Being a fan of this woman it's a sad day indeed.


Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" and who won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame," died Saturday. She was 86.

Arthur died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family at her side, family spokesman Dan Watt said. She had cancer, Watt said, declining to give further details.

"She was a brilliant and witty woman," said Watt, who was Arthur's personal assistant for six years. "Bea will always have a special place in my heart."

Arthur first appeared in the landmark comedy series "All in the Family" as Edith Bunker's loudly outspoken, liberal cousin, Maude Finley. She proved a perfect foil for blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), and their blistering exchanges were so entertaining that producer Norman Lear fashioned Arthur's own series.

In a 2008 interview with The Associated Press, Arthur said she was lucky to be discovered by TV after a long stage career, recalling with bemusement CBS executives asking about the new "girl."

"I was already 50 years old. I had done so much off-Broadway, on Broadway, but they said, `Who is that girl? Let's give her her own series,'" Arthur said.


"Maude" scored with television viewers immediately on its CBS debut in September 1972, and Arthur won an Emmy Award for the role in 1977.

The comedy flowed from Maude's efforts to cast off the traditional restraints that women faced, but the series often had a serious base. Her husband Walter (Bill Macy) became an alcoholic, and she underwent an abortion, which drew a torrent of viewer protests. Maude became a standard bearer for the growing feminist movement in America.

The ratings of "Maude" in the early years approached those of its parent, "All in the Family," but by 1977 the audience started to dwindle. A major format change was planned, but in early 1978 Arthur announced she was quitting the show.

"It's been absolutely glorious; I've loved every minute of it," she said. "But it's been six years, and I think it's time to leave."

"Golden Girls" (1985-1992) was another groundbreaking comedy, finding surprising success in a television market increasingly skewed toward a younger, product-buying audience.

The series concerned three retirees — Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan — and the mother of Arthur's character, Estelle Getty, who lived together in a Miami apartment. In contrast to the violent "Miami Vice," the comedy was nicknamed "Miami Nice."

As Dorothy Zbornak, Arthur seemed as caustic and domineering as Maude. She was unconcerned about the similarity of the two roles. "Look — I'm 5-feet-9, I have a deep voice and I have a way with a line," she told an interviewer. "What can I do about it? I can't stay home waiting for something different. I think it's a total waste of energy worrying about typecasting."

The interplay among the four women and their relations with men fueled the comedy, and the show amassed a big audience and 10 Emmys, including two as best comedy series and individual awards for each of the stars.

In 1992, Arthur announced she was leaving "Golden Girls." The three other stars returned in "The Golden Palace," but it lasted only one season.

I just read this on another board, very sad news.

:rip:

Oh wow, this is a shock!

:rip: We love you, Bea!! Thanks for the memories and laughs.

That's too bad.

Her deadpan remarks and reactions to her Golden Girls co-stars were always funny.

I didn't know that Bea had cancer.:rip: :(

Wow. Two of them in less than a year. A very sad day indeed. RIP Bea Arthur. You, your wit, humor, and incredible talent will be sorely missed. :(

I find it amazing that this one post managed to generate so many responses in just fifteen minutes! Also, because the person who started this thread is still relatively new to the site, I would like to say, welcome aboard!

A sad day indeed, she will be missed.

This is such sad news. :( She will be missed.

I can't believe it myself (didn't know she had cancer, either). She always seemed like one of those larger-than-life celebrities who would live forever. I guess she always will - in our hearts and in our memories.

I noticed that her co-star Lucille Ball (from the 1974 movie "Mame") died 20 years ago tomorrow. 'Mame' and 'Vera'...together again.

Godspeed, Ms. Arthur! :(

Goodbye, Bea. Thank you for being a friend.... :(

I just learned about Bea Arthur's passing. I can't believe this, 2 of our 4 favorite girls have passed away, this is depressing news.:( I had no idea she had cancer. This is a sad day for all us GG fans. Rest In Peace Bea, we all love you!

about it I came straight to this board to read comments. I still picture in my mind that all 4 of the GG are still living in Miami together and they are still getting into mischief.

Now there are two Golden Girls in heaven,RIP Bea and Estelle,thanks for the laughs xx

:violin: :rip:

Thank you for the laughs,
The jokes you were giving,
Thanks for all the joy you´re bringing,
Who can live without you, I ask in all honesty
What would life be?
Without you or the Girls what are we?
So I say thank you for the show
For giving it to me

Rest in Peace Bea you will be missed.

Thank you for making us laugh on TV. Give Estelle our love and RIP.

Thank you for being our Friend Bea. :(

I didn't know that Bea had cancer.:rip: :(

I never knew that, either. But I had noticed in the last couple years, she seemed to suddenly be aging very fast. I assume this was related to the cancer and she might have been dealing with it privately for a long time.

I never knew that, either. But I had noticed in the last couple years, she seemed to suddenly be aging very fast. I assume this was related to the cancer and she might have been dealing with it privately for a long time.

