Person
Bea Arthur
New York City, New York, USA
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…
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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.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
Movie Self / Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
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2025
Henry Fonda for President
Movie Maude (archival footage)
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2023
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2022
Golden Girls 3033
TV show Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)
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2021
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
Movie Dorothy Zbornak
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2021
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Movie Self
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2021
The Golden Girls: Ageless
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2018
Betty White: First Lady of Television
Movie Self (archive Footage)
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2016
O.J.: Made in America
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2007
Back to the Grind
TV show
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2005
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
Movie Self
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2004
Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Movie Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
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2004
The Best of So Graham Norton
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2003
Comedy Central Roasts
TV show Self
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2003
The Terry and Gaby Show
TV show
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2003
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
Movie Self / Dorothy Zbornak
More credits
- 2003
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2003
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Movie Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
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2000
Enemies of Laughter
Movie Paul's Mother
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2000
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV show Larry's Mother
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2000
Malcolm in the Middle
TV show Mrs. White
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1999
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
Movie Self
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1999
Beggars and Choosers
TV show
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1999
Futurama
TV show Femputer (voice)
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1998
So Graham Norton
TV show Self - Guest
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1998
Emily of New Moon
TV show The Voice
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1997
The View
TV show Self
- 1996
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1996
Judge Judy
TV show Self - Defendant's Witness
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1995
For Better or Worse
Movie Beverly Makeshift
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1994
Ellen
TV show Bea Arthur
- 1994
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1993
Intimate Portrait
TV show Self
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1993
Dave's World
TV show Mel Bloom
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1992
The Golden Palace
TV show Dorothy Hollingsworth
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1991
Boulevard Bio
TV show Self
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1990
Night of 100 Stars III
Movie Self
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1990
The Earth Day Special
Movie Dorothy Zbornak
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1988
My First Love
Movie Jean Miller
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1988
Mickey's 60th Birthday
Movie Self
