A Biography of Rue McClanahan

Although she was perhaps best known for her role as Blanche in the hit 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls, the talented actress Rue McClanahan had a long and distinguished career on stage, film, and television. Her passing at the age of 76, the third of the main stars of The Golden Girls, left Betty White as the sole surviving main cast member.

McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma in 1935 to William Edwin and Dreda Rheua-Nell. At that time, her full name was Eddi-Rue McClanahan, which she later shortened to the more familiar Rue. Throughout the 1950s, she established herself on both Broadway and on television, and she would eventually come to the attention of Normal Lear, the creator of the popular television series All in the Family and Maude. McClanahan would soon be cast as Vivian, Maude's best friend. It would go on to become one of her most iconic roles. A few years later, in the early years of the 1980s, she co-starred with Vicki Lawrence, Betty White, and Carol Burnett in the series Mama's Family, in the role of Aunt Fran. Although not as famous as some of her other roles, it is nevertheless one of her most interesting.

Rue's most iconic role, however, was to come in 1985, when she was cast in the role of sassy, sexy Southern belle Blanche Devereaux in the hit series The Golden Girls. Interestingly, she was originally intended to play the part of Rose, the sweet but dim-witted Minnesotan farm girl, but the producers felt she was the right fit for the character of Blanche, and her career took off. She would go on to win an Emmy Award for her performance, and would act in The Golden Girls for seven seasons and on its follow-up series The Golden Palace for one season.

Throughout the 1990s, McClanahan continued to act, snagging supporting roles in a number of Broadway plays, television series, and films. She played Madame Morrible in the hit Broadway play Wicked, a teacher in the science fiction film Starship Troopers, and as a sexy older woman in an episode of Law and Order,as well as a prominent role in the gay-themed series Sordid Lives. Although none of these roles were quite as glamorous as her earlier work, they nevertheless demonstrated her acting ability and versatility.

Like many of her characters, Rue McClanahan had a fascinating personal life, including several marriages (although she only had one son.) She also overcame adversity when she conquered breast cancer, and throughout her later carer she championed a variety of causes, including breast cancer awareness, the rights of the GLBT community (she won a GLAAD award,) and the rights of animals.

In the latter part of 2009 and 2010, Rue began to suffer from additional health problems. First, a stress test indicated that she would have to undergo bypass surgery, forcing her to cancel an appearance at a gala thrown in her honor. During the bypass surgery, she suffered a stroke. Although the stroke heavily impacted her health, she nevertheless managed to start recovery. However, on June 3, 2010, Rue McClanahan suffered a severe aneurism and passed away. She was survived by her one son.

Truly, Rue McClanahan was one of the most versatile and talented actresses, due to her ability to succeed in various performing arts venues. Although she will be dearly missed by her friends and family (including her friend Betty White, who commented on her friend's death,) fans of her work can rest easy knowing that generations of fans will continue to enjoy her characters and to cherish her memory. She was truly a remarkable woman and worthy of remembrance.

Sources
Both the blog Zap 2 It and the IMDB provide useful information about Rue McClanahan, her life, and her work.