I didn't know about it either. She probably chose to keep it private.

Yes Bea thanks for being a friend

I am brand new here and I hate that this is going to be my first post. As a long time fan, I'm deeply saddened by the news. The world really lost something wonderful today and she'll be missed sorely.

RIP Bea. Say hi to Ma. :(

Horrible news. Bea was one of the funniest women in the history of television, and her legacy will live on forever. She had amazing chemistry with everyone she worked with, and always made time for her fans. Rest in Peace, Bea. :rip:

I am a newbie, but I wanted to express my sorrow at today's news. Bea was a wonderful comedian, a terrific actress, and an outstanding role model for young ladies. The world lost one of the finest today. My prayers and thoughts are with her family and friends.

:rip:

I will miss you Bea Arthur. You did a good job playing Dorothy on "The Golden Girls".:rip: :crying:

Thanks for the memories................ Now "Ma" isn't lonely anymore she has her daughter with her again

Rest in oeace you two.................

I just read this very sad news on Yahoo. I'm going to miss Bea she was my absolute favorite next to Lucy and Betty White. Thanks for making us laugh you'll truely be missed.:(

Here is another link to an article I found about her death. Needless to say I was shocked. I wasn't expecting it at all. rip:
RIP Bea, you will be missed. Thanks for the laughter. :wave:

http://charter.net/news/read.php?ps=...M_UNEWS&page=1

Bea Arthur was one of a kind and will be missed. We are lucky to have the memories of her that will live on forever through Maude and The Golden Girls.

I am so shaken up by the news. The Golden Girls is one of my ALL-TIME favorites!!! :( Bea, you will truly be missed, but never forgotten!!!!
Rest in Peace.

We had one of the television's at work on TVLand tonight and I saw her picture and I said aloud, "Don't tell me she died!" I was in such SHOCK! (Still am) I had no idea she had cancer!

She will be missed.... :(

My thoughts and prayers are with her friends and family.
I keep thinking about Angela Lansbury, who happens to be one of my favorite actresses, who was her best friend. *tear*

GOD BLESS!

I just heard the news. My heart is broken. I am, ironically, in the middle of the last episode Bea did with the Golden Girls "One Flew Out of the Cuckoo's Nest"...I never watch the 2nd episode of this two-parter because I hate to see her leave the show. Now she's leaving us for good---and I hate hearing that too. But, I know that we can keep her alive as we watch the shows. This way they are all together once again making us laugh. She will be greatly missed.

I think for awhile it will be sad for me to watch the DVD's and reruns.

I think for awhile it will be sad for me to watch the DVD's and reruns.

Same here. It might seem weird to some, but it took me a bit to start watching the show again after Estelle passed.

about it I came straight to this board to read comments. I still picture in my mind that all 4 of the GG are still living in Miami together and they are still getting into mischief.
...and eating cheesecake!!

Even though she was 86 and looked a little frail the past few years it's still a shock to me. I didn't know she had cancer either. :( R.I.P. Bea

We all loved you Bea :-)

Terribly sad news to come home to, I had no idea she was sick.

:rip: Bea Arthur

Rest In Peace. She will be greatly missed. I really don't know what else to say, as I am sitting here trying to hold back my tears for this wonderful lady.

Maybe I'll be able to think of something else later...but for now, I'd like to just say:

Bea you were amazing, witty, and strong. No one will EVER forget you, as I know I won't. Rest in Peace. I looked in the sky for your star tonight. :)

Always sad when someone who has made us laugh so much dies.
One unique thing about celebrites (and to a much lesser extent, the rest of us) is that her family and friends have so much of her left.
Whenever they're missing her they can pop in a DVD and see her at her best, doing what she loved.
Oh, and this 35 year old guy LOVES the Golden Girls!

My mom told me a few hours ago and I'm still really upset about it. It's crazy that two of our Golden Girls are gone. I've been watching the show since I was 2, and haven't stopped since. I guess I never really thought that they would die. Silly, I know, but I just thought they'd be around forever. It's so sad. Two are gone. Two in just a few months. Crazy. I shed some tears. I guess Estelle's death didn't really sink in until just now, and I feel just horrible about them being gone. Lol I sound like I'm rambling, so I'm just going to stop. Rip Bea.

My mom told me a few hours ago and I'm still really upset about it. It's crazy that two of our Golden Girls are gone. I've been watching the show since I was 2, and haven't stopped since. I guess I never really thought that they would die. Silly, I know, but I just thought they'd be around forever. It's so sad. Two are gone. Two in just a few months. Crazy. I shed some tears. I guess Estelle's death didn't really sink in until just now, and I feel just horrible about them being gone. Lol I sound like I'm rambling, so I'm just going to stop. Rip Bea.

I totally get what you mean. It's so sad....all we have left now are Betty and Rue, and thank God for them. :(

Same here. It might seem weird to some, but it took me a bit to start watching the show again after Estelle passed.

