R.I.P.: Bea Arthur

Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star in the hit shows "Maude" and "The Golden Girls" and who won a Tony Award for the musical "Mame," died Saturday. She was 86.
Arthur first appeared in the landmark comedy series "All in the Family" as Edith Bunker's outspoken, liberal cousin, Maude Finley. She proved a perfect foil for blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), and their blistering exchanges were so entertaining that producer Norman Lear fashioned Arthur's own series.
"Golden Girls" (1985-1992) was another groundbreaking comedy, finding surprising success in a television market increasingly skewed toward a younger, product-buying audience.
obit HERE
Los Angeles Times obit HERE
IMDB HERE

Painful Golden Memories

Estelle Getty's son, Carl tried to explain why the living Golden Girls skipped out on his mother's funeral.
Carl said, "They would certainly have been welcome. I don't know why they wouldn't be attending mom's funeral. Maybe it's a painful thing…As for the rest of them you're going to have to ask them how they felt about it and why they did or didn't come."
Bea "Dorothy" Arthur, said she's been grieving for years over Getty's long decline due to dementia, and could not deal with the emotion of a funeral: "She's been out of it so many years, not recognizing anyone. It's a Godsend. She's at peace."
Rue "Blanche" McClanahan, said that she couldn't attend the funeral because she recently had surgery: "I'd like them to know that I didn't [attend the funeral] because I can't fly right now with knee surgery. I don't know why Betty and Bea didn't go, maybe because they, too, have said their goodbyes to her when she was alive." Betty White sent a bouquet of flowers with a card that read, "Love, Betty White." In quotes she added the name of her character on the show, "Rose."
story HERE

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