Bill Macy, who played Bea Arthur’s husband in ‘Maude,’ dead at 97

Bill Macy, the actor known for his role as the fourth husband, Walter Findlay, to Bea Arthur’s unyielding feminist on the daring 1970s sitcom “Maude,” has died. He was 97.

Macy died at 7:13PM last night in Los Angeles, Macy’s friend Matt Beckoff confirmed in a Facebook post. “He is survived by his wife Samantha Harper Macy,” Beckoff called Macy “a spitfire right up to the end.”

“My buddy. Gonna miss you Bill,” he added.

Bill Macy was born Wolf Martin Garber on May 18, 1922 in Revere, Massachusetts to Mollie (née Friedopfer) (1889-1986) and Michael Garber (1884-1974), a manufacturer. He was raised Jewish in Brooklyn, New York, and worked as a cab driver before pursuing an acting career.

Macy played Walter Findlay, the long-suffering husband of the title character in the 1970s television situation comedy Maude, starring Beatrice Arthur.

Macy made more than 70 appearances on film and television. He appeared as the Jury foreman in The Producers in 1967. Other memorable roles include the co-inventor of the ‘Opti-grab’ in the 1979 Steve Martin comedy The Jerk, and as the head television writer in My Favorite Year (1982).

His other film credits include roles in Death at Love House (1976), The Late Show (1977), Serial (1980), Movers & Shakers (1985), Bad Medicine (1985), Tales from the Darkside (1986), Sibling Rivalry (1990), The Doctor (1991), Me, Myself and I (1992), Analyze This (1999), Surviving Christmas (2004), The Holiday (2006), and Mr. Woodcock (2007).

In 1986, Macy was a guest on the fourth episode of L.A. Law, playing an older man whose young wife wants a music career. Macy appeared in the popular television movie Perry Mason and The Case Of The Murdered Madame (1987) as banker Richard Wilson.

He appeared occasionally on Seinfeld as one of the residents of the Florida retirement community where Jerry Seinfeld’s parents lived. Macy portrayed a demon in a guest appearance on Millennium. Macy made a guest appearance as a patient on Chicago Hope, and as an aging gambler on the series Las Vegas.

Macy was an original cast member of the long-running theatrical revue Oh! Calcutta!, a production famous for the cast appearing nude in the finale.