Bea Arthur

Beatrice "Bea" Arthur (May 13, 1922 - April 25, 2009) was an American actress, comedian, and singer, best known for her roles in Maude and The Golden Girls. She was Jewish.

Early life
Arthur was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her parents were Philip and Rebecca Frankelin. She grew up in Cambridge, Maryland. After high school and the junior college she did an apprenticeship as a Medical Laboratory Technician and she was as a volunteer for the United States Marine Corps.

Theater
In 1946 she moved back to New York and studied acting with Erwin Piscator.

Personal life
In the 1940s, she was married with author and producer Robert Alan Aurthur.

In 1950, she married Gene Saks.

Other websites

 * Playbill biography
 * Playbill biography