A Legacy That Endures: Bea Arthur at 99
If Bea Arthur were still with us, she’d be celebrating her 99th birthday this year. Known and loved by millions as the feisty Maude Findlay on Maude and the sharp-tongued Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls, Bea left an indelible mark on television history. But behind the scenes, she was a woman who cherished her privacy and loved nothing more than retreating to her home after a long day’s work. Her son, Matthew Saks, recalls her preference for solitude in a candid conversation with Closer: “My mom wasn’t one for hanging around after-work parties. She just wanted to get back to her house. That was her routine.”
Bea’s sanctuary was a home she purchased in 1975 with her second husband, theater director Gene Saks. It was a place where she could truly be herself, away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. As she once described it, “This is country out here. I tend to be lazy, and I don’t have to put shoes on. I can walk around without anything on, and nobody cares, and it’s just lovely.” For Bea, this retreat was a haven where she could relax and recharge.
Adrienne Barbeau Remembers Bea: Beyond the Spotlight
Adrienne Barbeau, who played Bea’s on-screen daughter Carol on Maude, has fond memories of the actress’s aversion to shoes. “Sandals, maybe OK, but not shoes,” Adrienne tells Closer in the magazine’s latest issue, now available on newsstands. Adrienne also remembers Bea as a generous mentor who prioritized the quality of the show over personal accolades. “Bea taught me so much about comedy delivery and timing. She’d encourage another actor to say their line if she thought it would get a better laugh. She always put the quality of the show above all else,” Adrienne recalls.
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Adrienne also fondly remembers Bea’s down-to-earth nature. “My favorite memory of Bea was standing in our rehearsal hall kitchen, eating hard-boiled eggs. She taught me to put Tabasco sauce on them. I still do,” Adrienne says. Even today, Adrienne continues to make Bea’s recipe for Chinese chicken salad, a testament to the bond they shared.
A Practical Dreamer: Bea’s Early Days
Born in New York City but raised in Maryland, Bea Arthur—then known as Bernice Frankel—was a dreamer with a practical streak. “I always envisioned myself like Betty Grable,” Bea once said. “Somebody really cute, and small, and blonde. To get out there and dance and sing.” But at 5-foot-9 with a husky voice, Bea faced challenges in finding her place in the entertainment world.
During World War II, Bea enlisted with the Marines, where she worked as a typist, truck driver, and dispatcher. In 1944, she married her first husband, Robert Arthur. After her discharge, she studied to become a medical technician. In 1947, the couple moved to New York, where Bea began taking drama lessons alongside future stars like Tony Curtis, Rod Steiger, Walter Matthau, and Harry Belafonte. “It was a hell of a group,” she once admitted.
Theater: Bea’s True Passion
Theater became Bea’s true passion, earning her accolades on Broadway for her performances in Threepenny Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, and Mame, which won her a Tony for best featured actress. Her co-star Angela Lansbury, who played the title character in Mame, became a lifelong friend. All in the Family creator Norman Lear also became a close friend, hiring Bea, then 48, for a two-part guest role as Edith’s feminist cousin, Maude Findlay. The role was so well-received that it led to her own sitcom, Maude, which ran for six seasons and earned Bea an Emmy.
