Rue McClanahan
Acting
🎂 1934-02-21
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). 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.
Cast credits(127)
Bunny (voice)
1997
Lois McIntyre
1990
Self
1997
Self
2004
1982
Josey Finn
1971
Cora
1971
Faye Precious
1971
Amelia Bowthorpe Archibald
1994
Lila Winslow
1994
Irene Pembroke
1984
1979
Verity Chandler
1971
Self
1961
1976
1967
1981
Miriam Radford
1984
Frances Marie Crowley
1983
1977
Blanche Devereaux
1988
Blanche Devereaux
1985
Mrs. Hardy (voice)
1994
Valerie Carter
1996
Angie
1984
April Dunlevy
1977
Mary Hubble
1977
Doris Simpson
1977
Bernice Matthews
1993
Self
1993
Ruth Rempley
1971
Margaret Jardin #2
1969
1982
Vivian Harmon
1972
Jinxy Duke
1994
Abigail Jordan
1998
Sylvia
2003
Blanche Devereaux
1992
Rue McClanahan
1993
Dusty Foxx
1996
Thelma
1980
Millie Marcus
2004
Blanche Devereaux
1991
1981
1978
1999
Self
2009
Grandma Loring
1999
Peggy Ingram
2008
1984
Aunt Lou
1999
Biology Teacher
1997
Marian
2003
Caroline Johnson
1964
Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
1978
Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
2022
1979
Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
1997
Nancy Stringer
2003
Mom Turner
1996
Blanche Devereaux
1990
Scarlett (voice)
1997
Daisy Playfair
1971
Self
2002
Adele Sherman
1980
Gail
1973
Self
1988
Self
1990
Pamela
1961
Mom Lakewood
1997
1989
Sally 'Poochie'
1963
Ida Koverman
1978
Mrs. Evelyn Parker
1990
Katherine Mannion
2003
Edna Callahan
1998
Helen Ludwick
2005
Margaret Becker
1990
Flo Owens
1986
Self (archive footage)
2010
Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
1995
Herself (Archival footage)
2020
Clara Topper
1979
Maggie McNeill
1981
Della
1970
Countess DeLage
2002
Margaret Becker Hix
1991
Margaret Becker Hix
1993
Beatrice Andrews
1993
Mary-Margaret
2000
Mat's Mother
1978
Rev. Mother Mary Regina
1993
Barbara Arvey
1982
Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
1994
Self (archive Footage)
2018
Suzy Blair
1989
Grandma Stephens
1994
Gloria Miles
1978
Frances Dutton
1987
Frances Liberace
1988
Marylou Hennis
1996
Dolly
1965
Laura Carlson
1990
Lita Joyce
1971
Mother Superior
1998
Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
2003
1978
Mrs. Kirby
1998
Self / Blanche Devereaux
2003
Blanche Devereaux
2021
Kay
2008
Self
1997
Sherra Cox
1990
Fortune Teller
1983
Lilah Page
1988
Matilda Joslyn Gage
1990
Reverend Mother
2001
Sandy
1961
Self (archive footage)
2021
Josey Finn
1971
Blanche Devereaux
2022
Cora Groves
1972
Avarissa
1989
Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
1964
1961
1961
Herself
1990