Around the time of Estelle's death I was only watching reruns of the show maybe once or twice a week. I actually stopped watching reruns and DVD's for awhile. I just recently got back into watching the show after WE and Hallmark Channel starting airing reruns.

My mom told me a few hours ago and I'm still really upset about it. It's crazy that two of our Golden Girls are gone. I've been watching the show since I was 2, and haven't stopped since. I guess I never really thought that they would die. Silly, I know, but I just thought they'd be around forever. It's so sad. Two are gone. Two in just a few months. Crazy. I shed some tears. I guess Estelle's death didn't really sink in until just now, and I feel just horrible about them being gone. Lol I sound like I'm rambling, so I'm just going to stop. Rip Bea.

I agree after today Estelle's death has really sunk in for me. I can't believe can't believe two of the girls are gone already.

Around the time of Estelle's death I was only watching reruns of the show maybe once or twice a week. I actually stopped watching reruns and DVD's for awhile. I just recently got back into watching the show after WE and Hallmark Channel starting airing reruns.

Yeah, I stopped watching for quite a bit. Just recently I started watching the DVDs every night. I don't know if I'll continue, but if I do, it just won't be the same for a while.

Remaining Golden Girls Say an Emotional Goodbye to a Friend and Co-star

http://www.kansascity.com/932/story/1162789.html

I can't believe it myself (didn't know she had cancer, either). She always seemed like one of those larger-than-life celebrities who would live forever. I guess she always will - in our hearts and in our memories.

I noticed that her co-star Lucille Ball (from the 1974 movie "Mame") died 20 years ago tomorrow. 'Mame' and 'Vera'...together again.

Godspeed, Ms. Arthur! :(A Big Amen! Dearest Bea Arthur was Tall in life with her many accomplishments & success. :cheer:
She will certainly be sorely missed. :(

I love GG & have taped a few eps, but plan to someday buy the entire Series.

:wave: Rest in Peace, Dorothy Dear. Love you. :heart:

Now, we have Betty White & Rue McClanahan left as the two Golden Girls. This weekend and some of next weekend I will have to watch "The Golden Girls" on DVD for the memory of Bea Arthur and maybe the intimate portrait DVD of Bea Arthur.

Remaining Golden Girls Say an Emotional Goodbye to a Friend and Co-star

http://www.kansascity.com/932/story/1162789.html

I certainly hope we will hear more from Betty White and Rue McClanahan than this! I hope TV Land or Lifetime will run some kind of special on Bea Arthur.

I certainly hope we will hear more from Betty White and Rue McClanahan than this! I hope TV Land or Lifetime will run some kind of special on Bea Arthur.

I think probably ET, The Insider and Access Hollywood will probably cover Bea's death this week on the show. Maybe interviews with Betty and Rue will be taped.

Inverview With Rue McClanahan(on the Phone) on The Today Show.


http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

This news is just too sad! I never thought that I would be watching our four Golden Girls dwindle down like they have this past year... it is truly devastating.

Unlike some others here on the board, I find watching the DVDs to be the best comfort at this time. I watched 2 or 3 episodes last night and find comfort in the fact that Bea would want us to be watching and laughing.

Rest in peace, Bea! You will NEVER EVER be forgotten. Your legacy will always live on. You truly are one of a kind!

:(

It's so sad; another great actress gone but, will never be forgotten.


:rip: Bea Arthur (Now, you are at peace with Estelle Getty)

I heard about it yesterday. Bea responded to a fan letter I wrote to her about 10 years ago when I wanted to be an English teacher. I'm not one now, but I loved that she did that and gave me support. I was in high school at the time, so when my sister told me about it, I was just a little devastated on the inside. I get teased for watching the Golden Girls because I'm a guy, but it's one of the funniest shows period, and I will always love her one liners, not only as Dorothy but also as Maude. She was a great talent, and I for one am going to keep enjoying my DVDs. I love you Bea, you are in peace now.

I get teased for watching the Golden Girls because I'm a guy, but it's one of the funniest shows period, and I will always love her one liners, not only as Dorothy but also as Maude.I, too, am a guy and LOVE the Golden Girls. You are 100% correct: this is one of the funniest shows of all time - funny is funny, regardless!

I will never be ashamed of being a fan of Golden Girls because I am a guy, but I am proud of being a fan and of witnessing the talents of these four incredible women. It was an honor to watch Bea perform!

I am taking comfort in watching the DVD's and anything I can find on Bea Arthur. I am so hoping that either Hallmark, We or even TVLand pay tribute with some marathon episodes of her shows. I have been watching all I have on DVD since...

She will be so sorely missed. RIP Ms. Arthur

Yesterday has been the saddest day of my life. I loved Bea so much. I grew up watching her on Maude and Golden Girls. I would watch Maude with my mother years ago, and later the Golden Girls when I stayed with my aunt. Bea was a truly amazing woman.

