Bill Macy, an actor best known for his role as Walter Findlay , Bea Arthur’s harried husband, on the popular 1970s sitcom “Maude,” died on Thursday night at his home in Los Angeles . He was 97 .

The death was confirmed by his wife, Samantha Harper Macy .

Mr. Macy’s acting career took off after he turned 40 and peaked with his role on “Maude.” He played Walter for the show’s entire run, from 1972 to 1978.

“Maude” pushed sitcom boundaries. Its lead character was an outspoken middle-aged feminist whose atypical household consisted of her husband, her daughter from an earlier marriage and the daughter’s son. The show, seen on CBS, addressed complex social issues like abortion, alcoholism and racial and sexual relations . Some episodes generated thousands of complaints.