Rue McClanahan

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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.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

2025
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
Movie Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
2022
Golden Girls 3033
TV show Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
2021
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
Movie Blanche Devereaux
2021
The Golden Girls: Ageless
Movie Self (archive footage)
2018
Betty White: First Lady of Television
Movie Self (archive Footage)
2010
Gaze
Movie Self (archive footage)
2009
Celebrity Ghost Stories
TV show Self
2008
Generation Gap
Movie Kay
2008
Sordid Lives: The Series
TV show Peggy Ingram
2005
Back to You & Me
Movie Helen Ludwick
2004
The Tony Danza Show
TV show Self
2004
Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock
Movie Mrs. Hardy (voice)
2004
Wonderfalls
TV show Millie Marcus
2003
Hope & Faith
TV show Sylvia
2003
The Fighting Temptations
Movie Nancy Stringer
2003
Whoopi
TV show Marian

More credits

2003
Miracle Dogs
Movie Katherine Mannion
2003
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
Movie Self / Blanche Devereaux
2003
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
Movie Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
2002
The Women
Movie Countess DeLage
2002
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
Movie Self
2001
Nuncrackers
Movie Reverend Mother
2000
The Moving of Sophia Myles
Movie Mary-Margaret
1999
Ladies Man
TV show Aunt Lou
1999
Safe Harbor
TV show Grandma Loring
1999
The Lot
TV show Priscilla Tremaine
1999
A Saintly Switch
Movie Aunt Fanny
1998
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
Movie Edna Callahan
1998
Border to Border
Movie Mrs. Kirby
1998
Love Boat: The Next Wave
TV show Abigail Jordan
1998
Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
Movie Mother Superior
1997
Starship Troopers
Movie Biology Teacher
1997
Annabelle's Wish
Movie Scarlett (voice)
1997
The View
TV show Self
1997
This World, Then the Fireworks
Movie Mom Lakewood
1997
Out to Sea
Movie Mrs. Carruthers
1997
Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
Movie Self
1997
King of the Hill
TV show Bunny (voice)
1996
Dear God
Movie Mom Turner
1996
Promised Land
TV show Valerie Carter