Bea Arthur was an American actress, comedian, singer, and animal rights activist. She was famous for her Emmy Award-winning television roles. She served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and later trained to be a professional stage actor. She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Vera Charles, her best-remembered stage character, in Mame. She appeared on the television series All in the Family, portraying Maude Findlay as a guest star. She then starred in her own show, Maude. Her character, Maude, was a strong woman who tackled a number of sociopolitical issues prevalent at the time. It was one of the first television shows that didn't shy away from addressing a vast range of sensitive topics, including the Vietnam War, domestic abuse, gay rights, and abortion. Arthur continued to address social taboos in her next hit show, The Golden Girls, where she portrayed Dorothy Zbornak. Thanks to her portrayal of characters like Dorothy and Maude, Arthur became a perfect example of an independent woman and a spokesperson for LGBT rights. She also worked with PETA to combat animal cruelty.