Bea's passing hit me, and a lot of others I know much harder than Estelle's did, mainly because with Estelle being sick for so long, you had to be expecting God to call her up. Bea kept her illness a secret, and though she had every right to, it's the reason why it's hitting us so hard. We had no idea our girl was sick. It was just shocking to sit down to watch the 10:00 news and hear them talking about it.

The weird thing though, just the other day I was watching some episodes of Golden Girls and Maude - and Bea being my favorite of the bunch. I was talking to my mother who knows how much I love her, and she mentioned Estelle's death. I said I don't think I could make it if Bea passed away. I told her I hopped I would go before Bea did so I wouldn't have to deal with the pain of losing someone, who seemed like just another grandma to me having her in the house on a daily basis... and then 3 days later... this terrible news. :(

I know how you feel I was in the state of Shocked when I heard of the passing ob Bea Arthur she was great on both Maude and The Golden Girl's

Rest In Peace Maude and Dorothy. I Love watching Bea on Maude. But now that She passed away I think I will Give The Golden Girls aother Chance.

Link (http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2009/04/bea-arthur-rue.html)

Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan rank among TV's all-time great comic matchups, first on the groundbreaking '70s sitcom Maude, and later, during seven seasons of the Emmy-winning ensemble comedy The Golden Girls. (Check out a couple of embedded YouTube clips at the end of this Q&A.) EW.com phoned McClanahan at her Manhattan home this morning to get her memories about her long-time friend and co-star, who died yesterday in Los Angeles at age 86. McClanahan described Arthur as a gentle, almost timid person who changed America's perception of what it meant to be an older woman, who finally achieved her greatest career goal at age 79, and who could tell a dirty joke with the best of 'em.

What did you learn about acting from Bea Arthur?
What I got attached to, as an actress, was her impeccable timing. And I loved playing scenes with her. She taught me, by watching her, even back during Maude, to be outrageously courageous as a comedienne, to go out on a limb, to go farther than I've ever dreamed of going. [On The Golden Girls], Blanche had to say and do things that Rue found difficult. And it would always be Bea who said [deepens voice to perfectly imitate Arthur] "Oh say it! It's funny!"

What was she like off-camera?
As a friend she was giving and loving to me. She was a very close, quiet, rather timid person, very gentle. I saw someone say something once that they didn't mean to be a cutting remark, but it hit her wrong, and she immediately burst into tears. That was not seen very often, but those emotions were right under the surface.

It's interesting to hear that, because I think a lot of fans just assumed she was as tough as Maude, as gruff as Dorothy.
Not just the public! When I first worked with her on Maude and came back to New York, actors descended upon me and said "Oooh! What was it like? Was it scary working with Bea Arthur?" I said "Good heavens! Anything but!" That height -- she was 5'10'' flat-footed -- and that deep voice, and that manner she was able to summon up, made people think she would be difficult. But she wasn't.


Any interesting quirks?
[On Golden Girls], Bea always sat in the same chair at rehearsals. Always. And she always had to have me on her right, and Betty [White] and Estelle [Getty] across the table from her. And we could not change seats from year to year, or even from week to week.

How did Bea feel about her status as a feminist icon?
Of course she was aware of it, but I tell you what meant something to Bea: Acting, performing, playing comedy and doing it well.

What did Bea mean to women of her generation? Maude and The Golden Girls both tackled a lot of issues older women face, and did so with a candor that we don't always see in Hollywood.
I think, in both of those shows, we really did change the perception of a woman's role. I don't think anybody thought that it was okay to be a feminist back when she was doing Maude. And I'm sure that [show] released a lot of inhibitions. I know The Golden Girls certainly did because I've got fan mail saying "Thank you for allowing me to act and dress like I feel." Because in those days, when you were over 50, you were supposed to be wearing certain types of clothes and behaving a certain way. And women were writing saying "Thank you, thank you, thank you for the freedom, for the release, for the permission." And I'm sure Bea got that same kind of fan mail, too.

Later in life, Bea didn't shy away from racier fare. She did an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, she participated in the Pamela Anderson roast...
She did quite a few roasts. She came from the theater, remember. And the theater tends to be more bawdy, more gritty than television. She understood that kind of humor. She had a one-woman show on Broadway -- I'm so glad she got to do that. And she told some pretty raunchy jokes, live on stage. In fact, a couple that were just a bit too much for me! [Laughs.] But boy she could tell a dirty joke. Oh my God, she was funny!

It couldn't have been easy pulling off a one-woman Broadway show at that stage of her life.
That woman was [about to turn] 80. She looked like a million bucks. What a beautiful costume she had on. And that's all she wanted to do, she told me way back when we were doing Maude: "All I want to do is sing in front of an orchestra." She did Broadway musicals before she ever got picked up to do that All in the Family episode that was the beginning of her television career. And she was always pissed off that she was so old when it happened. When I went out to do Maude, I was about 38 and she was about 50, I guess, and she said "it just makes me so mad that it came so late in life!" [Laughs.] She'd been trying all of her young acting career to get some fame and attention.

