Dateline, Los Angeles, CA - On April 25th 2009, Beatrice Arthur passed away peacefully at the age of 86. Bea Arthur is best known for her iconic roles in the 70s hit series Maude and 80s classic The Golden Girls. Born Bernice Frankel in 1922, Bea had a successful start in show business with appearances in Broadway productions. One of her most famous roles was as the central character in the feminist 70s sitcom Maude, in which she played a divorced woman living in suburban New York. The character became so popular that the show spawned from All in the Family to run for six years. She received several Emmy Award nominations for her work. Bea also recieved critical acclaim for her work in The Golden Girls as Dorothy Zbornak, for which she won an Emmy and a Golden Globe. In addition to her acting, Bea Arthur is remembered for her advocacy work. She was active in the anti-nuclear movement and she and her husband helped co-found the Clean Air Campaign, which focused on raising awareness of the dangers of pollutants in the air we breathe. Bea Arthur was an inspiration to many and will be remembered for her wit, her acting, and her contributions to society. She is survived by her sons Matt and Daniel Saks.