Beatrice Arthur Quotations

I met Billy Goldenberg, my musical director and composer, who's earned 32 Emmy nominations by the way, in 1981.

You knew by looking at what they were wearing what their characters were. Betty always wore some kind of a shirt-dress with little buttons, and Rue, of course, wore these things that were such outlandishly bad taste.

I can't imagine working without and audience. And we had a great cast in both shows. And the great writers, directors-I was extremely lucky.

It's difficult, since Rue lives in New York now, and Estelle is not well at all. It's very sad. Of course, while you're working, you're like family. You swear you'll never lose each other, and then of course you do.

As part of your legacy to the world, I hope you will consider making a bequest or other planned gift to PETA.

I said that in the show-that at age 8 I was already 5'8" 1/2 and had a deep voice, but that's not true. I do know I was always taller than anyone, maybe taller than the teacher, I don't remember.

When something is written for the stage, I think it's wrong to try to make it bigger. Very few things out there make that jump easily.

It didn't dawn on me that we were older/elderly women. Later, of course, people felt we were doing so much to further the cause of mature women.

After I realized that I wasn't going to get any acting work, I thought I would try nightclubs. And I got hired immediately at a very fancy supper club. But three nights later I was let go. The manager told me that I was so tall, so imposing, so obviously in charge that nobody was going to believe me... so he said I should try comedy... and I've been hooked ever since.

After being in the business for such a long time, I've done everything but rodeo and porno.