Could Anyone Else Have Played the Part of Maude Besides Bea Arthur?

[Jefffalan]

I doubt it. Bea Arthur TOTALLY took over her character as Maude Findlay, sort of like these Actors and Their Characters:

Don Knotts as Barney Fife

Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford

Carroll O'Connor as Archie Bunker

Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden

John Amos as James Evans

Polly Holliday as Florence Jean Castleberry

Can you picture anyone else playing these characters? It's almost like these were roles the actors were Born To Play . . .

[James"Thunder"Early]

the role of Maude was one that only Bea Arthur could play. she had the powerful look that went with Maude's personality. no one else could play Maude