Actress Bea Arthur, best known for her roles in Maude and as the sarcastic, scotch-voiced “Dorothy” in The Golden Girls, passed away today at the age of 86. The exact cause of death has not been released, but she had reportedly been battling cancer for some time. Bea’s passing follows the death of fellow Golden Girl, actress Estelle Getty (Sophia) in July of last year.
Pardon me while I wax poetic about a series based upon the exploits of four women over 50– a demographic with whom you might think a single 28-year-old has nothing in common. But you’d be wrong. Dorothy was always the character with whom I most identified. She had a razor-sharp tongue and never hesitated to cut her cohorts down to size when they were acting foolish. This acidic attitude often caused hurt feelings and misunderstandings, and earned her a place as a target for the other roommates– someone they loved to knock off her high horse whenever they got the chance. But this is only because she was the tough one, and in the end, she always proved to be fiercely loyal to her friends, willing to do anything for any one of them, just as they would be willing to do anything for her.
Just a few days ago I was at a party where some unlikely fans confessed to their obsession with Golden Girls and the host of the get-together even produced a box set of the complete series that had been hiding on his DVD shelf. That show was brilliant, an accolade proven by the fact that it continues to garner loyal fans of all ages and scenes, more than 17 years after its last episode aired.
R.I.P. Bea. Thanks for the laughs.
i love the golden girls and own most of the seasons and yes, am only 23 years old. i have been watching it since i can remember, with my mom or my roomies all through college. i will drop whatever i am doing to watch reruns on lifetime or the hallmark channel….. its just an amazing show and i’m heartbroken that 2 of the goldens have died in the past year :( i feel like i knew them personally.
When I was little I would sit outside my moms bedroom door and watch the show.
To this day I still watch it at 1am. I feel weird going to bed without watching a few minutes of it. Its my nightly ritual.
the golden girls didn’t have a certain demographic. Old/ middle-age young it was funny. Bea Aurthur will be missed. All of the characters had they’re moments, (favor Sophia kind of more) but it wasn’t about watching it to see who could be mean, (that’s a little warped) it was about the jokes.
:(
I was wondering when you guys would post something. Bea was a goddess among TV icons, in my book at least. Talk about being a trailblazer and pushing the envelope, and doing it with humour, class and dignity. Maude still holds up so well, and anyone who claims to not find Golden Girls funny is just lying, I tell you. Nobody but nobody could deliver a smart ass sarcastic one-liner like Bea Arthur. RIP Maude/Dorothy/Mame/Bea.
Isn’t that terrible that an actress on Golden Girls could make me so sad? I just assumed everyone on that show would live forever.
Stop dying on me, Golden Girls, stop it.
In a weird way this show taught me that you can live your life fully and have fun no matter what age. So sad that our society is so obsessed with youth and people like Paris Hilton. These classy ladies were such wonderful role models for me and scores of women my age. I fondly remembering watching this show with my grandmother during the summer and thinking that everyone on the show was so beautiful and fun and full of life. If only there were more shows even half as classy as this one was.
Rest in peace, Bea and thank you for the laughs and inspiration.
Very, very sad. Bea Arthur was awesome on Golden Girls (and Futurama and Malcolm in the Middle and more) and awesome in general. She did a whole bunch of activism in regards to KFC and fur for PETA.
I wonder why it is that our generation (give or take half a demographic) loves this show so much? I can’t even garner a guess – any sociologists out there?
Danielle – Bea, Rue, Estelle, and Betty are and will always been the original Sex and the City girls. These women touched subjects that most other shows airing at that time would never have been able to get a away with. They were trailblazers and trendsetters. I was lucky enough to see Bea perform live three years ago – she was briliiant, funny, and quick as ever. She will be missed terribly but Bea left a mark in pop-culture that will never be erased.
She was Maude, plain and simple. Never cared for Golden Girls but I loved Maude.
Lady Godiva was a freedom rider
She didn’t care if the whole world looked.
Joan of Arc with the Lord to guide her
She was a sister who really cooked.
Isadora was the first bra burner
And you’re glad she showed up.
And when the country was falling apart
Betsy Ross got it all sewed up.
And then there’s Maude.
That old compromisin’, enterprisin’, anything but tranquilizing,
Right on Maude.
Tonight, I was watching Family Guy reruns and they played the one with the extended Maude opener. It was before I knew she died.
i, too, am 28 and remember watching the golden girls fondly on saturday nights. i love that we/lifetime air reruns of this show . . . it relaxes me and reminds me that at every age, women still struggle with the same problems and celebrate the same happy times. rest in golden peace, bea. :)
I liked the Golden Girls and I loved Maude. Bea Arthur was awesome, this is very sad news.
I’m 25 and I love the shit out of the golden girls.
RIP Bea Arthur! You are AMAZING! Thank you for being a friend (duh, had to)
Whenever my husband and I play the “recast a movie” game, we always put Bea Arthur in there somewhere.
I talked about Maude before but I have to again. I remember watching Maude and Mary Tyler Moore reruns when I was younger. Those were two shows that were ahead of their time, showing strong women who didn’t have to rely on men or their sexuality to get ahead. Maude rocked the house and no one tried to get in her way. Even with Adrienne Barbeau as a daugher, you couldn’t get past the force that was Maude.
I want to be as strong as that force. Rock on, Maude. Hope you kick ass up there and get a good spot for the women.
Oh my god, I was just watching the golden girls yesterday and i was thinking about how old she was, then today i changed the channel and it said she was dead. onjwiefuuiwroit
RIP Bea….
CREDS.
She was and Old School Broad in the best sense of the phrase. I love her comment that nobody ever asked her to play Juliet.
Rest In Peace,
Mame
She was amazing. The Golden Girls was a revelation to me when I was young. I never thought old ladies could be cool.
I saw Bea live a few years ago and she looked like she was ill but she still put on a heck of an entertaining show. She was a little raunchy, and very, very funny.
I was really upset when I saw the news yesterday. You will be missed Ms Arthur!
My best friend and I each own the complete seasons on DVD, and we’re 24. It is by far the best sitcom ever produced.
RIP Bea. We all love you.
I heard yesterday morning on the radio and it almost brought a tear to my eye. For many years growing up i’d always go over to my grandmothers to watch tv and visit. She wouldnt watch my disney and fresh prince and i had no interest in her news, but we always agreed on the Golden Girls. It would come on just before Empty Nest.
Bea is just one of those actresses/actors that ill never forget!
RIP Bea, and thanks!
oh man, i love golden girls! i am sad to hear bea died, i loved her! she was and still is my favorite golden girl :(.
LOVE YOU DORATHY!
Pardon me while I wax poetic about a series based upon the exploits of four women over 50– a demographic with whom you might think a single 28-year-old has nothing in
Pardon me while I wax poetic about a series based upon the exploits of four women over 50– a demographic with whom you might think a single 28-year-old has nothing in common
Okay Kelly, you’ve just gained all my respect. I love the Golden Girls… and I also identify with Dorothy’s character… I can’t believe she was the next to go… :(
super sad…rip bea…you were amazing