Bea Arthur: From Marine Corps to Prime Time

You know her as the sharp-witted Dorothy from The Golden Girls and the fearless Maude Findlay… but did you know Bea Arthur was also a United States Marine?

Before she ever lit up a television screen, Bea Arthur—born Bernice Frankel in Brooklyn in 1922—lived a life full of unexpected twists. And one of the most surprising chapters? Her military service during World War II.

In 1943, just five days after the U.S. Marine Corps opened its Women’s Reserve, 20-year-old Bea answered the call. At the time, the Marine Corps was the last branch of the U.S. military to accept women—and because she wasn’t yet 21, she needed parental permission to enlist. That same rule didn’t apply to men her age.

She had been working odd jobs—analyzing food at a packing plant, doing office work—but none of it stuck. When she heard the Marines were looking for women, she didn’t hesitate.

Enlisting in the Marine Corps meant navigating uncharted territory. The Corps hadn’t even created paperwork for female recruits yet, so she had to use Navy forms instead. The roles were being opened to women as a way to free up men for combat roles.

Even her personality assessment seemed to foreshadow the TV icon she’d become. Military officials described her as “overly aggressive,” “argumentative,” and “officious—but probably a good worker if she has her own way.” Sound familiar? It’s almost like they were describing Dorothy Zbornak herself.

Arthur trained at Hunter College in New York before being stationed as a typist at Marine Corps headquarters in D.C. But she wasn’t content behind a desk. Citing her previous experience, she requested a transfer to become a driver—and got it.

In June 1943, she began training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and eventually served at the Marine Corps Air Station in Cherry Point. From 1944 to 1945, she worked as both a truck driver and dispatcher, helping keep the air station running smoothly. She rose steadily through the ranks—from Private First Class to Staff Sergeant by January 1945.

During her service, she married fellow Marine Robert Alan Aurthur in 1944, adopting his surname—later modifying it to "Arthur" as her stage name. They divorced in 1947.

It’s worth noting: at the time, the Marine Corps actively pushed back against nicknames like “Glamarines.” They insisted these women were just what their uniforms said: Marines.

Arthur was honorably discharged in September 1945. Her discharge papers listed a new goal: to attend dramatics school. And that’s exactly what she did—enrolling at The New School’s Dramatic Workshop in New York City.

There, she met and married director Gene Saks. Together, they adopted two sons, and Arthur began her rise in show business. Her breakthrough came in 1964 as Yente in Fiddler on the Roof, but it was the 1970s that turned her into a household name.

First, with Maude, where she played a bold, liberal woman unafraid to speak her mind. Then, in the 1980s, she captivated the world again as Dorothy in The Golden Girls, a role still beloved by fans today.

Despite her service, Arthur’s son said that she rarely spoke about it. Bea Arthur passed away in 2009 at age 86. Whether behind the wheel of a military truck or stealing scenes on TV, she carried herself with a strength, sharpness, and presence that was unmistakable.