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Actor
Rue McClanahan
- Born February 21, 1934 in Healdton, Oklahoma, USA
- Died June 3, 2010
A veteran television actress and Broadway star of the 50s, Rue McClanahan was an actress noticed by television executive, Norman Lear. Lear cast her in a number of television shows, including "All in the Family" (1971) with 'Carroll OConnor' and "Maude" (1972) with Bea Arthur. McClanahan next co-starred with Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, Betty White and Carol Burnett in "Mama's Family" (1983) for three years, and after it was canceled by NBC, McClanahan was probably best known for her role as the saucy, sharp southern belle, Blanche, in "The Golden Girls" (1985).
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She once again worked with Bea Arthur and Betty White, and with relative newcomer Estelle Getty. All four of the women won Emmy Awards for their roles. After Bea Arthur left the show after eight seasons, McClanahan, White and Getty returned for a brief spin-off in "The Golden Palace" (1992). In the mid-nineties, McClanahan was diagnosed with cancer, but was able to fight it successfully. In addition to lending her talents to a number of made for TV films, McClanahan has also appeared on the big screen in recent years co-starring with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the comedy Out to Sea (1997) and with Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers (1997). McClanahan also spends her time joining and helping organizations against cancer, AIDS, and cruelty against animals.
Known for
Starship Troopers1997
Spider-Man1994
Columbo1971
Law & Order1990
King of the Hill1997
Boy Meets World1993
Murder, She Wrote1984
The Golden Girls1985
Filmography
- 2025The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20FilmSelf / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
- 2022Golden Girls 3033SeriesBlanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
- 2021Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden GirlsFilmBlanche Devereaux
- 2021The Golden Girls: AgelessFilmSelf (archive footage)
- 2018Betty White: First Lady of TelevisionFilmSelf (archive Footage)
- 2010GazeFilmSelf (archive footage)
- 2009Celebrity Ghost StoriesSeriesSelf
- 2008Sordid Lives: The SeriesSeriesPeggy Ingram
- 2008Generation GapFilmKay
- 2005Back to You & MeFilmHelen Ludwick
- 2004WonderfallsSeriesMillie Marcus
- 2004Spider-Man vs. Doc OckFilmMrs. Hardy (voice)
- 2004The Tony Danza ShowSeriesSelf
- 2003The Fighting TemptationsFilmNancy Stringer
- 2003Hope & FaithSeriesSylvia
- 2003Miracle DogsFilmKatherine Mannion
- 2003The Golden Girls: Their Greatest MomentsFilmSelf / Blanche Devereaux
- 2003The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait SeriesFilmBlanche Devereaux (archive footage)
- 2003WhoopiSeriesMarian
- 2002NBC 75th Anniversary SpecialFilmSelf
- 2002The WomenFilmCountess DeLage
- 2001NuncrackersFilmReverend Mother
- 2000The Moving of Sophia MylesFilmMary-Margaret
- 1999A Saintly SwitchFilmAunt Fanny
- 1999Ladies ManSeriesAunt Lou
- 1999Safe HarborSeriesGrandma Loring
- 1999The LotSeriesPriscilla Tremaine
- 1998Rusty: A Dog's TaleFilmEdna Callahan
- 1998Love Boat: The Next WaveSeriesAbigail Jordan
- 1998Border to BorderFilmMrs. Kirby
- 1998Nunsense 3: The JamboreeFilmMother Superior
- 1997Starship TroopersFilmBiology Teacher
- 1997King of the HillSeriesBunny (voice)
- 1997Out to SeaFilmMrs. Carruthers
- 1997The ViewSeriesSelf
- 1997Annabelle's WishFilmScarlett (voice)
- 1997This World, Then the FireworksFilmMom Lakewood
- 1997Lugosi: Hollywood's DraculaFilmSelf
- 1996Dear GodFilmMom Turner
- 1996Promised LandSeriesValerie Carter
- 1996Remember WENNSeriesDusty Foxx
- 1996Innocent VictimsFilmMarylou Hennis
- 1995A Holiday to RememberFilmMiz Leona / Clay's Aunt
- 1994Spider-ManSeriesMrs. Hardy (voice)
- 1994Touched by an AngelSeriesAmelia Archibald, Lila Winslow
- 1994A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell StoryFilmGrandma Stephens
- 1994Burke's LawSeriesJinxy Duke
- 1994Nunsense 2: The SequelFilmRev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
- 1993Boy Meets WorldSeriesBernice Matthews
- 1993The John Larroquette ShowSeriesRue McClanahan
- 1993Message from NamFilmBeatrice Andrews
- 1993Mother of the BrideFilmMargaret Hix, Co-Executive Producer
- 1993NunsenseFilmRev. Mother Mary Regina
- 1993Intimate PortraitSeriesSelf
- 1992The Golden PalaceSeriesBlanche Devereaux
- 1991Baby of the BrideFilmMargaret Hix, Co-Executive Producer
- 1991NursesSeriesBlanche Devereaux
- 1990Law & OrderSeriesLois McIntyre
- 1990The Earth Day SpecialFilmBlanche Devereaux
- 1990The Dreamer of OzFilmMatilda Joslyn Gage
- 1990Children of the BrideFilmMargaret Becker
- 1990Modern LoveFilmMrs. Evelyn Parker
- 1990After the ShockFilmSherra Cox
- 1990Night of 100 Stars IIIFilmSelf
- 1990Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video GuideFilmHerself
- 1990To My DaughterFilmLaura Carlson
- 1989The Man in the Brown SuitFilmSuzy Blair
- 1989The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. HydeFilm
- 1989The Wickedest WitchFilmAvarissa
- 1988Empty NestSeriesBlanche Devereaux
- 1988Mickey's 60th BirthdayFilmSelf
- 1988LiberaceFilmFrances Liberace
- 1988Take My Daughters, PleaseFilmLilah Page
- 1987The Little Match GirlFilmFrances Dutton
- 1986PicnicFilmFlo Owens
- 1985The Golden GirlsSeriesBlanche Devereaux
- 1985The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be ThereFilm
- 1984Murder, She WroteSeriesMiriam Radford
- 1984Charles in ChargeSeriesIrene Pembroke
- 1984Cover UpSeries