What was Bea's lasting contribution to TV history?
What's any great star's lasting contribution? What's Lucille Ball's? I don’t know how to put answers like that into words. I suppose perhaps the thing she did the best and the most of was make people laugh.

A :bighug: to Rue and Betty as well. We love them, too!! (Thanks for posting that great interview, Charles!)

Inverview With Rue McClanahan(on the Phone) on The Today Show.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/

Direct Link (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30417369#30417369)

I, too, am a guy and LOVE the Golden Girls. You are 100% correct: this is one of the funniest shows of all time - funny is funny, regardless!

I will never be ashamed of being a fan of Golden Girls because I am a guy, but I am proud of being a fan and of witnessing the talents of these four incredible women. It was an honor to watch Bea perform!

Don't worry about being a guy fan of The Golden Girls. I know a lot of guys that are fans. My dad is a fan and Dorothy was his favorite character. Some of my male relatives are fans and one of my best guy friends is a fan.

R.I.P. Bea. You will be missed!! :(

Arthur was one of an increasingly small pool of television actors who brought true theatrical credits to her TV roles; one can see the poise, timing and maturity in such actors.

I enjoyed her for years on "Maude" and thought her performance was really the lynchpin of "Golden Girls". And I'll always get a smile when I recall her voiceover role on "Futurama" as the fembot who fell for Bender ("Commence 'Snoo Snoo'!") ;)

Arthur was one of an increasingly small pool of television actors who brought true theatrical credits to her TV roles; one can see the poise, timing and maturity in such actors.

I enjoyed her for years on "Maude" and thought her performance was really the lynchpin of "Golden Girls". And I'll always get a smile when I recall her voiceover role on "Futurama" as the fembot who fell for Bender ("Commence 'Snoo Snoo'!") ;)
Anyone else remember her stint as Dewey's babysitter on Malcolm in the Middle?? HYSTERICAL!! :rofl:

I, too, am a guy and LOVE the Golden Girls. You are 100% correct: this is one of the funniest shows of all time - funny is funny, regardless!

I will never be ashamed of being a fan of Golden Girls because I am a guy, but I am proud of being a fan and of witnessing the talents of these four incredible women. It was an honor to watch Bea perform!
I'm a guy and I loved the Golden Girls too. Good comedy is good comedy. It doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman. If it's funny, I'll watch.

Anyone else remember her stint as Dewey's babysitter on Malcolm in the Middle?? HYSTERICAL!! :rofl:
I saw that episode. Absolutely one of her best performances. :rofl:

:angel: :(

RIP Bea. I do love Golden Girls but Bea is more Maude to me. She was a true TV legend.

i didn't even know she was sick. this is really sad

I saw that episode. Absolutely one of her best performances. :rofl:
Absolutely - she also got an Emmy nomination for that guest spot.

there is not going to be a Funeral that how Private Miss Bea was

This also really upset me when I saw the article on Sunday. I am so glad to have all her DVD's from the GG. I really wanted the chance to meet her someday, but In all she will be surely missed.

Like some of you, this is my first post to this group. It's unfortunate that I was drwan to this community for the first time under such terrible circumstances. But I've been terribly depressed these past two days, and couldn't help but want to talk about my experiences like you fine, like minded people.

The day before yesterday, TV lost one of its greatest stars "The Golden Girls" Bea Arthur.

On my personal blog, I wrote the following in tribute: It is with great sadness that I write of the passing of Bea Arthur, who I will forever remember as Dorothy from "The Golden Girls." Believe me, I know how odd it is for a straight guy to have such affection for a show about four women who could have been his grandmother getting their groove on in Miami Beach.

Or maybe that's just it. Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan-and the characters that they so brilliantly brought to life-are like grandmothers to all of us who grew up with them. One of my fondest childhood memories from my earliest age and on is of spending weekends with my grandmother. Every week, she would make a batch of homemade cookies or a texas sheet cake and we would snack on them while watching "The Golden Girls." (I still recall the "Moving, moving, moving...the Golden Girls are moving" commercials from when the show switched nights from Friday to Saturday. Do you?) Admittedly, I couldn't understand much of the humor, but it was tradition. And somewhere along the way I began to feel like I had four extra grandmothers out there. That may sound ridiculous, but it's true.

They each became family to me. Closer to me than my own, I grew up in a very abusive household as a youngster. My parents were..well, they never seemed quite like parents to me. But no matter how bad I felt, or how awful a day turned out to be; my golden girls were always there to pick me back up, dust me off and keep me smiling.

They've gotten me through some very tough times, these past couple years especially and for that I don't think I could ever thank them enough. I don't think I could have made it through without their help.

