I suddenly realized that comedy, for me, was just being honest, and playing it for real. I've seen so many wonderful actors who turn into creatures from another planet when they're told they are supposed to be playing comedy.

Shortly after they divorced Bea Arthur married director Gene Saks from 1950 to 1980 with whom Bea Arthur adopted two sons Matthew (born in 1961) an actor and Daniel (born in 1964) a set designer. In 1972 Bea Arthur moved to the Greater Los Angeles Area and sublet her apartment on Central Park West in New York City and her country home in Bedford New York. Television credits


Theater performances.

A stage actress both before and after her television success Bea Arthur won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Vera Charles in the original cast of Mame (1966). Arthur achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and Maude and as Dorothy Zbornak on the 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls winning Emmy Awards for both roles.