'Golden Girls' star Bea Arthur dies at 86 (AP)

, the tall, deep-voiced actress who considered herself lucky to be discovered by television executives after a long stage career that included a Tony award for the musical "Mame," died Saturday at age 86.

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The star of the TV shows "Maude" and " The Golden Girls " died peacefully at her Los Angeles home with her family at her side, family spokesman Dan Watt said. She had cancer, he said, but declined to give details. fashioned Arthur's own series. In a 2008 interview with The Associated Press, Arthur recalled with bemusement being discovered by CBS executives asking about the new "girl." "I was already 50 years old. I had done so much off-Broadway, on Broadway, but they said, `Who is that girl? Let's give her her own series,'" Arthur said.

Full Story: 'Golden Girls' star Bea Arthur dies at 86 (AP)