"Maude (TV series) Maude is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS network from September 12, 1972, until April 22, 1978. ""Maude"" stars Beatrice Arthur as Maude Findlay, an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, New York, with her fourth husband, household appliance store owner Walter Findlay (Bill Macy). Maude embraces the tenets of women's liberation, always votes for Democratic Party candidates, and advocates for civil rights and racial and gender equality. However, her overbearing and sometimes domineering personality often gets her into trouble when speaking about these issues. The show was"
"Rue McClanahan Eddi-Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on ""Maude"" (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on ""Mama's Family"" (1983–84), and Blanche Devereaux on ""The Golden Girls"" (1985–92), for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987. Eddi-Rue McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1934. She was the daughter of Dreda Rheua-Nell ( Medaris; 1912 – 1973), a beautician, and William Edwin ""Bill"" McClanahan (1908 – 1999), a building contractor. Her mother's maiden name"
"the star's personal belongings and in turn decorated the restaurant with them), opened in the Washington Heights section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. However, after less than a year in business, the cafe closed in November 2017. Rue McClanahan Eddi-Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on ""Maude"" (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on ""Mama's Family"" (1983–84), and Blanche Devereaux on ""The Golden Girls"" (1985–92), for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987."
"entitled ""Dumped,"" in which her favorite nephew Jim dumps Barbara (Kristy McNichol). According to the episode, ""Mary Has A Little Lamb,"" Dorothy's childhood nickname was ""Moose."" Outside ""The Golden Girls"", Dorothy appears in the ""Empty Nest"" episode ""Dumped"" and the two-part ""Golden Palace"" episode ""Seems Like Old Times"". Elaine Stritch was reportedly considered for the role of Dorothy Zbornak while ""The Golden Girls"" was in development, under the assumption that Arthur (the series was originally conceived with ""a Bea Arthur type"" in mind) would not consider returning to a regular television series. As Stritch related in her show ""Elaine Stritch"
"""Closed to Visitors"" by Dawn Lowe-Watson on BBC Radio 4 in 1992. Deborah Findlay Deborah Findlay (born 23 December 1947 in Leatherhead, Surrey) is an English actress. She joined a theatre company while studying English at the University of Leeds. Over the years Findlay has worked primarily on stage and appeared in numerous productions, including the original ""Top Girls"". In the 1980s she worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company where she appeared in ""Twelfth Night"" and ""The Merchant Of Venice"". In 1997 she won an Olivier Award, as well as Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a"
"Blanche Devereaux Blanche Elizabeth Marie Devereaux (née Hollingsworth) is one of the four main fictional characters on the 1985–1992 NBC sitcom ""The Golden Girls"", and its CBS spin-off ""The Golden Palace"". In the pilot episode, her last name was given as Hollingsworth, but this was somewhat ""corrected"" in later episodes by making this her maiden name. Blanche was portrayed by Rue McClanahan for 8 years and 204 episodes. McClanahan had previously been a co-star with Beatrice Arthur in ""Maude"" and with Betty White in the first two seasons of ""Mama's Family"". In pre-production, producers had originally planned for White (who"
"problems led to Pat Carroll replacing Stritch for the finished product.) Dorothy Zbornak Dorothy Zbornak (née Petrillo) is a fictional character from the TV series ""The Golden Girls"", portrayed by Beatrice Arthur for seven years and 180 episodes. Dorothy was the strong, smart, sarcastic, sometimes intimidating, and arguably most grounded of the four women in the house. Though tough, she is normally friendly, polite and does genuinely care for the other girls. In the 1000th issue of ""Entertainment Weekly"", Dorothy Zbornak was selected as the Grandma for ""The Perfect TV Family."" Dorothy Petrillo was born in New York City, and"
"January 19, 1980, which paired the star in a musical comedy revue with Rock Hudson, Melba Moore and Wayland Flowers and Madame. Arthur returned to television in the short-lived 1983 sitcom ""Amanda's"" (an adaptation of the British series ""Fawlty Towers""). Unfortunately, the show was a not a hit with audiences and only 10 of the 13 filmed episodes actually aired. In 1985, Arthur was cast in ""The Golden Girls"", in which she played Dorothy Zbornak, a divorced substitute teacher living in a Miami house owned by widow Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan). Her other roommates included widow Rose Nylund (Betty White)"
