Cast & creator
Bea Arthur
Best known for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The Mike Douglas Show, Saturday Night Live
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.
Also known as: Beatrice Arthur, Bernice Frankel
40
film credits
36
television credits
76
1948–2025 · acting roles
7.0
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (76)
Showing 76 of 76 credits
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Co-Host
1961
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975Saturday Night Live
Self - Host
1975
The View
Self
1997
Futurama
Femputer (voice)
1999
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry's Mother
2000
Malcolm in the Middle
Mrs. White
2000
Tony Awards
Self - Host
1956
Intimate Portrait
Self
1993
The Golden Girls
Dorothy Zbornak
1985
Studio One
1948
Judge Judy
Self - Defendant's Witness
1996
All in the Family
Maude Findlay
1971
Ellen
Bea Arthur
1994
Dinah!
Self
1974
Bambi
Self
1948
Omnibus
Ugly Witch
1952
Empty Nest
Dorothy Zbornak
1988
People's Choice Awards
Self
1975
Maude
Maude Findlay
1972
Dave's World
Mel Bloom
1993The Terry and Gaby Show
2003
Boulevard Bio
Self
1991The George Gobel Show
Self
1954
So Graham Norton
Self - Guest
1998
The Golden Palace
Dorothy Hollingsworth
1992
Comedy Central Roasts
Self
2003
Beggars and Choosers
1999
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Mrs. Abercrombie
1951
Emily of New Moon
The Voice
1998
Amanda's
Amanda Cartwright
1983
Mickey's 60th Birthday
Self
1988
O.J.: Made in America
Self (archive footage)
2016
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Ackmena
1978a.k.a. Pablo
1984
Night of 100 Stars
Self
1982
Mame
Vera
1974Max Liebman Presents
1954
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
Self / Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
2025
The Earth Day Special
Dorothy Zbornak
1990
The Best of So Graham Norton
Self (archive footage)
2004Back to the Grind
2007
History of the World: Part I
Dole office clerk (uncredited)
1981
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
Lovers and Other Strangers
Bea Vecchio
1970
Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson
Self
2005
For Better or Worse
Beverly Makeshift
1995
That Kind of Woman
WAC (uncredited)
1959
Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed
Self (archive footage)
2023
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985A Benefit Celebration: A Tribute to Angela Lansbury
Self
1996
Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age
Self
2021
Betty White: First Lady of Television
Self (archive Footage)
2018
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There
Self
2003
Henry Fonda for President
Maude (archival footage)
2025
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
Self / Dorothy Zbornak
2003
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
Self
1987All Star Party for Clint Eastwood
Self (uncredited)
1986
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)
2003
Happy Birthday, Bob: 50 Stars Salute Your 50 Years with NBC
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
The Gift of the Magi
Mrs. Abercrombie
1958
The Golden Girls: Ageless
Self (archive footage)
2021
My First Love
Jean Miller
1988
The Sensational Shocking Wonderful Wacky 70's
Self
1980
Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration
Self
1988
The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Jerry Stiller
Self
1999
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
Dorothy Zbornak
2021
Broadway's Lost Treasures II
Vera Charles (segment "Mame")
2004
The Beatrice Arthur Special
Herself
1980
Golden Girls 3033
Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)
2022
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
Self
1987P.O.P.
Rosalyn Gordon
1984
Walt Disney World 15th Anniversary
Self
1986
Jerry Herman's Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl
Self
1994
Enemies of Laughter
Paul's Mother
2000