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.
Known for
Credits
Starship Troopers (1997)
as Biology Teacher
Out to Sea (1997)
as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
The Fighting Temptations (2003)
as Nancy Stringer
The Earth Day Special (1990)
as Blanche Devereaux
They Might Be Giants (1971)
as Daisy Playfair
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2025)
as Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
Annabelle's Wish (1997)
as Scarlett (voice)
The Man in the Brown Suit (1989)
as Suzy Blair
Dear God (1996)
as Mom Turner
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (1985)
Actor
Night of 100 Stars III (1990)
as Self
This World, Then the Fireworks (1997)
as Mom Lakewood
Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988)
as Self
Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock (2004)
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002)
as Self
Nunsense (1993)
as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
Mother of the Bride (1993)
as Margaret Hix
Miracle Dogs (2003)
as Katherine Mannion
A Saintly Switch (1999)
as Aunt Fanny
Betty White: First Lady of Television (2018)
as Self (archive Footage)
Gaze (2010)
as Self (archive footage)
The People Next Door (1970)
as Della
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (2003)
as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
The Dreamer of Oz (1990)
as Matilda Joslyn Gage
Generation Gap (2008)
as Kay
Take My Daughters, Please (1988)
as Lilah Page
Five Minutes to Live (1961)
as Pamela
The Women (2002)
as Countess DeLage
Back to You & Me (2005)
as Helen Ludwick
Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (1997)
as Self
Blade (1973)
as Gail
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1989)
Actor
Modern Love (1990)
as Mrs. Evelyn Parker
A Holiday to Remember (1995)
as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments (2003)
as Self / Blanche Devereaux
Baby of the Bride (1991)
as Margaret Hix
Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998)
as Edna Callahan
A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994)
as Grandma Stephens
Innocent Victims (1996)
as Marylou Hennis
The Little Match Girl (1987)
as Frances Dutton
Topper (1979)
as Clara Topper
Message from Nam (1993)
as Beatrice Andrews
Border to Border (1998)
as Mrs. Kirby
Liberace (1988)
as Frances Liberace
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force (1978)
as Mat's Mother
Just Between Us (1961)
Actor
Word of Honor (1981)
as Maggie McNeill
Hogan's Goat (1971)
as Josey Finn
Rainbow (1978)
as Ida Koverman
The Moving of Sophia Myles (2000)
as Mary-Margaret
The Wickedest Witch (1989)
as Avarissa
A Different Approach (1978)
Actor
Gridlock (1980)
as Adele Sherman
Nunsense 2: The Sequel (1994)
as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
The Golden Girls: Ageless (2021)
as Self (archive footage)
To My Daughter (1990)
as Laura Carlson
Children of the Bride (1990)
as Margaret Becker
Angel's Flight (1965)
as Dolly
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls (2021)
as Blanche Devereaux
The Rimers of Eldritch (1972)
as Cora Groves
The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)
as Barbara Arvey
Having Babies III (1978)
as Gloria Miles
The Skin of Our Teeth (1983)
as Fortune Teller
The Grass Eater (1961)
Actor
After the Shock (1990)
as Sherra Cox
Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971)
as Lita Joyce
Nuncrackers (2001)
as Reverend Mother
Picnic (1986)
as Flo Owens
How to Succeed with Girls (1964)
as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
Hollywood After Dark (1961)
as Sandy
Five Minutes to Love (1963)
as Sally 'Poochie'
Nunsense 3: The Jamboree (1998)
as Mother Superior
Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide (1990)
as Herself