Bea Arthur stands five-foot-nine-and-a-half inches tall and has a voice that one reviewer characterized as "deep as a pothole." But as character traits for Maude Findlay, they proved to be the perfect foil for the sexist bravado of Archie Bunker in Norman Lear's 1970s sitcom, All In the Family, in which Bea first appeared in the role. The spin-off series, Maude was created for her virtually overnight. As opinionated and caustic in her own way as Archie, Maude Findlay was instead, a crusader for women's liberation, the woman in charge. And in the nascent gender consciousness of the 1970s, the Women's Movement's fictional spokeswoman had to be big and booming.
Whether as Maude, breaking television's mold of female beauty, or as Dorothy, challenging the omnipotent image of youth, Bea's roles on the two hit series were instrumental in broadening television representation. She has been recognized for her work in television with two Emmys, for Maude and Golden Girls, and has five times been nominated for an American Comedy Award's "Lifetime Achievement Award."
Beatrice Arthur
BEATRICE ARTHUR. (Bernice Frankel). Born in New York City, 13 May 1926. Attended Blackstone (junior) College, Blackstone, Virginia; Franklin Institute of Science and Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, degree in medical technology; studied acting with Erwin Piscator at the Dramatic Workshop, New School for Social Research, New York. Married the actor and theater director, Gene Saks, 1950 (divorced); children: Matthew and Daniel. Began career in theater and nightclub performance, New York City, 1947, and thereafter appeared frequently in summer stock, 1951-53; on the New York stage, 1947-66; guest appearance as Maude Findlay in All in the Family, September, 1971; starring role in the series Maude, 1972-78; co-star, The Golden Girls, 1985-92. Recipient: Tony Award, Best Supporting Actress, Mame, 1966; Emmy Award, Best Actress in a Comedy Series, Maude, 1977; Emmy Award, Best Actress in a Comedy Series, The Golden Girls, 1988.
TELEVISION SERIES
1971 All in the Family
1972-78 Maude
1985-92 The Golden Girls
TELEVISION SPECIALS
1980 The Beatrice Arthur Special
1986 Walt Disney World's 15th Birthday Celebration (host)
1987 All Star Gala at Ford's Theater (host)
STAGE
Lysistrata, 1947; The Dog Beneath the Skin, 1947; Yerma, 1947; No Exit, 1948; The Taming of the Shrew, 1948; Six Characters in Search of an Author, 1948; The Owl and the Pussycat, 1948; Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, 1949; The Creditors, 1949; Yes Is For a Very Young Man, 1949; Heartbreak House, 1949; Personal Appearance, Candle Light, Love or Money, The Voice of the Turtle (summer stock), 1951; The New Moon, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (summer stock), 1953; The Threepenny Opera, 1954; Shoestring Revue, 1955; Seventh Heaven, 1955; What's the Rush (touring), 1955; Mistress of the Inn (stock), 1956; Nature's Way, 1957; Ulysses in Nighttown, 1958; Fiddler on the Roof, 1964; Mame, 1966
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