"Deborah Findlay Deborah Findlay (born 23 December 1947 in Leatherhead, Surrey) is an English actress. She joined a theatre company while studying English at the University of Leeds. Over the years Findlay has worked primarily on stage and appeared in numerous productions, including the original ""Top Girls"". In the 1980s she worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company where she appeared in ""Twelfth Night"" and ""The Merchant Of Venice"". In 1997 she won an Olivier Award, as well as Outer Critics' Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play, for her performance as Hilda, the wife of the painter Stanley"
"Dorothy Zbornak Dorothy Zbornak (née Petrillo) is a fictional character from the TV series ""The Golden Girls"", portrayed by Beatrice Arthur for seven years and 180 episodes. Dorothy was the strong, smart, sarcastic, sometimes intimidating, and arguably most grounded of the four women in the house. Though tough, she is normally friendly, polite and does genuinely care for the other girls. In the 1000th issue of ""Entertainment Weekly"", Dorothy Zbornak was selected as the Grandma for ""The Perfect TV Family."" Dorothy Petrillo was born in New York City, and was the daughter of Italian immigrants Sophia and Salvadore Petrillo. Dorothy"
"Lynnie Greene Laura Lyn ""Lynnie"" Greene, also known as Lyn Greene (born May 21, 1954) is an actress, writer, director and producer in the television industry. The 5'10"" Greene grew up in Newton, Massachusetts. In 1977 she co-starred with another newcomer, Bess Armstrong, in the short-lived CBS comedy ""On Our Own"". She played a recurring role in ""The Golden Girls"" (during flashbacks, as a younger version of Bea Arthur's character, Dorothy Zbornak). She originated the role of Emma Goldman in the original off-Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's ""Assassins"" in 1990-91, as well as recreating the role of Comrade Charlotte in"
"McClanahan portrayed uptight spinster sister Fran Crowley to Mama Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence). Fran was a journalist for the local paper. Also in the cast was McClanahan's future ""Golden Girls"" costar Betty White. McClanahan and White appeared on the first two seasons before the show was cancelled by NBC and then retooled for first run syndication. On ""The Golden Girls"" (1985–92) and its short-lived successor ""The Golden Palace"" (1992–93), McClanahan portrayed man-crazed Southern belle Blanche Devereaux, owner of the house she lived in and rented out to her three roommates and best friends: Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty"
"apprehensive because of McClanahan's approach, as she did not ""want to play (their ""Maude"" characters) Maude and Vivian meet Sue Ann Nivens."" Arthur was further convinced when hearing that White would be playing Rose and McClanahan would be playing Blanche. The role of Sophia Petrillo, Dorothy's mother, was played by Estelle Getty, who was discovered by Tony Thomas while performing in the Broadway play ""Torch Song Trilogy"" as the mother character. Getty, being younger than Arthur and White, wore heavy make-up, thick glasses, and a white wig to age her. The character of Sophia was thought by the creators to"
"Michelle Dockery Michelle Suzanne Dockery (born December 15, 1981) is an English actress and singer. She is most widely known for her leading performance as Lady Mary Crawley in the ITV (UK) and PBS (U.S.) television period drama series ""Downton Abbey"" (2010–15), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and three consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards in the category of Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Dockery made her professional stage debut in ""His Dark Materials"" in 2004. For her role as Eliza Doolittle in the 2007 London revival of ""Pygmalion"", she was nominated for the Evening"
"Sophia Petrillo Sophia Petrillo is a fictional character from the TV series ""The Golden Girls"", and its spin-offs ""The Golden Palace"" and ""Empty Nest"" and one episode each of the series, ""Blossom"" and ""Nurses"". She was portrayed by Estelle Getty for 10 years and 258 episodes. Bea Arthur, who played her daughter Dorothy Zbornak on the show, was in real life a year older than Getty. Sophia Petrillo was most likely born in April 1905 in Sicily. She had a sister Angela, a sister Regina, a brother Angelo, and she mentioned another brother, but he was unnamed and only spoken"
"younger than Arthur. In 1988, the role earned Getty the Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. During her time on ""The Golden Girls"", Getty, along with Steve Delsohn, co-wrote an autobiography entitled ""If I Knew Then, What I Know Now... So What?"" (Contemporary Books, 1988). She further capitalized on her success by releasing an exercise video for senior citizens in 1993. In 1992, following her seven-season role on ""The Golden Girls"", Getty, with Betty White and Rue McClanahan returned as their characters Sophia Petrillo, Rose Nylund and Blanche Devereaux respectively, in the spin-off series, ""The Golden Palace"". The new show"
