Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bea Arthur, best known as star of the hit TV comedies "Maude" and "Golden Girls," has died at age 86, entertainment news websites reported on Saturday, April 25th.

Whom of my generation didn't look foward to watching her hypnotizing and unique humor for many TV watching evenings. I was a devoted fan and looked forward to her featured guest spots on "All in the Family" and later I doubt that I missed and episode of "Golden Girls."

Arthur, a longtime stage actress whose comic timing and deadpan delivery were a perfect fit for her sharp-tongued roles on the two series, died of cancer at her Los Angeles home, a celebrity website reported. Her starring roles included, Yente the Matchmaker in the original company of "Fiddler on the Roof.", and in a Tony Award winning performance opposite Angela Lansbury as Vera Charles, Angela Lansbury's acerbic friend in the musical in "Mame."

Born Beatrice Frankel in New York on May 13, 1922, Arthur began performing in college and appeared in a number of Broadway and off-Broadway roles, winning a Tony Award opposite Angela Lansbury in "Mame."

In the early 1970s Arthur first appeared in the landmark comedy series "All in the Family" as Edith Bunker's loudly outspoken, liberal cousin, Maude Finley. She proved a perfect foil for blue-collar bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor), and their blistering exchanges were so entertaining that producer Norman Lear fashioned Arthur's own series.

"Maude" debuted on CBS in 1972 and became one of the top-rated sitcoms on U.S. television during its six-season run.
 

Arthur followed that show with "Golden Girls," an unlikely hit from 1985 to 1992 that featured four female retirees living together. "Golden Girls" (1985-1992) was a groundbreaking comedy, finding surprising success in a television market increasingly skewed toward a younger, product-buying audience.The series concerned three retirees, Arthur, Betty White and Rue McClanahan, and the mother of Arthur's character, Estelle Getty, who lived together in Miami. In contrast to the violent "Miami Vice," the comedy was nicknamed "Miami Nice." As Dorothy Zbornak, Arthur seemed as caustic and domineering as Maude. She was unconcerned about the similarity of the two roles. Getty died last July at the age of 84.
 

You will be missed Bea. You did your job well and will leave a lasting memory.