Rue McClanahan profile
Actor profile

Rue McClanahan

21st February 1934 Healdton, Oklahoma, USA Acting

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.

73 Movies 54 TV Shows 127 Credits
Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Gaze poster
Gaze 13th July 2010 as Self (archive footage)
Nunsense poster
Nunsense 1st July 1993 as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
Liberace poster
Liberace 2nd October 1988 as Frances Liberace
Picnic poster
Picnic 10th November 1986 as Flo Owens
Topper poster
Topper 9th November 1979 as Clara Topper
Rainbow poster
Rainbow 6th November 1978 as Ida Koverman
Blade poster
Blade 1st December 1973 as Gail
Whoopi poster
Whoopi 9th September 2003 as Marian
The Lot poster
The Lot 19th August 1999 as Priscilla Tremaine
Nurses poster
Nurses 14th September 1991 as Blanche Devereaux
Apple Pie poster
Apple Pie 23rd September 1978 as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
Maude poster
Maude 12th September 1972 as Vivian Harmon
Columbo poster
Columbo 15th September 1971 as Verity Chandler