Meet The Golden Girls star Bea Arthur's two children — including popular actor son who appeared alongside Jack Nicholson

Bea Arthur was born on May 13, 1922 in New York. Before finding fame, Bea enlisted as one of the first members of the United States Marine Corps Women's Reserve in 1943. After initially serving as a typist, she eventually transferred to become a truck driver and dispatcher; following the end of the war, she was honourably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.

She began her career on stage in 1947, attracting critical acclaim before achieving worldwide recognition for her work on television beginning in the 1970s as Maude Findlay in the popular sitcoms All in the Family (1971–1972) and Maude (1972–1978) and later in the 1980s and 1990s as Dorothy Zbornak on The Golden Girls (1985–1992).

She was still serving in the military when she married her first husband, Robert Alan Aurthur, with the pair marrying in 1944. Robert later became a successful screenwriter and producer, although he and Bea split in 1947.

In 1950, the actress married director Gene Saks, and although they divorced in 1978, during their marriage, the couple adopted two sons, both of whom followed their parents into the world of showbusiness. Here's all you need to know about them…

Bea and Gene's eldest son is Matthew Saks, and he joined his mum on-screen in a 1991 episode of The Golden Girls, when he played a police officer. He also had minor roles in major blockbusters, including Robin Hood: Men in Tights and A Few Good Men, where he starred alongside Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.

However, Matthew eventually decided that acting wasn't for him, and he instead turned to home renovation and landscaping. Bea ended up being one of his clients, with Matthew updating her 1920s Spanish-style estate.

Speaking on her famous reclusiveness, he added: "My mother had close relationships with a few close friends. She wasn’t a loner, but she really liked sitting around and chilling, as people say.

"I can't do that. If I just look out the window, I realise I need to do something. She would wake up in the morning, have a coffee and read the LA Times and The New York Times. That was fun for her."

Bea and Gene's second adoptive son was Daniel, and while he has entered the world of showbusiness, Daniel has remained behind the camera, working as a set designer. He has worked on major projects, including How I Met Your Mother, Babylon 5, Dharma & Greg and The Orville.

Daniel hasn't given any media interviews and keeps his social media accounts private, although his Instagram bio reads: "Artist, Set Designer, Owner of DAS-Machina. I like horror, fantasy, science fiction & steampunk."

Bea Arthur is regarded as one of Hollywood's finest actresses. Her final television appearance was a guest spot on The View in 2007, and her final acting credit overall was the 2000 feature film Enemies of Laughter.

Bea passed away on April 25, 2009 at her home in Brentwood, Los Angeles from cancer. She was surrounded by her family.