So when my days of cookie munching with my grandmother were long gone, I sought comfort in that my girls were still with me. After the show went off the air, I watched the re-runs faithfully-first on Fox, and then in their endless rotations on Lifetime and now religiously on Hallmark. (There is no shame in watching "television for women" when the entertainment is THAT good!) And then, as TV on DVD came about, I snatched up each of the seven seasons and laughed myself stupid over episodes I could quote verbatim.

Estelle Getty who portrayed the character of Sophia left this Earth last year, and now Bea has gone. While she lived eighty-six accomplished years, which is more than most, I'm finding it quite saddening. Heartbreaking, even. Perhaps it's because I'm realizing that it's time to grow up. But you can bet that the next time I have a piece of cheesecake, I'm going to toast Bea Arthur (even though she never liked cheesecake to begin with)...

Now, grab yourself a piece of cheesecake, switch on the (thankfully endless) re-runs, and toast Bea Arthur for all her golden years of entertainment...I love you Bea. Thank you for all the good times.

Say hi to Ma, Pussycat!

-Nick King

Like some of you, this is my first post to this group. It's unfortunate that I was drwan to this community for the first time under such terrible circumstances. But I've been terribly depressed these past two days, and couldn't help but want to talk about my experiences like you fine, like minded people.

The day before yesterday, TV lost one of its greatest stars "The Golden Girls" Bea Arthur.

On my personal blog, I wrote the following in tribute: It is with great sadness that I write of the passing of Bea Arthur, who I will forever remember as Dorothy from "The Golden Girls." Believe me, I know how odd it is for a straight guy to have such affection for a show about four women who could have been his grandmother getting their groove on in Miami Beach.

Or maybe that's just it. Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty, Betty White, and Rue McClanahan-and the characters that they so brilliantly brought to life-are like grandmothers to all of us who grew up with them. One of my fondest childhood memories from my earliest age and on is of spending weekends with my grandmother. Every week, she would make a batch of homemade cookies or a texas sheet cake and we would snack on them while watching "The Golden Girls." (I still recall the "Moving, moving, moving...the Golden Girls are moving" commercials from when the show switched nights from Friday to Saturday. Do you?) Admittedly, I couldn't understand much of the humor, but it was tradition. And somewhere along the way I began to feel like I had four extra grandmothers out there. That may sound ridiculous, but it's true.

They each became family to me. Closer to me than my own, I grew up in a very abusive household as a youngster. My parents were..well, they never seemed quite like parents to me. But no matter how bad I felt, or how awful a day turned out to be; my golden girls were always there to pick me back up, dust me off and keep me smiling.

They've gotten me through some very tough times, these past couple years especially and for that I don't think I could ever thank them enough. I don't think I could have made it through without their help.

So when my days of cookie munching with my grandmother were long gone, I sought comfort in that my girls were still with me. After the show went off the air, I watched the re-runs faithfully-first on Fox, and then in their endless rotations on Lifetime and now religiously on Hallmark. (There is no shame in watching "television for women" when the entertainment is THAT good!) And then, as TV on DVD came about, I snatched up each of the seven seasons and laughed myself stupid over episodes I could quote verbatim.

Estelle Getty who portrayed the character of Sophia left this Earth last year, and now Bea has gone. While she lived eighty-six accomplished years, which is more than most, I'm finding it quite saddening. Heartbreaking, even. Perhaps it's because I'm realizing that it's time to grow up. But you can bet that the next time I have a piece of cheesecake, I'm going to toast Bea Arthur (even though she never liked cheesecake to begin with)...

Now, grab yourself a piece of cheesecake, switch on the (thankfully endless) re-runs, and toast Bea Arthur for all her golden years of entertainment...I love you Bea. Thank you for all the good times.

Say hi to Ma, Pussycat!

-Nick King
That was a great post. I feel the same way. BTW welcome to SO :wave:

http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/life/20090427/beaarthur27_cv.art.htm

Another tribute. This one from USA TODAY

Arthur: One-of- a-kind TV star
Older, acidic and amazing
By Robert Bianco
USA TODAY

With Bea Arthur, waiting for the line was half the fun.

Make no mistake: Arthur, who died Saturday of cancer at 86, could deliver a joke or a song with the best of them. But what fans of her two big sitcom hits, Maude and The Golden Girls, really came to love was the slow-burn pause before the line — the eyes throwing daggers before the tongue delivered the zinger.

In fact, sometimes on Golden Girls, you never even heard the line. The studio audience was already laughing at Arthur glaring at Betty White, Rue McClanahan or Estelle Getty, anticipating the insult to come and safe in the assumption that even if they missed it, Arthur had already delivered the goods.

And did she ever. Already 50 when Maude launched on CBS in 1972 — ancient by today's TV standards — Arthur brought to the small screen all the oversized skill, confidence and scene-stealing theatrical heft she had learned from 25 years on the Broadway stage.

