Princewill Pius
When you think of The Golden Girls, you surely find yourself reminiscing about the onscreen antics of the four best friends on the show: Rose Nylund (Betty White), Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan), Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty), and Dorothy Zbornak, who was played by beloved actress Bea Arthur. In real life, however, Arthur was also good friends with Angela Lansbury. “Bea Arthur and I first met when we did Mame together in 1965. She became and has remained ‘My Bosom Buddy’ ever since,” Lansbury once said to Entertainment Weekly, referring to the song the duo performed together during the Broadway show’s original run.
As for Arthur, she talked to the Independent about Lansbury in 2003. “She was a class act and a real joy to work with. When I first met her I thought I was meeting this patrician, classically trained actor, but she has a mouth like a longshoreman,” Arthur revealed. “No kidding. She loved telling dirty limericks. She started in British music hall and taught me ‘What Can You Get A Nudist For Her Birthday’ and it’s really saucy.” Oh my!
When Arthur died in April 2009 from cancer at age of 86, Lansbury hosted a memorial service for her friend and released a statement, saying, “I am deeply saddened by her passing, but also relieved that she is released from the pain. … She was a rare and unique performer and a dear, dear friend.”
Written by: Nicki
