom, "Amanda's" (1983), which was patterned after British situation comedy "Fawlty Towers" (1975), but it didn't last long. In 1985, however, she got sweet compensation when her new sitcom, "The Golden Girls" (1985) hit the air. Co-starring Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty, it was a show about four middle-aged women living in Miami. It was an immediate hit, and ran for seven seasons. All of the cast members, including Bea, won Emmys during the show's run. It should be worth noting that both "Maude" (1972) and "The Golden Girls" (1985) had to be canceled when Bea announced she was leaving each of them. In both cases, she left when she thought each show was at its peak and, in both cases, the producers of the shows realized the shows just wouldn't be the same without her. Since "The Golden Girls" (1985) was canceled in 1992, Bea had kept a low profile, appearing in only a couple of movies: For Better or Worse (1995) and Enemies of Laughter (2000). In 1999, she made a very successful and welcome Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller (1999) (TV). She lives on a ranch in California. IMDb Mini Biography By: Tommy Peter


Read bio at tmdb | Read bio at Wikipedia
Born:
May 13, 1922 In New York City, New York, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
35
First Appeared:
In the series Once Upon a Tune
Latest Project:
Movie Uncle Bob 2010-06-26
Known For
Poster of So Graham Norton
Poster of Lovers and Other Strangers
Poster of Tony Awards
Filmography
Series Once Upon a Tune Unknown 2025
Movie Uncle Bob Herself (archive footage) 2010-06-26
Series Back to the Grind Unknown 2007-07-18
Movie Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson Herself 2005-08-14
Movie Broadway's Lost Treasures II Beatrice Arthur 2004-10-26
Series The Terry and Gaby Show Unknown 2003-06-02
Movie Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There Herself 2003-01-01
Series Malcolm in the Middle Unknown 2000-01-09
Movie Enemies of Laughter Paul's Mother 2000-11-10
Series Beggars and Choosers Unknown 1999-06-19
Series Futurama Unknown 1999-03-28
Series So Graham Norton Unknown 1998-07-03
Series The View Unknown 1997-08-11
Movie For Better or Worse Beverly Makeshift 1995-03-19
Series Ellen Unknown 1994-03-29
Series The Golden Palace Unknown 1992-09-18
Series Empty Nest Unknown 1988-10-08
Series The Golden Girls Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak 1985-09-14
Series a.k.a. Pablo Unknown 1984-03-06
Series Amanda's Amanda Cartwright 1983-02-10
Movie History of the World: Part I Dole office clerk (uncredited) 1981-06-12
Movie The Star Wars Holiday Special Bar Proprieter 1978-11-17
Series Saturday Night Live Unknown 1975-10-11
Movie Mame Vera Charles 1974-03-07
Series Maude Maude Findlay 1972-09-12
Series All in the Family Unknown 1971-01-12
Movie Lovers and Other Strangers 1970-08-12
Series The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson Unknown 1962-10-01
Series Tony Awards Unknown 1956-04-01
Series The George Gobel Show 1954-10-02
Series Caesar's Hour Unknown 1954-09-27
Series Max Liebman Presents Unknown 1954-09-12
Series Omnibus Unknown 1952-11-09
Series Hallmark Hall of Fame Unknown 1951-12-24
Series Studio One Unknown 1948-11-07