Maude “Golden Girls” Star Bea Arthur Dies At 86 Of Cancer (Photos/Video)

Posted on April 26, 2009

Emmy Award-winning actress Bea Arthur, who starred as “Maude” on the “Golden Girls” has died at the aged of 86. Read more on the life and death of Bea Arthur below.

Bea Arthur reportedly died of cancer at her Los Angeles home. TMZ first broke the news of Arthur’s death.

“Thirty-seven years ago she showed me how to be very brave in playing comedy,” Rue McClanahan, one of Bea’s co-stars, told TMZ in a statement. “I’ll miss that courage and I’ll miss that voice.”

Arthur was born Beatrice Frankel in New York on May 13, 1922. She began performing in college and then appeared in Broadway roles, winning a Tony for “Mame”.

Bea was on “All in the Family” in the 1970’s playing Edith Bunker’s liberal cousin Maude.Becoming a popular character, producers decided to do a spinoff of Maude.

“Maude” became one of the top-rated sitcoms on U.S. television during its six-year run.

CNN reports that no funeral services had been planned for Arthur. Bea Arthur is survived by two sons and two grandchildren, and family members have asked that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to two of her favorite causes, the ArtAttack foundation and the animal rights group PETA.

“People have lost one of the greatest comic actresses of all time and animals have lost one of their all-time greatest defenders,” Dan Matthews, PETA senior vice president, said in a statement.

Our condolences to the friends, family, and fans of Bea Arthur.

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