She had worked in TV before, in 1956 in Caesar's Hour among other shows. But like Angela Lansbury, her co-star in the original production of Mame, Arthur didn't really become a TV star until she was a mature, middle-aged woman. And like no one before or since, she made most everyone else around her look like kids.

There are stars who, when they leave, you realize how far we've come. With Arthur, sad to say, you realize how far we've regressed; there's no way Maude or Golden Girls gets on the air on any of the broadcast networks today. In an era in which networks cater to young viewers and kowtow to advertisers, everything about those shows would be a no-go, from the age of their stars to their no-holds-barred, no-sacred-cows style.

Maude had an abortion. Wherever one stands on the issue, we can all probably agree that no sitcom today would dare take that kind of risk.

Oddly enough for one of TV's most famous liberal characters, Maude owed her existence to one of the most conservative: Archie Bunker. Arthur was brought into All in the Family in 1971 to provide a serpent-tongued foil to Archie, and with her towering size and acidic way with a joke, she was perfect for the part.

So good, CBS spun her off into her own show the next year, and cast McClanahan — who would later rejoin her in Girls — as Maude's sweet best friend.

For good and not, Maude is a perfect example of a '70s social sitcom: a loud, pointed, fictional version of the debates you now find on cable news shows. It could be very funny, particularly in the early years, when Esther Rolle's Florida was around to take some of the wind out of Maude's liberal sails. But it probably hasn't aged as well as Golden Girls.

There's a seven-year gap between the end of Maude and the 1985 launch of Girls (and a failed Americanized version of Fawlty Towers in between). But as Arthur herself often admitted, Maude Findlay and Dorothy Zbornak had much in common — and how could they not? Arthur just wasn't built to play shy, retiring types.

Still, she wasn't all blast, either. There's a sweetness in her scenes with Dorothy's mother (Getty), and in her sometimes unwilling fondness for her ex-husband, that served to soften the show's tone, which could get too nasty.

As wonderful as she was in front of a camera, Arthur's appeal didn't seem to translate to film, or perhaps she just wasn't given the right chance. Her stage role as Yente in Fiddler on the Roof went to Molly Picon in the movie. She did get to repeat her Tony-winning Broadway role as Vera Charles in the film version of Mame, but her co-star was Lucille Ball rather than Lansbury, and that pretty much did the film in.

But then there's Maude, and Dorothy, and that look. And that's a legacy of which any star can be proud.

Rue and Betty on The Today Show.

http://www.people.com/people/news/category/0,,personsTax:RueMcClanahan,00.html

So lovely to read and see so many loving tributes to Bea over the past few days...

I am surprised & then I am not that she has passed on. For so many years I was so surprised that all 4 Golden Girls were all still alive. Then last year when Estelle died, I thought oh boy here we go. Now in less then a year another one has passed on.

I just find it interesting that the 2 on the Golden Girls who played mother & daughter have passed on.

Entertainment Tonight has a memory of Bea Arthur on there today and there will be some more of her on ET tomorrow night.

http://www.etonline.com/news/2009/04/73189/index.html

Here is the news from Entertainment Tonight on BA.

I missed ET tonight. I will try to watch tomorrow night.

I just got home. I was visiting my mother in the hospital this afternoon and she gave me her copy of our local Sunday paper. They had an article on Bea, talking about Maude, Golden Girls and Mame.

I was watching a few of the morning talk shows this morning. I seen the gals on The View mentioned Bea's passing and they chatted for a few minutes about her. But, I was sad that Reggis and Kelly made no mention of Bea's passing over the weekend, and they usually talk about deaths of famous people among other things - unless I missed something!

I am so Sad. 2 girls in 1 year :(

I felt the same way.

I had also posted this on the Chit Chat board but I'll mention it again.

Whenever a celeb dies, my sister & I play this game where whoever heard about the death first, the other one guesses by playing 20 questions. Since she found out about Bea first, I asked that the show she was on was a show that we watched. She replied that was the really sad thing about this death is that she was on a show that we watched. I answered "it's not another Golden Girl?" and she said yes. I actually thought it was Rue because I could've sworn I heard she was sick. Then she said it was Bea.

I watched GG most of the night last night, both on Hallmark & WETV.

One of the best mother-daughter teams gone from us in such a short time.

RIP Pussycat.:(

I am still in tears upon learning of Bea's passing. She was a great actress and watching her brought so much laughter and happiness into my life. And I have to say that I am so tired of learning that yet another favorite has passed away.

I was in Tears while watching The Golden Girl's Last Night.

So sad to hear of Bea's passing (I felt the same way about Estelle's passing last year). :(

I enjoyed Bea on both 'Maude' and 'The Golden Girls'.

My parents also loved 'The Golden Girls'. They couldn't believe how terrible Bea looked on TV last year, she appeared on a Canadian TV show 'Whatever Happened To...' in 2007 (had no idea she had cancer). They asked me if I knew Bea died, I told them that I read it on the internet and I was meaning to mention it to them.

