This post was submitted by John "Jolly" Bavoso

Upon hearing the news that legendary actress Bea Arthur had passed away this past April, I, like millions of her fans, was deeply saddened. I’ve seen every episode of The Golden Girls multiple times and while it was before my time, I know of and appreciate the bold feminists statements made by Maude in the 1970s. What Arthur’s death made me realize, however, was that the people I really appreciated and missed were Maude Findlay and Dorothy Zbornak, and that I actually knew very little about the real life of the talented actress who embodied them both on screen. In an age when it seems we all know more than we’d ever like to about the personal lives of vapid reality TV stars who are famous only for being famous, this seems like a great travesty.

And so, when a man comes along with the goal of sitting down with some of our most inspiring living legends for a look into their lives and careers, it’s worth paying attention to. Especially when the man in question, LA-based performer Dan Watt, had the good fortune to spend over six years of his life with Bea Arthur as her friend and personal assistant.

The way in which Watt fell into Arthur’s life seems so random and serendipitous that it could easily have come straight out of a scripted television show.

“I contacted Ms. Arthur about doing a fundraiser for the non-profit organization I had founded called the Art Attack Foundation,” Watt recounts via email from Los Angeles. ” I told her our mission is to inspire community leaders, businesses, and individuals to participate and contribute to the education, enhancement and development of young performing artists and that we nurture and support talent through scholarships, education, training, stage performances, and other cultural activities. I then told her that her career encompassed all that we were about and wondered if she would be willing to do her one-woman Broadway show as a fundraiser for us and she agreed!  She then went on to be the Chairperson for the Foundation.”

And thus began a friendship and working relationship that would span years, right up to Bea’s death earlier this year.

“After working with Bea and her team on the fundraiser, she said that I was so organized with putting that event together and I made it so easy… she asked if I would like to work for her organizing her schedule, appearance requests, fan mail, and charity donations.  I was a bit in shock, but I said, ‘Of course!’”

What started as a business relationship soon evolved into a more personal friendship.

“Bea made working for her very easy. She was always asking me questions about my family and career, showing an interest in all of it.  After about year three we became great friends and when the paperwork side of the job was done we’d talk over a glass of wine or go out to dinner.”

While Arthur was known for her strong performances and larger-than-life persona, Watt claims that when off-the-clock, Bea was a very down-to-earth woman.

“Bea was truly a shy person,” he recalls. “It took a couple years for our relationship to turn into a true friendship but once it did, we talked about everything.  I always had to stay current on world events because she’d want to discuss the headlines. On Sundays, before I went to her house, I’d turn on CNN and read my newspaper from front to back. Also, I quickly learned not to call her to discuss anything between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., as she didn’t like anyone interrupting her while she was watching Judge Judy!”

Arthur even managed to make headlines after her death. During her life, Bea was always a supporter of the LGBT community and had many gay and lesbian fans. So, while it may not have been surprising, it was certainly noteworthy when it was revealed last month that the actress left $300,000 in her will to an organization in New York that helps homeless LGBT youths. This, Watt claims, was an act that was completely in character for her, even if she never made much of a fuss about it.

“This donation is the one that got all the attention but Bea gave to many charities on a regular basis,” he says. “It was part of her nature to support causes that were near and dear to her heart.  She had given to the Ali Forney Center before; she did all this without any need for public recognition.”

The fact that many never knew this about Arthur until after she was gone is part of the motivation for Dan to start his current project, called Lunching with a Legend.

“In my early career I was a dancer and performer.  I then went on to produce, choreograph, and direct musical theatre,” Dan says. ” I have always been involved in the performing arts and fascinated with other people’s journeys.  Every one of us has somebody we admire and look up to. These people are often inspiring, renowned, talented, and legendary. I thought wouldn’t it be great to capture the stories of some of our most legendary performers on tape, discussing their careers, choices, ups and downs, and do it in a way that was true to the story, in their own words – not tabloid-like.”

Bea herself not only encouraged Dan in his pursuit of the project, but agreed to be his very first lunching legend (parts of the interview can be seen in the Insider clip posted below). And, ultimately, it turned out to be her last interview.

“I came up with the idea and asked what Bea thought.  She loved the idea, so I asked if I could interview her and she said, ‘How’s next Saturday?,’” Watt remembers. “I was excited and a little overwhelmed that it was happening so quickly, so I got a production team together, watched every movie, TV show and special Bea did and researched her career. To keep the show in a relaxed atmosphere I wanted to actually have lunch with the legend I was interviewing, so Bea said she would make scallop stir-fry.  We chatted while cooking and then sat at the kitchen table and discussed her career from beginning to end.  When we wrapped the interview, Bea said, ‘That was painless, thanks for making that so easy.’  I thought if I could make it through that interview, I could talk to anybody.”

So, with that shot of confidence, Watt embarked on a mission to lunch with other luminaries, including Betty White, Carol Channing and Phyllis Diller. He hopes to be able to bring this series of talks with these cultural icons to a broader public soon.

“The show is now under development with Roy Bank at Merv Griffin Entertainment. I know we will find the right place for it. I truly think that people are looking for this style of show – a series of candid interviews with iconic people discussing their journey, in their own words, with no hidden agenda or tabloid gossip.  What a pleasure it was to find out about Bea’s first audition in New York, which, by the way, she completely blew and ended up walking off the stage. I also learned Betty White produced the first TV show she was on and sang the theme song, which she then sang for me! These legendary people are known for a few popular characters they created but this show explores their careers and lives, and the experiences that prepared them and made them the people we love.”

I, for one, know I’ll be pulling up a chair at the lunch table – and there better be plenty of cheesecake for dessert.

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