After gracing us with many years of her trademark "acid wit", actress Bea Arthur passed away this weekend in her Los Angeles home. She was 86 years-old and had been battling cancer.
Arthur was the star of two groundbreaking television series, Maude and Golden Girls. I'll always remember her as Dorothy Zbornak, and it should be noted that she single-handedly got me to stop eating KFC thanks to her work with PETA.
On top of animal rights, Arthur took on a handful of liberal issues and was aggressively pro-choice. On one episode of the 1970s series Maude, Bea's title character goes through with an abortion–a truly progressive move for the time.
Long story short, Bea Arthur will be missed! Let's take a moment to thank her for being a friend.
– Dewitt
I cant believe no one has commenting on the passing of this groundbreaking actress. She was and is a beacon of pride and hope for the LBGT community. She exuded charisma, stage presence and command of her environment more than the vast majority of the hollywood elite of today.
May her soul eternally rest in peace.
She was incredible.
And Bravo to her for speaking up for animal rights too.
More people in the LGBT community should be kinder to animals.
I loved her in Golden Girls. Not so much in Maude but yes, she was/is a wonderful actress. Dry sense of humor 🙂
Bea Author was a legend. Not just a Hollywood legend but an American legend. She voiced her opinions without much concern as to whether it would hurt her career and stood up for what she believed in. We all have truly lost a friend.
Her best gay-positive zinger IMO was in an episode of Maude (who was played as an unusually sexual 50ish woman): Her character’s husband was freaking out over the discovery of a gay teacher in the local school. She dismissed his agitation, saying “Kids don’t imitate their teachers’ sexual habits!” Husband retorted: “How do you know that?” She snarled back: “BECAUSE I HAD A NUN FOR A TEACHER!” It may not sound like much now but it was pretty ballsy stuff for its time.
Less we forget her role in Mame with Lucille Ball, what damn team they made. Now they both staring up above. Love you Bea. Gods Speed LargoBearHunter
I am SO sad!! I didn’t realize that she was 89. I guess we you can see people on TV every day they just don’t ever age. She was an amazing woman who brought years of joy to people everywhere. Truly a gift and she will be missed.
I loved Bea Arthur, she was such a witty chick and funny as hell. I’m really sad to see her go. 🙁
My husband and I saw her one woman stage show a couple of years ago here in SF and she was amazing. Her singing and her comic timing were flawless. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen.
We were supposed to have dinner with her after the show but when we went back to her dressing room we found an exhausted shell of a woman who had given everything she had to her adoring audience.She just needed to go back to her hotel and go to sleep. She was the ultimate trouper. I just wish we had saved her phone message from that afternoon.In that unmistakable voice: “It’s Bea. I’m here in San Francisco and I’m staying at some shitty hotel they’ve put me in. Call me.”
R.I.P Ms B
Idk if anyone mentioned it, but she was also in Charmed. She wasnt a huge actress on the show but when she was in the show OM F-ing G she was good.
Blessed be, Bea Arthur
Oh, good comments by all. I loved her in everything – Mame, Maude, Golden Girls and also had the opp to see her perform in 2006 in Provincetown – barefoot with red painted toenails and she was great. What an icon.