"Dee Hepburn Dee Hepburn (born 7 November 1961) is a Scottish former actress. She starred as Dorothy in the 1981 film ""Gregory's Girl"", and played Anne-Marie Wade in the ITV soap opera ""Crossroads"" from 1985 to 1988. Hepburn grew up in Calderwood, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, she is the fourth of five daughters born to dental technician Bobbie Hepburn and his wife Madeline. After training in acting and dancing, she took a part as a school girl in STV's production of ""The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie"" where she was credited as Dory Hepburn. She starred in the 1981 film"
"regular character. After six consecutive seasons in the top 10, and the seventh season at number 30, ""The Golden Girls"" came to an end when Bea Arthur chose to leave the series. In the hour-long series finale, which aired in May 1992, Dorothy meets and marries Blanche's uncle Lucas (Leslie Nielsen) and moves to Hollingsworth Manor in Atlanta, Georgia. Sophia was to join her, but in the end, she stays behind with the other women in Miami. This led into the spin-off series, ""The Golden Palace"". The series finale was watched by 27.2 million viewers. As of 2016, it was"
"World War II; he was the one who brought Walter and Maude together in 1968 and ""affectionately"" called Maude ""Maudie."" Vivian has been Maude's best friend since they attended college together. At the beginning of the series, Arthur is a widower. Vivian was introduced in a guest appearance that focused on her split with her first husband. She later got involved with Arthur as a divorcée. For the entire run of the show, Maude also has a housekeeper. At the beginning of the series, the Findlays hire Florida Evans, a no-nonsense black woman who often has the last laugh at"
"James Victor, who was given heavy makeup and a graying beard in order to play Wilder's on-screen father. This sort of casting method was used on the later Witt/Thomas series ""The Golden Girls"", in which Estelle Getty, who played Sophia Petrillo, was given makeup and hair that gave her a much older appearance. In real life, Getty was a year younger than Bea Arthur, who played her daughter, Dorothy Zbornak. In another connection between the two series, McLean Stevenson would later guest star on ""The Golden Girls"" as Dorothy's brother-in-law, Ted Zbornak. About the time he was cast on this"
"Bad Girls (1994 film) Bad Girls is a 1994 American western adventure film directed by Jonathan Kaplan, and written by Ken Friedman and Yolande Turner. It stars Madeleine Stowe, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie MacDowell and Drew Barrymore. The film follows four former prostitutes on the run following a justifiable homicide and prison escape, who later encounter difficulties involving bank robbery and Pinkerton detectives. Kaplan previously directed two of the film's stars: Masterson in ""Immediate Family"" (1989) and Stowe in ""Unlawful Entry"" (1992). Cody, Anita, Eileen and Lily work together in a brothel. When Anita is abused by a customer, Cody"
"The Golden Girls (season 1) The first season of the American television comedy series ""The Golden Girls"" originally aired on NBC in the United States between September 14, 1985 and May 10, 1986. Created by television writer Susan Harris, the series was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions and Touchstone Television. It stars Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, Betty White, and Estelle Getty as the main characters Dorothy Zbornak, Blanche Devereaux, Rose Nylund, and Sophia Petrillo. The series revolves around the lives of four elderly women living together in a house in Miami. The first season of ""The Golden Girls"" premiered to strong"
"stylishly dressed, and romantically active. Outside ""The Golden Girls"" and ""The Golden Palace"", Blanche appears in the ""Empty Nest"" episode ""Fatal Attraction"" and the ""Nurses"" episode ""Moon Over Miami"". Blanche Devereaux Blanche Elizabeth Marie Devereaux (née Hollingsworth) is one of the four main fictional characters on the 1985–1992 NBC sitcom ""The Golden Girls"", and its CBS spin-off ""The Golden Palace"". In the pilot episode, her last name was given as Hollingsworth, but this was somewhat ""corrected"" in later episodes by making this her maiden name. Blanche was portrayed by Rue McClanahan for 8 years and 204 episodes. McClanahan had previously"
"Blythe and Lola-Blue. She is the cousin of David Howell Evans (The Edge), guitarist of the band U2. Aubrey is an Ambassador for Women for Women International, the charity which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives. She is an active campaigner working to highlight global violence against women; and patron of The Camberley International Arts Festival. Juliet Aubrey Juliet Aubrey (born 17 December 1966) is an English actress of theatre, film, and television. She won the 1995 BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress for playing Dorothea in the BBC serial ""Middlemarch"" (1994). She is also known for her"
"Lesley-Anne Down Lesley-Anne Down (born 17 March 1954) is an English actress, former model, and singer. She achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV drama series ""Upstairs, Downstairs"" (1973–75). She received further recognition for her performances in the films ""The Pink Panther Strikes Again"" (1976), ""A Little Night Music"" (1977), ""The First Great Train Robbery"" (1979), ""Hanover Street"" (1979), ""Rough Cut"" (1980), ""Sphinx"" (1981), and ""Nomads"" (1986). She is also known as Madeline Fabray in the miniseries ""North and South"" (1985–86), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1986. In 1990, Down played the role"
