"Maude," "Golden Girls" Star Bea Arthur Dies at 86

Bea Arthur was a stage-trained access and a Broadway success before becoming a TV hit. In the series "Maude," Maude, the complete opposite of the Archie Bunker character in "All in the Family," live with her fourth husband, Walter Findlay (Bill Macy), daughter Carol (Adrienne Barbeau, who made it ... interesting to watch every week), a grandson and an African-American maid named Florida (Esther Rolle), who eventually spun off into her own series, "Good Times."

The series lasted six years, from 1972 - 1978, with Arthur winning an Emmy in 1977.

But then she had a later hit, one which defied demographics by centering on four older women. From 1985 to 1992, "The Golden Girls" showed us the lives of Dorothy (Arthur), her mother Sophia (Estelle Getty), Rose (Betty White) and Blanche (Rue McClanahan).

All four actresses won Emmys for their roles, and the series itself won two Emmys.

Bea Arthur is survived by two sons, Matthew and Daniel, from her marriage with ex-husband Gene Saks, as well as two grandchildren.