I find her passing more shocking than Estelle Getty's because no one knew Bea was ill with cancer. Everyone knew Getty was ill for a while and was in failing health the last years of her life, so sadly (but not surprisingly) an announcement about her death was somewhat expected.

For Bea, no one knew she was battling cancer (we still don't know what type of cancer). Sure she looked a bit frail the past year or so, but most of that chalked it up to aging (she was nearly 86). This past December, standing next to Angela Lansbury in a theater lobby, she did a short interview with 'ET', and said her health was fine and she was mulling over a few TV scripts.

Hearing about her passing was shocking to all.

Sorry if this has been posted in this thread or one of the others, Here's Bea in a duet with Rock Hudson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3VbSfQ3nAM

Sorry if this has been posted in this thread or one of the others, Here's Bea in a duet with Rock Hudson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3VbSfQ3nAM
:cool: :D

Bea This is for you


Thank you for being a friend
Travelled Down The Road and Back Again
you"re Heart is True
You're a Pal and a Comforter


and if you threw a party
Invited Everyone you knew
you would see the biggest Gift would be from me
and The Card Attached woulds say thank you for being a friend

First of all, I read through all the posts here before I decided to post as well. I would like to say how nice it is that others share the same emotions. I found myself saying...what? Bea is gone? My first thought was, come on, she wasn't really that old...but then I realized...she did have a good long life and I believe she gave much more to others than she kept for herself.

Through my sadness I went through memorable scenes in my mind. Now our Estelle will have to keep Stan at bay once more. That thought made me smile and gave me a few more things I wish to share. First, if you have admiration for someone in your life, even if you think they are unreachable by you, take the time and let them know. You may be the person who makes them smile once more. Finally, I thought about my most memorable moments...

Hearing Maude proclaim God's gonna get you for that...

The scene where Dorothy says to Sophia...what are you trying to do...pickle yourself?

The brilliance of the episode where Dorothy goes to all the doctors and tells Dr. Bud off in the restaraunt

Sonny And Cher revisited

And last but not least

Thanks for the lovely prayer Rose...Now shut up and get into bed...

Nice work Dorothy

That wasn't me

Oh boy am I in trouble...

We are all better having shared her gifts and I will always be grateful she followed her heart to share with us.

Link (http://www.kansascity.com/stargazing/story/1168474.html)

Among the many tributes paid to Bea Arthur, who died on Saturday, came kind words from the folks at animal rights group People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Arthur put her love for animals to hard work, campaigning for many PETA issues and becoming an honorary director for the group for more than 20 years. Earlier this week the group planted memorial roses for the late actress at PETA's Bea Arthur Dog Park, which opened next to the group's Norfolk, Va. headquarters in 2006.

Arthur joined PETA in 1987 after "The Golden Girls" did an anti-fur episode and Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White filmed a PETA anti-fur public service announcement on the set of the show.

PETA received thousands of fur coats that were donated by former fur-wearers after Arthur ran ads - including in the playbill for the Norfolk Opera House - asking people to cast off their coats.

She campaigned against the force-feeding of ducks in the foie gras trade, traveling to London with PETA founder Ingrid E. Newkirk, where she called on Harrods bosses to stop selling the pate.

She spoke out against animal experimentation and abuse of factory farm animals and opposed the use of exotic animals in circuses.

"We have lost one of the greatest comic actors of all time, and animals have lost a great defender," said PETA's executive vice president Tracy Reiman. "When it comes to animals, Bea was a true golden girl."

Did anyone catch ET tonight? They were having a segment about Bea. I missed it though. *sigh* Anyone know where you can see what they showed?

Sorry I did not watch Entertainment Tonight Either I missed Entertainment Tonight

ET had another segment on tonight about Bea. Adrienne Barbeau (Carole from Maude) talked for a few minutes about Bea, and how she was fearless and would tell you what she thought. She also talked about how no one will ever forget Bea. Short but sweet. :)

.....and then there was Maude ....thankyou for being a friend!

ET had another segment on tonight about Bea. Adrienne Barbeau (Carole from Maude) talked for a few minutes about Bea, and how she was fearless and would tell you what she thought. She also talked about how no one will ever forget Bea. Short but sweet. :)
I saw it, too. When Adrienne welled up, so did I!! It was a beautiful tribute.

R.I.P. Bea...Thanks for all the laughs.

I'm really looking forward to watching the Hallmark channel's tribute to Bea, which will be on practically all day today. We'll always miss you, Bea...

As someone who grew up watching Maude and later the Golden Girls, I was so sad to hear about Bea. Watching the GG Hallmark tribute to Bea was so bittersweet last night.

I saw her in person on stage about 5-6 years ago in her one woman play. Bea had such a great presence.

RIP Bea...you will be missed.