by Russell Waldron

Created on: May 15, 2009   Last Updated: May 16, 2009

"I'm not playing a role, I'm being myself, whatever the hell that is!"

Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur was an American actress, singer and comedian whose career spanned seven decades. Her death (25th April, 2009) touched a myriad of loving fans. With her guttural raspy voice, unique facial expressions, cheeky grin, wit and acting expertise, Arthur became a household name. Bernice Frankel (Bea Arthur) was born May 13, 1922 to Philip and Rebecca Frankel in New York City. Shortly after her birth the Frankel family moved to Cambridge Maryland, where her parents ran a women's clothing store. Arthur attended Linden Hall High School which was an all girl's school located in Lititz Pennsylvania. Arthur later enrolled in Blackstone College in Blackstone Virginia where she was very active in numerous drama productions.

Arthur studied at the Dramatic Workshop of The New Scholl in New York, with the esteemed German director Erwin Piscator in 1947. Her introduction to acting was as a member of an off Broadway theatre group, located in the Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City in the later part of the 1940's. Her roles on stage included Lucy Brown in the 1954 English adaptation of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera; Yente the Matchmaker in the premiere of Fiddler on the Roof (1964) and her portrayal of Vera Charles in Angela Lansbury's Mame, which won her a Tony Award.

Arthur achieved great acclaim in the 1970's sitcom Maude with her title character Maude Findlay. She later appeared in Woody Allen's The Floating Lightbulb.1971 saw Arthur guest -star on Norman Lear's sit-com All in the Family as; you guess it, Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker's cousin. Arthur played the role of an outspoken liberal feminist. She appealed to all and was soon offered her very own series which previewed in her second appearance on All in the Family. The title? Maude. The show's debut was in 1972, and Arthur was then living in Tuckatoe, Winchester County, New York, with her husband Walter (Bill Macy) and her daughter Carol (Adrienne Barbeau.) This role saw Arthur receive several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Arthur also received an Emmy in 1977 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a comedy series. At this stage in time Arthur earned her rightful place in the history of woman's liberation. The series covered a plethora of subjects many affiliates refused to broadcast. Arthur had no hesitation whatsover in playing her controverial role. The topics covered in the show were deemed taboo back in that era and covered

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