Skip to content
MovieCove
Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur

Actor · Died April 25, 2009, aged 86 · New York City, New York, USA

Beatrice Arthur (born Bernice Frankel; May 13, 1922 – April 25, 2009) was an American actress and comedian. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York City, Arthur began her career on stage in 1947, attracting critical acclaim before achieving worldwide recognition for her work on television beginning in the 1970s as Maude Findlay in the popular sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1972) and Maude (1972–1978) and later in the 1980s and 1990s as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls (1985–1992). She won several accolades throughout her career, beginning with the 1966 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for playing Vera Charles in Mame. She won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1977 for Maude and 1988 for The Golden Girls. Arthur has received the third most nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series with nine; only Julia Louis-Dreyfus (11) and Mary Tyler Moore (10) have more. She was inducted into the academy's Television Hall of Fame in 2008. Her film appearances include Lovers and Other Strangers (1970) and the film version of Mame (1974). In 2002, she starred in the one-woman show Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends. An obituary described Arthur as "the tall, deep-voiced actress whose razor-sharp delivery of comedy lines made her a TV star." She served in the U.S. Marine Corps Women's Reserve in World War II.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
May 13, 1922
Died
April 25, 2009 (aged 86)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
19 on MovieCove · 37 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 45% in 30 days

What are Bea Arthur's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.

Genres

Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 90th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
50%
Society
21%
Self
10%
Power
7%
Morality
5%
Ideas
4%
Survival
2%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity4 titles, browse their movies with this themeMarriage2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLegacy3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAging2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 8 · Serious 2 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 6 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Gentle: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their gentle movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 8 · Charged 2 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 0 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 0 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Hero
3 of 5
Threshold guardian
1 of 5
Ally
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
12
Joyful
7
Romantic
2
Absurd
2
Bittersweet
2
Other
7

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet6

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Bea Arthur's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 10 of their 19 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Hulu (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Bea Arthur's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

37 credits, 19 with a MovieCove page; 38 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Henry Fonda for President(2024)

    as Maude (archival footage)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Golden Girls 3033 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy Zbornak (voice) (archive sound)

  • Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Dorothy Zbornak

  • Back to the Grind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Broadway's Lost Treasures II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Vera Charles (segment "Mame")

  • The Terry and Gaby Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Dorothy Zbornak (archive footage)

  • Enemies of Laughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Paul's Mother

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Larry's Mother

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Malcolm in the Middle(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. White

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Beggars and Choosers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Futurama(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Femputer (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Emily of New Moon(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as The Voice

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • For Better or Worse(1995)

    as Beverly Makeshift

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Ellen(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Bea Arthur

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Dave's World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mel Bloom

  • The Golden Palace(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Dorothy Hollingsworth

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Earth Day Special(1990)

    as Dorothy Zbornak

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • My First Love(1988)

    as Jean Miller

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Dorothy Zbornak

  • The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 180 episodes · as Dorothy Zbornak

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • P.O.P. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Rosalyn Gordon

  • a.k.a. Pablo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Amanda's (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 13 episodes · as Amanda Cartwright

  • History of the World: Part I(1981)

    as Dole office clerk (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Star Wars Holiday Special(1978)

    as Ackmena

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Mame(1974)

    as Vera

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Maude(1972)

    Show 141 episodes · as Maude Findlay

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • All in the Family(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maude Findlay

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Lovers and Other Strangers(1970)

    as Bea Vecchio

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • That Kind of Woman(1959)

    as WAC (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Gift of the Magi(1958)

    as Mrs. Abercrombie

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Max Liebman Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Omnibus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Ugly Witch

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Abercrombie

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 37 titles from 1948 to 2025; peak year 1970.

Biggest box office

For Better or Worse (1995)

$42K worldwide

Highest rated

The Golden Girls (1985)

Midcredits 90th

Film career

19482025

Peak 1970 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 2 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1970Screen debut· Lovers and Other Strangers
  • 1970First top-billed film· Lovers and Other Strangers

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting37 of 37: 37 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score59th

By decade

1940s1 · acting1950s5 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s8 · acting1990s8 · acting2000s7 · acting2020s3 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Bea Arthur's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 52nd percentile, the median of all 10; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

60thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 19 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

6 of their 19 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser6
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

The Earth Day Special (1990)

94th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Golden Girls (1985)

Midcredits 90th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 38. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Bea Arthur's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 43 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Bea Arthur work with?

People who share at least 2 of Bea Arthur's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Rue McClanahan shares the most, 4.

Actors