Rue McClanahan - Sexpot Blanche Devereaux of the Golden Girls - Dies at 76

Actress Rue McClanahan, who notably starred as the vivacious southern sexpot Blanche Devereaux on the hit sitcom The Golden Girls during the late 1980s through the early 90s, passed away early this morning after suffering a "massive stroke", according to a report posted to People Online. She was 76.

McClanahan is the third of the four Golden Girls to pass away in recent years. Bea Arthur, who played divorcee Dorothy Sbornak and also had a feather-ruffling turn as Maude on the series of the same name, succumbed last year to cancer. Estelle Getty, who portrayed the feisty Sicilian Sophia Petrillo, passed away just a few days short of her 85th birthday in July of 2008. Surviving cast member Betty White recently played host of Saturday Night Live.

McClanahan's panting portrayal of Blanche Devereaux gave a sense of sexual identity back to seniors during the sitcom's run. She exuded (an often obnoxious but still admirable) self-confidence and despite her more advanced age, she still went after what she wanted, wrinkles and hormal shifts be darned. Unlike co-star Bea Arthur's turn as the abrasive, self-assured Maude, McClanahan's Devereaux was less intimidating, more genteel and more feminine overall, suggesting a softer version of feminism and sexual freedom was in the works for future years.

Born in Oklahoma on February 21, 1934, Eddi Rue McClanahan was a Broadway and television star. According to her IMDB listing, she made appearances in well over 100 television shows and movies, including turns on Newhart, Trapper John MD, Boy Meets World, Law & Order, and the animated show King of the Hill. In fact, she assumed four different roles over five episodes of The Love Boat, displaying her versatility and her ability to assume numerous different and challenging characters.

Although certainly not one of her more heralded roles, a personal favorite was her turn as the no-nonsense Miz Leona in the 1995 holiday flick A Christmas to Remember with country music superstar Randy Travis.

On a personal front, her wandering eye as Blanche wasn't a terrible stretch for the actress. She married six times in her lifetime, producing a single son, Mark, with first husband Tom Bish.

Sources

Charlotte Triggs and Stephen M. Silverman, Golden Girls Star Rue McClanahan Dies at 76, People Online, June 3, 2010

Rue McClanahan IMDB Listing