If you’ve ever found yourself watching late night cable, you may have come across a gem of a old TV show called, “Golden Girls,” a situational comedy that was about four older women who shared a house in Miami and showed surprising ratings muscle even though it competed against shows with much younger casts.
One of the stars of the show, Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy Zbornak, died from cancer on Saturday at her Los Angeles home. The actress was 86 years old. Arthur was a seasoned actress in the world of theater as well as television and even won a Tony Award in 1966 for her role in “Mame,” which also starred Angela Lansbury.
But Arthur gained the most fame for her portrayal of the sarcastic, husky-voiced but hilarious Dorothy Zbornak on “Golden Girls.” The show dealt with issues such as aging, drugs, and relationship problems, with a comedic flair. The show also starred Estelle Getty, Rue McClanahan, and Betty White.
Throughout her career, Arthur garnered 11 Emmy nominations for her work on the TV shows “Maude,” and “Golden Girls.”
Bea’s signature husky voice was one that will be hard to forget. Even her former co-star and friend Rue McClanahan told The Early Show, “I think I’ll miss that voice.”
she was an older gal, so i guess it’s not too surprising — still sad news
This show still cracks me up. She will definitely be missed.