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Beatrice Arthur, 'Golden Girls' star, dies at 86
Entertainment Weekly ^ | April 25, 2009 | Steve Korn

Posted on 04/25/2009 5:10:06 PM PDT by EdnaMode

Beatrice Arthur, an icon of '70s TV as the star of Maude, and then one of the staples of '80s TV as one of the leads in The Golden Girls, has died at age 86, according to an Associated Press report. A family spokesman told AP the Emmy and Tony Award winner had cancer, and died peacefully at her home in Los Angeles.

Arthur's best-known roles came in popular sitcoms that didn't shy away from the serious issues of the day. On Maude, which aired from 1972-1978, Arthur's pantsuit-wearing, feminist title character had an abortion, which resulted in a flurry of viewer protests. Arthur scored five Emmy nominations and one win for the role. The ribald, hilarious Golden Girls -- which over seven seasons tackled hot-button issues such as menopause, homophobia, suicide, and racism -- found Arthur playing gruff, wisecrack-spewing divorcée Dorothy Zbornak, who shared a Miami home with her mother and two loopy friends. Arthur picked up four more Emmy nods and one win as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the role.

(Excerpt) Read more at news-briefs.ew.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: beaarthur; goldegirls; hollywood; maude
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RIP.
1 posted on 04/25/2009 5:10:06 PM PDT by EdnaMode
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To: EdnaMode

She was one funny lady.


2 posted on 04/25/2009 5:10:49 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax, you earn it, you keep it!)
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To: EdnaMode

Loved her....loved her shows.....


3 posted on 04/25/2009 5:11:37 PM PDT by Fawn (http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=v8320y&s=5)
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To: EdnaMode

My only request is that nobody posts any naked pictures of her.


4 posted on 04/25/2009 5:21:08 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (Presbyterians often forget that John Knox had been a Sunday bowler.)
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To: Fawn

watch the Golden Girls reruns everynight. Even reruns time again and time again remain funny> RIP


5 posted on 04/25/2009 5:21:57 PM PDT by paul revere is riding ((yelling Obama is coming Obama Is coming))
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To: EdnaMode
Awe! Bea Arthur was funny. She was a great actress. I know she was liberal on her politics but I liked the way she cared about animals. She was one of a kind! RIP, I pray that Jesus will help and bless her family.
6 posted on 04/25/2009 5:23:41 PM PDT by GinaLolaB (=^..^=)
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To: EdnaMode

She was talented. I’m afraid the last thing I saw her in was The Star Wars Holiday Special.

Rest in Peace.


7 posted on 04/25/2009 5:27:00 PM PDT by llmc1
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To: paul revere is riding

Loved her as Dorothy Spornak. Loved her in Mame, but didn’t care too much for Maude. RIP Ms. Arthur. You certainly were one golden girl.


8 posted on 04/25/2009 5:32:03 PM PDT by LottieDah (If only those who speak so eloquently on the rights of animals would do so on behalf the unborn)
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To: EdnaMode

RIP Everyone should see her take on Sex and the City- it’s on here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMLITlAA0QM


9 posted on 04/25/2009 5:36:44 PM PDT by PghBaldy (Is Obama Patient Zero? He went to Mexico last week, & swine flu is in US now.)
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To: PghBaldy
I've never seen (or wanted to see) Sex and the City - but that was darn funny!

RIP, Ms Arthur.

10 posted on 04/25/2009 5:45:14 PM PDT by meowmeow (In Loving Memory of Our Dear Viking Kitty (1987-2006))
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To: EdnaMode
She exited "Golden Girls" in 1992???

Okay, I knew it went off the air a while ago ... but really.

Funny thing about "Maude", my wife borrowed the first season from the library some months back. I didn't hate it like I thought I would. (I can't watch All in the Family any more -- haven't been able to for years.) For one thing, the "libs" are somewhat tame by today's standards and they have the same sitcom foibles as any other sitcom character of the 70s. Maude doesn't always get her way. Sometimes her husband is right. Sometimes her neighbor, the Republican is right -- and sometime she acknowledges that. And the Republican is actually a human being, not a two-headed eeeeevil dragon.

Yeah, it's still slanted Lear, er, left, but it's watchable.

11 posted on 04/25/2009 5:46:13 PM PDT by Tanniker Smith (The sun glinted off chiseled pectorals sculpted during four weight-lifting sessions each week and...)
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To: Tanniker Smith
Yeah, it's still slanted Lear, er, left, but it's watchable.

Only because of Adrienne Barbeau.

12 posted on 04/25/2009 5:48:51 PM PDT by dfwgator (1996 2006 2008 - Good Things Come in Threes)
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To: EdnaMode

Did you hear Bea Arthur died? Really it’s true; and apparently the biggest news story in quite some time based on the number of postings on FR.


13 posted on 04/25/2009 5:50:06 PM PDT by Minn (Here is a realistic picture of the prophet: ----> ([: {()
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To: EdnaMode

How could she be 86?? Where does time go? But a ripe old age — sorry to hear she has passed.

RIP. We used to watch Golden Girls in German in Switzerland. Very funny show. The theme song is such an earworm they should be able to use it to extract info from terror suspects.


14 posted on 04/25/2009 5:50:51 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: EdnaMode

RIP


15 posted on 04/25/2009 5:53:06 PM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: EdnaMode

Enjoyed her acting very much, especially The Golden Girls. I remember Maude, and how she’d say “God’s gonna get you for that Walter.”


16 posted on 04/25/2009 5:54:31 PM PDT by TheConservativeParty ("Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force." George Washington)
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To: dfwgator

Ah, Adrienne. The girl with the best television set. RIP Bea, you were great.


17 posted on 04/25/2009 5:57:26 PM PDT by stormer
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To: PghBaldy

Tooooo Funny!! I’m going to send it to my daughters WHO are the reason I know what Sex and the City is but they know WHO Bea Arthur is.


18 posted on 04/25/2009 6:01:06 PM PDT by MagnoliaB
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To: EdnaMode
Bea was also a WWII Veteran, she volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps, becoming one of its first female recruits. She was a classy, talented lady, as well as a funny one. I'll miss her.
19 posted on 04/25/2009 6:03:16 PM PDT by Lirona
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To: EdnaMode

RIP to one very funny woman. (I won’t say “lady” since that might offend her feminine sensibilities! :) )


20 posted on 04/25/2009 6:03:49 PM PDT by Texas_shutterbug
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