This one makes me particularly sad. Bea Arthur has passed away. 
I always saw some of myself in Dorothy Zbornak. The Gods of Comedy are weeping today.
Beatrice Arthur, best known as the acerbic Maude Findlay on Norman Lear's sitcom "Maude" and as the strong-willed Dorothy Zbornak on the long-running "The Golden Girls," died today. She was 86.
Arthur, a stage-trained actress who was a success on Broadway long before television audiences got to know her, died of cancer at her Los Angeles home, family spokesman Dan Watt told the Associated Press.
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4 Comments
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How very sad. I recently had a pleasure of watching a couple episodes of The Golden Girls and her character was my favorite.
I had no idea Ms. Arthur was in her 80s. I hope her passing was not too painful.
Dale | April 25, 2009 6:02 PM
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Bea, I loved you as Dorothy Zbornak and as Maude Findlay. It saddens me to hear of your passing...as the same for tv mother (Ms.Estelle Getty/Sophia Petrillo). Rest in peace with the Lord. I know you're in better shape than the rest of us now.
Julius | April 25, 2009 7:59 PM
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May she rest in peace, may light eternal shine upon her.
Goodbye Dorothy
Suzanne | April 25, 2009 10:47 PM
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To me, she was more Maude than Dorothy. But either way, it's terribly sad.
For camp fans, you need to check out her turn in the film Mame, playing Vera against Lucille Ball's Auntie. I didn't know until I saw the obituaries, that she originated that role on B'way, and won the Tony. I also didn't know that she was married to Director Gene Saks.
One of the clips played for the obituary was from The Golden Girls, showing them in a lockup. Dorothy is playing tough to protect the others, and tells another inmate she's been to Attica. The other woman pointed out that it was a men's prison. Without missing a beat, Dorothy says, "yeah, and I was there a year before they found out!".
Rory | April 26, 2009 11:17 PM
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