Bea Arthur dies at 86

PeterPanfan · Post by **PeterPanfan** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:40 pm

LOS ANGELES—A family spokesman for Bea Arthur says the star of TV's "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" has died.

Spokesman Dan Watt says the 86-year-old Arthur died at home early Saturday. He says Arthur had cancer, but declined to give further details.

The tall, deep-voiced actress won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame" and Emmy Awards for "The Golden Girls" and "Maude." Arthur's razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines helped make the sitcoms hits and turned the veteran stage and film actress into popular TV star.

Arthur first appeared as the character Maude in the 1970s landmark comedy series "All in the Family," making guest appearances as the loudly outspoken, liberal in-law of blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor).

RIP, Bea.

xxhplinkxx · Post by **xxhplinkxx** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:11 pm

Yeah, my BFF told me about this earlier.

R.I.P. Miss Arthur. Not to sound cliche, but thank you for being a friend.

UmbrellaFish · Post by **UmbrellaFish** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:15 pm

RIP, Dorothy

lord-of-sith · Post by **lord-of-sith** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:31 pm

I found out about this through a Facebook status. Needless to say, I was very surprised.

RIP Bea, thank you for your wonderful humor and wit that have made me laugh time and time again.

ajmrowland · Post by **ajmrowland** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:39 pm

R.I.P.

my chicken is infected · Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:49 pm

Goodnight, Pussycat.

Lazario · Post by **Lazario** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 3:59 pm

The best Golden Girl of all, and half my "Golden Girl personality."

We all loved you and your work and hope there is a Heaven! But it better be a damn good one to be worth hosting you.

Escapay · Post by **Escapay** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 4:18 pm

I thought this would be appropriate...and it's probably her best moment in all of "The Golden Girls"...

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wxJsl4e0Xmg&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wxJsl4e0Xmg&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Rest in peace, and tell Estelle and Herb that we miss them.

albert

xxhplinkxx · Post by **xxhplinkxx** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 5:18 pm

Thanks for posting that, Al. I've always said that's one of my favorite GG episodes ever.

rs_milo_whatever · Post by **rs_milo_whatever** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:08 pm

So sad.

AwallaceUNC · Post by **AwallaceUNC** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:38 pm

This is really sad. I've always been a fan of Bea, whether from "The Golden Girls" and "Maude", her appearances in "All in the Family" and "The Golden Palace" and "Malcolm in the Middle", her music and the soundtracks to the original Mame and Fiddler on the Roof, her many TV interviews, or her roles in films like Mame. A legendary talent and it's hard to believe she's died. Sad that only two of the Golden Girls remain.

RIP

Another classic Dorothy scene:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tf9FqBSHOBI&hl ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Tf9FqBSHOBI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

-Aaron

Deco King · Post by **Deco King** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:55 pm

I just heard that the lovely Bea Arthur just passed away! What a great gal , I loved her in the Golden Girls and also in Mame with Lucille Ball!

What a great lady of comedy she'll be greatly missed!

a-net-fan · Post by **a-net-fan** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:29 pm

my chicken is infected wrote:Goodnight, Pussycat.

AWWWW what a great comment! So sad to think of them both gone now.

Thanks for the laughs Bea.

slave2moonlight · Post by **slave2moonlight** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:43 pm

So sad.

It was probably odd of me as a kid and partly due to being such a Disney fanatic, but I loved to watch Golden Girls. I also will never forget Bea from the Star Wars Holiday Special. Say what you want about it, she was very entertaining in it. Loved her musical performance!

CJ · Post by CJ » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:51 pm

She will always be my favorite Golden Girl.
R.I.P. Bea.

xxhplinkxx · Post by **xxhplinkxx** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:53 pm

Betty White and Angela Lansbury have both release statements on Bea's passing:

Betty White, who so memorably played Rose Nylund on The Golden Girls opposite Arthur, gave this statement to Entertainment Tonight: "I knew it would hurt, I just didn't know it would hurt this much. I'm so happy that she received her Lifetime Achievement Award while she was still with us, so she could appreciate that. She was such a big part of my life."

Angela Lansbury, who co-starred with Arthur in Mame on Broadway, released this statement (via ET Online): "Bea Arthur and I first met when we did 'Mame' together in 1965. She became and has remained 'My Bosom Buddy' ever since. I am deeply saddened by her passing, but also relieved that she is released from the pain. I spoke to Matt, her son, yesterday and I was aware that her time was imminent. She was a rare and unique performer and a dear, dear friend."

Just thought you'd all like to read them.

buffalobill · Post by **buffalobill** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:53 pm

Absolutely loved her as Maude (both as a guest star on All In The Family & when they spun it into her own series). So long Maude. RIP

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 8:30 pm

R.I.P. Bea!

This is so sad. She was amazing though! She will be missed dearly.

Siren · Post by **Siren** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:19 pm

Simba3 · Post by **Simba3** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 11:25 pm

A sad, sad day indeed. Bea was a legend and she will be missed, R.I.P.

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Bea Arthur dies at 86

Bea Arthur dies at 86

Someone beat me to i!