Bea Arthur, star of sitcoms Maude (1972 – 1978) and The Golden Girls (1985 – 1992) and Tony Award winner, died over the weekend after a battle with cancer. Here are some clips to remember her by.
“Maude’s Dilemma,” where Maude, age 47, decides to have an abortion. The episode aired before Roe vs. Wade (1973), when abortion was legal in New York, but illegal still in many parts of the United States. Search on YouTube for a minute and you can watch the entire two-part episode.
“Sniff, Swig, Puff” with Rock Hudson on The Beatrice Arthur Special (1980):
“Bosom Buddies” with Angela Lansbury, for which Arthur won the Tony:
Some highlights from The Golden Girls, where I first came to know Arthur: