[Biography & Filmography is in chronological order]

Birth name - Bernice Frankel
Sometimes credited as -
Bea Arthur and Jane Ross
Born
- May 13, 1923, in New York, New York
Parents -
Philip and Rebecca Frankel
Siblings -
three
Height -
5' 9½" by age twelve
High School -
graduated Linden Hall High School in Lititz, Pennsylvania.
College -
two years at Blackstone College, a junior college in Virginia. Earned a medical laboratory technician degree at Franklin Institute of Science and Arts.
Acting Workshop - still ambitious to become an actress, she soon became bored with routine hospital work so she enrolled at Erwin Piscator's celebrated Dramatic Workshop, in New York.
"Caesar's Hour" - a regular on Sid Caesar's, "Caesar's Hour" during the 1956-57 television season.
First noticed - onstage playing Lucy Brown, in the play "The Threepenny Operas," in which also stared Tallulah Bankhead.
"Fiddler On The Roof" - in 1964, performed as supporting role, Yente the Matchmaker, in the original Broadway production of "Fiddler On The Roof" (stole the show every time.)
"Mame" - in 1966, performed as Vera Charles in a new Broadway musical, "Mame," in which was directed by her then husband, Gene Saks. (Beatrice won a Tony award for her role)
"All In The Family" - appeared in an episode of "All In The Family" on December 11, 1971, as Edith Bunker's blunt, independent, cousin, Maude Findlay.
"Maude" Pilot - CBS executives liked the character of Maude Findlay, so Norman Lear created another episode called "Maude" in which Maude appeared again on "All in The Family." The episode aired on March 11, 1972, being a spin-off, and a pilot for "Maude."
"Maude" - starred as Maude Findlay on the television series "Maude." The series debuted on the CBS television network on September 12, 1972.
"Mame" 1974 - regained her role as Vera Charles in the film version of "Mame" which was directed by her then husband, Gene Saks.
Emmy Award - in 1977, won an Emmy award for her role as Maude Findlay.
"Maude" Canceled - After 141 episodes, the series ended after the sixth season on April 22, 1978.
"Amanda's" - in 1983 starred in the short-lived series "Amanda's," which was based on the English comedy "Fawlty Towers."
"The Golden Girls" - began starring in another successful series, "The Golden Girls" as Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak, which debuted on September 14, 1985. The series was an instant hit, and ran for seven seasons
Another Emmy Award - in 1988, won an Emmy Award, for her role on the "The Golden Girls," as Dorothy Zbornak.
"The Golden Girls" Canceled - on May 9, 1992, "The Golden Girls" canceled after seven successful seasons and 180 episodes, because she wanted to leave the series.
Award Of Achievement - in the spring of 2000, won an award of achievement from Emerson College's Musical Theater Society, in Boston.
After "The Golden Girls" - has appeared in very few films and now resides on a ranch in California.


Marriages
Gene Saks May 28, 1950 - 1978 Divorced Two adopted sons (Matthew - July 14, 1961) (David - May, 8 1964)
Robert Alan Arthur (? - ?) Divorced  


Filmography
Film or Television Series
As
"Caesar's Hour" (1954) TV Series Regular (1956-1957)
That Kind of Woman (1959)  
Lovers and Other Strangers (1970) Bea
"Maude" (1972) TV Series Maude Findlay
Mame (1974) Vera Charles
The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) TV Movie Ackmena
History of the World: Part 1 (1981) Dole office clerk
"Amanda's" (1983) TV Series Amanda Cartwright
"The Golden Girls" (1985) TV Series Dorothy Petrillo Zbornak Hollingsworth
Circus of the Stars #10 (1985) TV Special Ringmaster
The Kennedy Center Honors (1986) TV Special Herself
NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration (1986) TV Special Herself
Circus of the Stars #13 (1988) TV Special Ringmaster
My First Love (1988) TV Movie Jean Miller
Funny Women of Television (1991) TV Special Herself (archive footage)
"Dame Edna's Hollywood" (1991) TV Series Herself
"Dave's World" (1993) TV Series Mel (1996-1997)
Broadway at the Hollywood Bowl (1994) TV Special Herself
Bob Hope: Happy 91st Birthday, Bob (1994) TV Special Herself
For Better or Worse (1996) Beverly Makeshift
Intimate Portrait: Rue McClanahan (2000) TV Special Herself/Interviewed
Enemies of Laughter (2000) Paul's Mother
The Best of So Graham Norton (2000) Herself
All in the Family: The E! True Hollywood Story (2000) TV Special Herself (archive footage)
TV's Most Censored Moments (2002) TV Special Herself
Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2002) Herself


Guest Appearances
Television Series
As
Episode
Aired
"The Seven Lively Arts" (1957)   "Gold Rush" February 9, 1958
"All In The Family" (1971) Cousin Maude #25 "Cousin Maude's Visit" December 11, 1971
"All In The Family" (1971) Maude Findlay #37 "Maude" March 11, 1972
"Laugh-In" (1977)     October 25, 1977
"The Mary Tyler Moore Hour" (1979)   #2 "The Prison Sketch" March 11, 1979
"Saturday Night Live" (1975) Host #91 November 17, 1979
"Soap" (1977)     October 28, 1980
"Omnibus" (1980)     April 19, 1981
"a.k.a. Pablo" (1984)   #6 "My Son, the Gringo" March 20, 1984
"The Golden Girls" (1985) Grandma Petrillo #76 "Mother's Day" May 7, 1988
"Empty Nest" (1988) Dorothy Zbornak #17 "Dumped" February 18, 1989
"Dame Edna's Hollywood" (1991) Herself #1 "Episode 1" November 30, 1991
"The Golden Palace" (1992) Dorothy Zbornak - Hollingsworth #7 "Seems Like Old Times - Part 1" October 30, 1992
"The Golden Palace" (1992) Dorothy Zbornak - Hollingsworth #8 "Seems Like Old Times - Part 2" November 6, 1992
"Sean's Show" (1992) Herself   1993
"Ellen" (1994) Herself #106 "Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute - Part 1" May 13, 1998
"Beggars and Choosers" (1999)   #1 "The Mountainmen - Part 1" June 19, 1999
"Beggars and Choosers" (1999)   #4 "The Hat Trick" July 3, 1999
"Beggars and Choosers" (1999)   #5 "The Ethel Merman Story" July 10, 1999
"Beggars and Choosers" (1999)   #7 "Sex, Drugs & Videotape" July 24, 1999
"So Graham Norton" (1998) Herself #31 "Episode 31" February 25, 2000
"Malcolm in the Middle" (2000) Mrs. White #16 "Water Park" May 21, 2000
"Futurama" (1999) Fem Computer #34 "Amazon Women In The Mood" February 4, 2001
"The View" (1997)   #246 "January 23, 2002" January 23, 2002



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