About
Bea Arthur, born Bernice Frankel in New York City, served in the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War II before studying drama. She originated the role of Yente in the musical *Fiddler on the Roof* (1964) and won a Tony Award for *Mame* (1966). She became a television star with *Maude* (1972-1978) and *The Golden Girls* (1985-1992), winning two Emmy Awards. An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ people, and animals, she was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2008.
* 1922-05-13 — † 2009-04-25
Major works
- Fiddler on the Roof (1964)musical
- Mame (1966)musical
- Maude (1972)TV series
- The Golden Girls (1985)TV series
Key milestones
- 1943Enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve during World War II.
- 1966Won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for *Mame*.
- 2008Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
Themes
Women's rightsLGBTQ rightsAnimal rightsComedyTelevision
Sources: televisionacademy.com · govinfo.gov