EW.com phoned Rue McClanahan at her Manhattan home Sunday morning to get her memories about her long-time friend and co-star, who died yesterday in Los Angeles at age 86.

Since Bea Arthur died on a weekend the obit would be a little late to post but we just have to acknowledge a legend. So thanks to this Q&A from EW.

What did you learn about acting from Bea Arthur?
What I got attached to, as an actress, was her impeccable timing. And I loved playing scenes with her. She taught me, by watching her, even back during Maude, to be outrageously courageous as a comedienne, to go out on a limb, to go farther than I've ever dreamed of going. [On The Golden Girls], Blanche had to say and do things that Rue found difficult. And it would always be Bea who said [deepens voice to perfectly imitate Arthur] "Oh say it! It's funny!"

What was she like off-camera?
As a friend she was giving and loving to me. She was a very close, quiet, rather timid person, very gentle. I saw someone say something once that they didn't mean to be a cutting remark, but it hit her wrong, and she immediately burst into tears. That was not seen very often, but those emotions were right under the surface.

Any interesting quirks?
[On Golden Girls], Bea always sat in the same chair at rehearsals. Always. And she always had to have me on her right, and Betty [White] and Estelle [Getty] across the table from her. And we could not change seats from year to year, or even from week to week.

How did Bea feel about her status as a feminist icon?
Of course she was aware of it, but I tell you what meant something to Bea: Acting, performing, playing comedy and doing it well.

What was Bea's lasting contribution to TV history?
What's any great star's lasting contribution? What's Lucille Ball's? I don't know how to put answers like that into words. I suppose perhaps the thing she did the best and the most of was make people laugh.