# Bea Arthur Syndrome, or "We need someone realy ugly!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2005, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326 "2005-08-16T21:08:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/21 "2005-08-17T00:35:45Z")
While he usually has some prosthetic help, [Ron Perlman](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/aniballetra/ron_perlman.jpg) probably has a record for the most ugly characters portrayed on film. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/22 "2005-08-17T02:54:56Z")
Ruth Buzzi. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/23 "2005-08-17T03:02:42Z")
I have to agree with **cher3**. Bea Arthur was [quite striking](http://www.nerf-herders-anonymous.net/BeatriceArthur.jpg) in her youth. I never thought she was _ugly_, even in her later years. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/24 "2005-08-17T03:15:55Z")
Some of the women looked pretty good when they were younger, but had the bad judgment to get older. :rolleyes: I think the queen of them all was Marie Dressler, who not only was unattractive, but who still managed to be a top star, not just a character actor. ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/25 "2005-08-17T04:11:33Z")
Who played Hatchet face in Cry Baby? Did she really look like that? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/26 "2005-08-17T05:56:21Z")
> [@Good Egg](#): > > Who played Hatchet face in Cry Baby? Did she really look like that? Kim McGuire, who’s done very little else, but _Cry Baby_ reminds me of [Susan Tyrell](http://imdb.com/name/nm0879073/), an actress who totally fits this category. You’d know her if you saw her, but surprisingly there are no good images of her when you Google her name. She looks like Norma Desmond’s even more demented but destitute cousin. Her best known characters include Grandma Ramona in _Cry Baby_ and, my personal favorite, the character of Sconset Sal, a horrid and crude fisherwoman, on the sitcom _Wings_. In one episode of the latter Antonio briefly considers marrying her to stay in the country (she’ll “take him on” for $1000) and is trying to warm to the notion- my favorite scene is when he’s just decided “Well, she’s not _that_ bad”, then she picks something from hair and flicks it saying “Get away little fella… I ain’t the Holly-day Inn!” Sadly she rarely works today because she had to have her legs amputated due to a blood disease a few years ago. Here’s hoping she makes a comeback once she learns to use her prostheses or that somebody who admires her work will write a character role into a wheelchair for her. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/27 "2005-08-17T06:05:35Z")
> [@](#): > > LaWanda “Aunt Esther” Page Page was another example of a woman who looked pretty good back in the day. In her younger days, she worked as a stripper using the stagename “The Bronze Goddess”. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/28 "2005-08-17T06:09:31Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > [Vincent Schiavelli](http://imdb.com/name/nm0001704/) (best known for [this performance](http://www.venus.dti.ne.jp/~akkira/oyaji/vincent/vin.jpg)) who also fits this category. If Steven Wright and Jeffrey Tambor could have a kid… ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/29 "2005-08-17T06:13:16Z")
> [@Little Nemo](#): > > Page was another example of a woman who looked pretty good back in the day. In her younger days, she worked as a stripper using the stagename “The Bronze Goddess”. [Pictures](http://findadeath.com/Deceased/p/lawanda/bronzegoddess.jpg) (they’re actually work safe, but may make you do a double take as her swimsuit is the same color as her skin) ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/30 "2005-08-17T06:20:59Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Kathy Bates Since when is Kathy Bates ugly? She’s heavy, not ugly. NOT the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/31 "2005-08-17T11:36:03Z")
> [@Liz](#): > > Ruth Buzzi. Ruth Buzzi is _not_ ugly. I’d offer her a Walnetto any day. Of course, I had a crush on all the female _Laugh-In_ cast members. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/32 "2005-08-17T13:17:39Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > While he usually has some prosthetic help, [Ron Perlman](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/aniballetra/ron_perlman.jpg) probably has a record for the most ugly characters portrayed on film. In most cases the prosthetic improves his appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/33 "2005-08-17T13:31:45Z")
> [@Biffy the Elephant Shrew](#): > > Ruth Buzzi is _not_ ugly. I’d offer her a Walnetto any day. > > Of course, I had a crush on all the female _Laugh-In_ cast members. Heh! I never thought she was particularly hideous, either, but _you’ve_ seen the Friar’s Club Roasts – she was the Bea Arthur most of the time. Ruth: I have always, always loved Frank Sinatra! Frank: That’s nice, sweetheart, just don’t **look** at me for the love of God. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/34 "2005-08-17T14:45:41Z")
What’s sad is that, if you knew them in real life, few of these people would strike you as ugly and some, especially “back in the day,” you’d think of as hot. Cloris Leachman, for instance, was a beauty queen in college, though if you’ve ever been to the Northwestern campus you’d realize that was no great feat. _rimshot_ No, really, she was Miss Chicago of 1946 in the run up to the Miss America contest. I saw Margaret Hamilton on a talk show and she exuded sweetness to the point where she became beautiful. [aside] I have seen Richard Kiel in all manner of roles that span forty-some years and am happy to see that not once in that time has he paid one red cent for acting lessons, at least ones that took. He couldn’t act in 1959 and he can’t act, in the precisely same manner, today. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/35 "2005-08-17T14:56:03Z")
Danny Trejo (kind of ugly, but more menacing and scary than anything else). He’s always portraying thugs, gang members, killers, prisoners, and monsters. Tiny “Zeus” Lister. Again, he’s big, ugly (with his familiar lazy eye), and scary. Agreed on Steve Buscemi. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/36 "2005-08-17T15:02:33Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Susan Tyrell, an actress who totally fits this category. . THE QUEEN OF THE SIXTH DIMENSION - FORBIDDEN ZONE!!! ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/37 "2005-08-17T15:07:04Z")
I wonder if Liza Weil (Paris Gellar of THE GILMORE GIRLS) may develop into this category tho she’s actually just plain & can be attractive in the right light (as can many listed here- Ruth Buzzy for example, and Margaret Hamilton as Mrs Olson was just sweet!) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/38 "2005-08-17T15:09:02Z")
Has anyone mentioned [Randy Quaid](http://images.zap2it.com/ltvimages/images/240/randyquaid_240.jpg)? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/39 "2005-08-17T15:17:07Z")
Dammit, Woman, you’ve been invoked with passion & desperation for the past two weeks! [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=328476&page=1&pp=50](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=328476&page=1&pp=50) And this [QUOTE=Eve] As a hatchet-faced crone myselfQUOTE] is just a desperate plea for affirmation! You’re a doll & you know it- now just tell us about Peter Sellers, please. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326/40 "2005-08-17T15:28:40Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree] What’s so ugly about Bea Arthur? I think she’s nice looking. And Sarah Jessica Parker is easily twice as ugly as Bea Arthur. Sarah Jessica has the classic Witchy-Poo face, warts included. Yet they pass her off as beautiful. QUOTE] Give me a choice as to who to have dinner with and I’d choose Bea Arthur. She seems like a pleasant old lady who’d have some good stories. If I was having dinner with Sarah Jessica Parker I don’t know how I’d every get past that little voice in my head that says “Gah! She is one ugly broad. Matthew Broderick must be gay.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bea-arthur-syndrome-or-we-need-someone-realy-ugly/317326.md?page=3)