R.I.P. Bea Arthur

[3113]

Passed away at the ripe age of 86. Here's to her and her very full and rich life:

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

Full article here.

We should all be so lucky to have our greatest success come in the golden years of our lives.

 

[Samandiriel]

OMG NOOO!

I loved that woman.

RIP Bea...thank you for so many moments.

 

[TE999]

Bummer.

I still watch 'Golden Girls' and laugh...she was a wonderful comedian..."Shut up, Rose".

Rest in peace, Bea.

 

[john-the-author]

Yup, when I saw the headline that a Golden Girl had died, I knew it was her. Darnit. She was grand.

 

[Guest]

 

[Jagged]

A funny lady in any role...she'll be missed.

 

[NoJo]

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

 

[jomar]

Passed away at the ripe age of 86. Here's to her and her very full and rich life:
...
We should all be so lucky to have our greatest success come in the golden years of our lives.

Yes. But the irony was the 80s - those clothes!

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

Good one!

 

[_Lynn_]

I laughed many times watching her.

 

[matriarch]

She'll be sorely missed.

Watch out for re-runs of golden girls, which will be a plus in my book. The script and the timing of that programme was impeccable.

RIP Bea.

 

[Stella_Omega]

She was a brilliant woman.

 

[Chantilyvamp]

I love golden girls... i wanted to be them when i grew up!

 

[PrincessErin]

.....

 

[bb_peaks]

Aww man. RIP

 

[Trinique_Fire]

Just called my girl something or other to tell her about this...she definitely was upset.

RIP Bea, you lovely lady.

 

[pleaz_me]

Sad news indeed. She was a wonderful actress.

 

[sadangel]

Sad. Now we only have two golden girls left.

More humor died with her death.

RIP Bea Arthur