THE GOLDEN GIRL DIES AT THE AGE OF 86!Bea Arthur, who died Saturday at 86, was the winner of two Emmy Awards for her starring roles on classic sitcoms "Maude" and "The Golden Girls." Before becoming an unexpected TV star in the 1970s, Bea Arthur enjoyed a long and celebrated career in the theater. She won a Tony Award for featured actress in a musical in 1966 for the role of Vera Charles, bosom buddy to "Mame."
When the movie version was made in 1973, Lansbury lost her role to Lucille Ball, who then insisted on Arthur as her on-screen chum, over the likes of two-time Oscar winner Bette Davis. For her efforts, Arthur would contend for the supporting Golden Globe, losing to Karen Black ("The Great Gatsby").
Ball's demand was easier to accept as by then Arthur had become a TV star. As a favor to her longtime pal Norman Lear, Arthur has appeared on a 1971 episode of the smash hit "All in the Family" as Edith's liberated cousin Maude who dared to contradict the bigoted Archie Bunker. So successful was this guest shot that CBS asked Lear to create a spin-off for the character.
"Maude" premiered in September 1972 and ran for six seasons. As "that old compromisin', enterprisin', anything but tranquilizing" Maude Findlay, Bea Arthur created a memorable persona that earned her a place in the TV pantheon. She was the first lead character in TV history to have an abortion in a powerful two-part episode that aired in November 1972, months before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the issue.
This woman is one of my favorite entertainers of all time. I loved both the characters of Maude and Dorothy Zbornack.
ReplyDeleteRIP Bea, you will be missed.
TY Insite for posting this! I loved her and her shows! RIP BEA! Thank you for being a friend.
ReplyDeleteI didn't care for her liberal politics, but her comedic timing and delivery were impeccable. Who else could have played Maude? But to me her best role was in the movie "Lovers and Other Strangers" (1971). About an Irish-Italian marriage were everyone seems to be unhappy except the bride and groom. No more than a minute of Bea as the domineering mother of the groom and you can see why they are all so unhappy. The son laments that all he wants is to be happy in marriage. In classic Bea Arthur delivery, "Don't go looking for happiness, Richard. It'll only make you miserable".
ReplyDeleteMy favorite line from Bea Arthur as Maud was:"God'll get you for that."
ReplyDeleteBy the way Steve, she personified Liberalism in the 70's. Archie Bunker her nemesis represented the Conservative line of thinking. It was a comical tv match made in heaven when those two went at it. I've got to get those episodes on DVD.
ReplyDeleteIsiah,
ReplyDeleteI wasn't referring to her character's liberalism, I mean her own personal politics. I saw her one woman show on Broadway several years ago. She injected lots of politics into it. Yes, the show was funny as hell. My view has always been that a lot of stars use their celebrity as a platform for politics. Yeah, she's a liberal. But she lives in Hollywood or ritzy Westchester County, not Watts or Harlem. Doesn't quite practice what she preaches.
Wow, we have two "Steves" here now! The Steve above is not the one you've all come to love/hate here.
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