Thank You for Being a Friend
Posted on May 5, 2009
Filed Under East meets West, Guest Columnist | 2 Comments
By Susan Stackpole
Born on 13 May, 1922 in New York City, Bernice Frankel would grow up to change the television history by pioneering strong, leading comedic female characters. Frankel later moved with parents, Phillip and Rebecca Frankel, to Cambridge on Maryland’s Eastern shore where they ran a clothing store. Frankel’s characteristic sardonic wit developed at an early age as her way of deflection attention from her 5’9†stature. Later, and more famously, known as Bea Arthur, Arthur’s name came from shortening “Aurthurâ€, her married name from her union with Robert Alan Aurthur. She preferred Bea to Bernice.
Arthur attended Blackstone College in Blackstone, VA where she participated in theater and received a degree as a medical lab technician. She moved to New York and studied drama at the New School for Social Research. One of her first performances in the 1940’s included playing Lucy Brown in the off-Broadway premiere of “Threepenny Operaâ€. Bea quoted the performance as a turning point, that the world of make-believe, acting, and singing made her feel, “Yes, I belong here.â€
Arthur went on to play Yente, the matchmaker, in “Fiddler on the Roofâ€. She won a Tony for best supporting actress for her role as Vera Charles in “Mameâ€. Arthur became more widely known as she delighted audiences as Maude Findlay, Edith Bunker’s liberal cousin, in the popular television comedy, “All in the Familyâ€, a performance which inspired Norma Lear, producer and top CBS executive, to regard her as a hot new discovery. Amused and bewildered as being deemed the hot “new girl, Arthur mused, “I’d done so much off-Broadway, on Broadway, but they said, ‘Who is this girl? Let’s give her her own series’.“Maudeâ€, a spin-off of “All in the Familyâ€, debuted in 1977, in which Arthur played the title role, Maude Findlay whose character exemplified the rise of American feminism. Her character tackled controversial issues, including being married to an alcoholic husband and having an abortion, which caused the studio to be inundated with protest mail. Arthur won the 1977 Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “Maudeâ€.
Thirteen years after “Maudeâ€, in 1988, “Golden Girls†hit the air. “The Golden Girls†was a light-hearted comedy about four older women living in Miami, Florida in which Arthur played the witty Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced substitute teacher living with her mother and two female roommates. Arthur regarded Dorothy’s relationship with her mother as one of the most inspired comedic relationships of all time. “The Golden Girls†stretched the viewing demographic and was rated in the top ten for half a dozen seasons. Arthur won the 1988 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for “The Golden Girlsâ€, which was among multiple Emmy nominations for the show.
Ms. Arthur passed away in her sleep at home at the age of 86 years old on 25 April, 2009. People across the world shared their favorite memories of Bea, many celebrities attesting to what a fabulous lady she was. Hugh Jackman said Bea was “an amazing woman†and remembers her speaking at his drama school in Perth, Australia. Costar Rue McClanahan, who played Blanche on “The Golden Girls†told Entertainment Tonight, “[Thirty-seven] years ago she showed me how to be very brave in playing comedy. I’ll miss that courage. And I’ll miss that voice.†Betty White, who played Rose on “The Golden Girls†said of Arthur’s passing, “I knew it would hurt, I just didn’t know it would hurt this much.†White adds, “I’m so happy that she received her Lifetime Achievement Award while she was still with us, so she could appreciate that. She was such a big part of my life.â€
Bea Arthur regarded herself as an unlikely leading lady, “Look — I’m 5-feet-9, I have a deep voice and I have a way with a line. What can I do about it? I can’t stay home waiting for something different. I think it’s a total waste of energy worrying about typecasting.” As an atypical leading lady, Ms. Arthur created loveably strong, candid, comedic female characters that changed the face of television forever. Her wit and tell-it-like-it-was personas quickly found its place in the hearts of fans across the globe breeding the familiarity of a close, personal friend. Julia Roberts said of Arthur’s passing, “It’s a loss.†Liza Minnelli suggests that while it’s a little dimmer here that there’s definitely more laughter in heaven with Bea there. In the words echoed across the globe, you’ll stay in our hearts – we love and miss you, Bea. Thank You for being a friend.
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This spunky character was a real comic and a joy to watch.
She could always raise a genuine laugh from me.
The delivery of her lines were spot on.
Bea Arthur is one of a kind.
I fully agree with you Ziona
a tribute to Bea here
thanks for being around