"Yolande Donlan Yolande Donlan (June 2, 1920 – December 30, 2014) was an American-British actress who worked extensively in the United Kingdom. The daughter of James Donlan, a character actor in Hollywood films of the 1930s, it is speculated by some that she had uncredited roles in films such as ""Pennies From Heaven"" (1936) and ""Love Finds Andy Hardy"" (1938), but this has not been confirmed. Her early credited roles include Frenchy, the maid in the horror film ""The Devil Bat"" (1940), with Bela Lugosi, and other small roles often as similar French-accented maid characters. She played Carole Landis' maid"
"and Dorothy's Sicilian mother, Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). Getty was actually a year younger than Arthur in real life. The series was a hit, and remained a top-ten ratings fixture for six of its seven seasons. Her performance led to several Emmy nominations over the course of the series and an Emmy win in 1988. Arthur decided to leave the show after seven years, and in 1992 the show was moved from NBC to CBS and retooled as ""The Golden Palace"" in which the other three actresses reprised their roles, with Cheech Marin as their new foil. Arthur made a"
"the 1974 feature film version of the series. McDonald won several Logie Awards as Best Actress for playing Dorrie, and a Gold Logie for Australia's most popular female personality in 1974. After ""Number 96"" she played a regular role in the short-lived Australian situation comedy series ""The Tea Ladies"" (1978). One of McDonald's final TV appearances was at the Logie Awards on 17 March 1989, when she took part in a production number called ""Golden Girls"", which celebrated female Gold Logie winners of years past. She performed the song with Lorrae Desmond, Hazel Phillips, Denise Drysdale, Jeanne Little, and Rowena"
"the film's ""archest dialogue"", and called her ""a budding knockout, and scene-stealingly good even in an overly showy role."" Beautiful Girls (film) Beautiful Girls is a 1996 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Ted Demme from a screenplay written by Scott Rosenberg, starring Matt Dillon, Lauren Holly, Timothy Hutton, Rosie O'Donnell, Martha Plimpton, Natalie Portman, Michael Rapaport, Mira Sorvino and Uma Thurman. Willie Conway goes home for his high school class reunion in Knights Ridge, Massachusetts. He is at a crossroads in his life and cannot decide if he should marry his girlfriend. He cannot decide if he should quit"
"Eleanor Audley Eleanor Audley (born Eleanor Zellman; November 19, 1905 – November 25, 1991) was an American actress who had a distinctive voice in radio and animation, in addition to her TV and film roles. She is best remembered on television as Oliver Douglas's mother, Eunice Douglas, on the CBS sitcom, ""Green Acres"" (1965–69); and for providing Disney animated features with the villainess voices of Lady Tremaine in ""Cinderella"" (1950); and Maleficent in ""Sleeping Beauty"" (1959). She was known in her career for mostly playing characters with snobbish and mean attitudes. Audley provided the voice of Madame Leota, the spirit"
"and had two children. She and the father broke up when the children were young, resulting in a brief comeback with a role in the film ""The Bruce"" (1996). Married to her second husband, she still lives in East Kilbride, working in business development for a local company. Dee Hepburn Dee Hepburn (born 7 November 1961) is a Scottish former actress. She starred as Dorothy in the 1981 film ""Gregory's Girl"", and played Anne-Marie Wade in the ITV soap opera ""Crossroads"" from 1985 to 1988. Hepburn grew up in Calderwood, East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, she is the fourth of five"
"Kate Williams (actress) Kate Williams (born 1941 in London, England, UK) is an English actress from London who trained at London's East 15 Acting School. She remains best known for three television roles: Joan Booth in the 1970s sitcom ""Love Thy Neighbour""; Teresa in the 1971 BBC play ""Edna, the Inebriate Woman""; and Audrey Withey in the crime drama ""Widows"" (1983). She reprised the role of Audrey in both ""Widows 2"" (1985), and in the ""ten years later"" sequel ""She's Out"" (1995). Kate Williams and Ann Mitchell, as Dolly Rawlins, were the only members of the original ""Widows"" cast to"
"Jessica Brown Findlay Jessica Rose Brown Findlay (born 14 September 1989) is an English actress, most widely known for her role as Lady Sybil Crawley in the ITV television period drama series"" Downton Abbey"", and for her role as Emelia Conan Doyle in the 2011 British comedy-drama feature film ""Albatross"". In 2014, she appeared as Beverly Penn in the film adaptation of the Mark Helprin novel ""Winter's Tale"". In 2015, she co-starred in Paul McGuigan's ""Victor Frankenstein"" as Lorelei, the Esmerelda-like acrobat. In 2016, she joined the cast of the new biopic feature film, ""England is Mine"", about the early"