One of the greats is gone. Actress Bea Arthur died today at the age of 86. Like other greats before her, she put her stamp both on the stage and the small screen in a fashion that was as unique as it was memorable.

Born a plain New York girl by the name of Bernice Frankel, she spent her younger years coping with extra inches in height and a voice so deep that made people wonder whether she was feminine at all. But she used that loud, deep, raucous voice as many others of her ilk would use it; on the stage. She had a successful stage career before venturing into television. She was convinced by Writer/Producer Norman Lear to do just one episode of  ‘All In The Family’, but after that one appearance, they wanted her to do her own show. The producers even asked, “Where has that girl been?” That girl was fifty years old!

The characters she played in Maude and in The Golden Girls were strong, no nonsense, ascerbic women who did more for feminism than the entire women’s liberation movement combined. She was unique. She caught your eye. You knew Bea Arthur was in the room. You knew Bea Arthur was on your screen. Not everyone gets the attention of television producers from the first scene they ever do on television. Well, they may get the attention, but their own show? Not a chance. When they made Bea Arthur they destroyed the mould. An old cliche I know, but you try and think of a better one.

I remember the TV show ‘All In The Family’ and I remember ‘Maude’. This masculine deep voiced woman made us all wonder whether she had been a man and…’had the chop.’ My parents were huge fans of both shows and I think that both shows were popular because of what they could get away with at the time. The lines in both those shows were iconic and without such a stellar cast, with Bea Arthur front and centre most times, those shows would not be a part of television folklore now.

I remember ‘The Golden Girls’ much more, but apart from the brilliant interplay between the four women, I remember looking at the clothes Bea Arthur wore. She was a tall woman, like my own mother, and watching her dressed so elegantly, gave me ideas to throw at my own mother, as my mother has always hated being tall. Bea Arthur showed the world that you could be tall, mature and downright elegant. I always admired her for that. ‘The Golden Girls’ was an ensemble cast that was in itself unique. Four retired women sharing a house in Florida. It was destined not to work, but it did. When Bea Arthur left the series in 1992, the remaining three women tried to carry on with another series called ‘The Golden Palace’ but it was a dismal failure. It didn’t have Bea Arthur.

So here’s to you Bea. The stage will miss you, the small screen will miss you and thousands of fans will miss you. Your uniqueness made you special.Here’s a little something I found. It’s a nice interview with Rosie O’Donnell. Talk about two loud broads together!

Enjoy your day