Golden Girl Bea Arthur Dies At 86

Beatrice Arthur, the star of the hit shows Maude and The Golden Girls, died Saturday at age 86.

Arthur died peacefully at her Los Angeles home early Saturday with her family at her side. The actress, who had cancer, would have turned 87 on May 13.

Arthur had been a television actress since the 1950s, but really came into the national zeitgeist with her portrayal of the outspoken, liberal Maude Findlay; first in two episodes of All in the Family, then in the spin-off Maude. Maude ran for 141 episodes from 1972-1978; Arthur won an Emmy for the role in 1977. During the show's run, the character Maude famously underwent an abortion, creating a firestorm of controversy and making the character a symbol of the feminist movement.

After Maude concluded it's run Arthur appeared in the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special as Mos Eisley cantina bartender Ackmena.

In 1985, Arthur resurfaced as one of the Golden Girls in an NBC comedy that would go on to earn 10 Emmys, including two for best comedy series and individual kudos for Arthur and costars Estelle Getty (who passed away last July), Betty White and Rue McClanahan.

In a 2001 episode of Futurama, Arthur provided the voice of the suspiciously familiar sounding headstrong Femputer.

Arthur's accolades also include a Tony Award in 1966, for her portrayal of Vera Charles opposite Angela Lansbury's Mame.