Jimmy Kimmel tweets that he was buyer of nude Bea Arthur painting In 2005, comedian Jimmy Kimmel shared a stage with actress Bea Arthur for the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson. Many jokes that evening were made at Arthur's expense, with various comedians lampooning the elderly star's perceived masculine qualities. Kimmel now knows that the late Arthur was all woman, or at least she was from the waist up. On Friday, the comedian confirmed on Twitter that he was the person who spent $1.9 million on a 1991 nude portrait of Arthur by artist John Currin, and that he has given the painting to fellow comedian Jeff Ross. Kimmel apparently bought the painting at a Christie's auction in New York earlier this month. The auction of postwar and contemporary art brought it a record total of $495 million. Ross, who participated in the 2005 roast of Anderson, tweeted a picture of himself on Friday holding the Currin painting: "Biggest surprise of my life. Thank you @jimmykimmel - the most generous guy in the world! Kimmel responded on his official Twitter account: "@realjeffreyross Bea is watching over all of us, but especially you." Representatives for Kimmel were not immediately able to confirm the purchase. "Bea Arthur Nude" is an oil painting that depicts "The Golden Girls" actress, who died in 2009, with her breasts bared. Kimmel got a decent price for the painting -- it had been expected to bring in $1.8 million to $2.5 million, according to Christie's.