Bea Arthur was born on this day in 1922 and would have been 98 today. From Broadway to Hollywood, she led an amazing life that she always lived on her own terms. Although she was a fairly private person who considered herself an introvert, she was still up for almost anything and loved performing on the stage and screen. Today The Golden Girls Fashion Corner celebrates her life with with photos and quotes.
My dream was to become a very small, blonde movie star like Ida Lupino and those other women I saw up there on the screen during the Depression.
She would make us laugh during ‘Mame’ rehearsals with a look or with a word. She didn’t need dialogue. I don’t know if I can say that about any other person I ever worked with.
–Jerry Herman
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.
I think Maude’s appeal is that she is a real person. She’s over 40, she’s big, and she’s what I am–as opposed to many of the women in situation comedies who are beautiful, sweet, and charming at all times.
Someone once accused me of trying to turn the sitcom into an art form, and I really believe that’s what I was trying to do.
It was like the Beatles had arrived, you know. These four elderly ladies, and they were screaming for us–screaming for us! It was wonderful.
I’m not playing a role. I’m being myself, whatever the hell that is.
I believe that you’re here on Earth for a short time, and while you’re here, you shouldn’t forget it.
I think Bea would be so pleased that her roles as Maude and Dorothy have become so beloved and continue to bring joy to audiences across generations! Take a look at the posts linked below for more about her life and career.
All About Bea: Part 1 — Beginnings
All About Bea: Part 2 — And Then There’s Maude
Bea Arthur In the Star Wars Holiday Special
Bea Arthur for Shoppers Drug Mart
The Golden Girls Fashion Corner 
Love Bea Arthur ,, when I was younger and Maude was on I couldn’t stand the show it seems like who is this old lady with the gray hair that screaming and hollering all of the time.. I just got married I was skinny I was 18 I was blond it had nothing to do with my life.. I used to shut it off,, then when I was a little older The Golden Girls came on I said well I have nothing in common with them the old lady ,,who cares about some dried-up old lady & bea Arthur , nothing in common with her . my hair was still naturally blond I was starting to get a little weight ,but not much I didn’t scream and holler at my husband I didn’t talk bad about men I didn’t dress with the great big shoulders I didn’t work the jobs they worked I had nothing in common with the show… I wasn’t like Blanche with every guy out there I wasn’t like rose, in some ways I probably was I was a little gullible . So I shut the show off, years later after I bought my home after I retired from working at a Publishing Company after I retired from being an LPN nurse I was now with MS multiple sclerosis I now needed two total hip replacements had to go on high blood pressure medicine water pills the veins in my legs were killing me my feet were hurting all the time my blond hair was turning platinum silver , it was pretty nice. I put a little weight on..I was taking care of an ill husband had animals..I sat down to watch the reruns of THE GOLDEN GIRLS and I had everything in common with them every episode was about something in my life.. I now had a home to take care of and problems with it I was unhappy about work I was unhappy about my lot in life I became unhappy with my body and my LOOKS. and when my husband died I wouldn’t say I became Blanche but I might have became ESTELLE in that episode with Caesar ROMERO, I might have became Rose in that episode with her boyfriend ON THE BOAT, or Dorothy with her episode with the male school teacher.. THEN I found that I had something in common with them I BOUGHT the old tapes of Maude , then I realized I had things in common with Maude .
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