Arthur, Bea (1923–)

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Arthur, Bea (1923–)

American actress. Name variations: Beatrice Arthur. Born Bernice Frankel, May 13, 1923, in New York, NY; raised in Maryland; m. Robert Alan Arthur (div.); m. Gene Saks (director), 1950 (div. 1978); children: (2nd m.) Matthew (b. 1961) and Daniel (b. 1964).

Was a regular on Sid Caesar's show, "Caesar's Hour" (1950s); appeared on stage in Threepenny Opera; came to prominence as Yente the Matchmaker in Fiddler on the Roof (1964); appeared on the sitcom "All in the Family" as Maude Findlay (1971), which led to her own series, "Maude" (1972–78); appeared on "The Golden Girls" (1985–92). Won a Tony award for performance as Vera Charles in Mame.