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Rue McClanahan

Television Actress / Film Actress / Penwoman / Stage Actress / Comedian | * 02/21/1934 († 76, 06/03/2010) | Healdton, Oklahoma (United States of America (USA))
8,892
Eddi-Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress and comedian best known for her roles on television sitcoms, including Vivian Harmon on Maude (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on Mama's Family (1983–84), and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls (1985–92), and its spin-off series The Golden Palace (1992–93). McClanahan won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987 for her role in The Golden Girls. ()
Photo of Rue McClanahan

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.

Most frequent genres for this person: Comedies | Drama | TV Movies

Known for these Movies & Shows

Set in the future, the story follows a young soldier named Johnny Rico and his exploits in the Mobile Infantry. Rico's military career progresses from recruit to non-commissioned officer and finally t ...

Starship Troopers

R

1997 | 3.5/5 | 2h 9min
Adventure, Action, Thriller, Science Fiction
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Four Southern Florida seniors share a house, their dreams, and a whole lot of cheesecake. Bright, promiscuous, clueless and hilarious, these lovely, mismatched ladies form the perfect circle of friend ...

The Golden Girls

TV-PG

1985 | 3.8/5 | 24min per episode
Comedy
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Well-educated and upper middle class, Maude Findlay is the archetypal feminist of her generation. She lives in suburban Tuckahoe, New York, with her fourth husband, Walter, their divorced daughter, Ca ...

Maude

TV-PG

1972 | 3.3/5 | 30min per episode
Comedy, Drama
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The Golden Palace begins where The Golden Girls had ended, in the quartet's now-sold Miami house. With Dorothy Zbornak having married and left in the previous series finale, the three remaining cast m ...

The Golden Palace

TV-PG

1992 | 3.1/5 | 24min per episode
Comedy
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Awards & Nominations for Rue McClanahan

Disney Legends Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series Golden Apple Award TV Land Award
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Movies with Rue McClanahan as Actress(63)

as Blanche Devereaux2021 Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
as Self (archive footage)2021 The Golden Girls: Ageless
as Self (Archival Footage)2018 Betty White: First Lady of Television
as Gloria Miles2013 Bo Burnham: What.
as Self (archive footage)2010 Gaze
as Kay2008 Generation Gap
as Helen Ludwick2005 Back to You & Me
as Nancy Stringer2003 The Fighting Temptations
as Katherine Mannion2003 Miracle Dogs
as Blanche Devereaux2003 The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
as Countess DeLage2002 The Women
as Reverend Mother2001 Nuncrackers
as Mary-Margaret2000 The Moving of Sophia Myles
as Edna Callahan1998 Rusty: A Dog's Tale
as Mother Superior1998 Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
as Mrs. Kirby1998 Border to Border
as Scarlett (voice)1997 Annabelle's Wish
as Biology Teacher1997 Starship Troopers
as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers1997 Out to Sea
as herself1997 Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
as Mom Lakewood1997 This World, Then the Fireworks
as Mom Turner1996 Dear God
as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt1995 A Holiday to Remember
as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina1994 Nunsense 2: The Sequel
as Beatrice Andrews1993 Message from Nam
as Margaret Becker Hix1993 Mother of the Bride
as Rev. Mother Mary Regina1993 Nunsense
as Margaret Becker Hix1991 Baby of the Bride
as herself1990 Night Of 100 Stars III
as Blanche Devereaux1990 The Earth Day Special
as Margaret Becker1990 Children of the Bride
as herself1990 Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide
as Sherra Cox1990 After the Shock
as Mrs. Evelyn Parker1990 Modern Love
as Matilda Electa Joslyn Gage1990 The Dreamer of Oz
as Laura Carlson1990 To My Daughter
as Avarissa1989 The Wickedest Witch
as Suzy Blair1989 The Man in the Brown Suit
as Lilah Page1988 Take My Daughters, Please
as Frances Liberace1988 Liberace
as herself1988 Mickey's 60th Birthday
as Frances Dutton1987 The Little Match Girl
as Flo Owens1986 Picnic
as Fortune Teller1983 The Skin of Our Teeth
as Barbara Arvey1982 The Day the Bubble Burst
as Maggie McNeill1981 Word of Honor
as Adele Sherman1980 Gridlock
as Clara Topper1979 Topper
as Mat's Mother1978 Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
as Ida Koverman1978 Rainbow
1978 A Different Approach
as Gail1973 Blade
as Daisy Playfair1971 They Might Be Giants
as Josey Finn1971 Hogan's Goat
as Lita Joyce1971 Some of My Best Friends Are...
as Della1970 The People Next Door
as Dolly1965 Angel's Flight
as Lorena1964 How to Succeed with Girls
as Sally 'Poochie'1963 Five Minutes to Love
as Sandy1961 Hollywood After Dark
1961 Just Between Us
1961 The Grass Eater
as Pamela1961 Five Minutes to Live

TV Shows/Series with Rue McClanahan as Actress(49)

as herself2009 Celebrity Ghost Stories
as Peggy Ingram2008 Sordid Lives: The Series
2004 The Tony Danza Show
as Millie Marcus2004 Wonderfalls
as Sylvia2003 Hope & Faith
2003 Whoopi
as Grandma Loring1999 Safe Harbor
1999 The Lot
as Abigail Jordan1998 Love Boat: The Next Wave
as Bunny (voice)1997 King of the Hill
as herself1997 The View
as Valerie Carter1996 Promised Land
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)1994 Spider-Man
as Amelia Bowthorpe Archibald1994 Touched by an Angel
as Lila Winslow1994 Touched by an Angel
as herself1993 Intimate Portrait
1993 The John Larroquette Show
as Bernice Matthews1993 Boy Meets World
as Blanche Devereaux1992 The Golden Palace
as Blanche Devereaux1991 Nurses
as Lois McIntyre1990 Law & Order
as Blanche Devereaux1988 Empty Nest
as Blanche Devereaux1985 The Golden Girls
as Miriam Radford1984 Murder, She Wrote
as Angie1984 Crazy like a Fox
1984 Cover Up
as Irene Pembroke1984 Charles in Charge
as Frances Marie Crowley1983 Mama's Family
1982 Newhart
1982 American Playhouse
1981 Darkroom
1981 Gimme a Break!
as Thelma1980 Here's Boomer
1979 Trapper John, M.D.
as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock1978 Apple Pie
as April Dunlevy1977 The Love Boat
as Mary Hubble1977 The Love Boat
as Doris Simpson1977 The Love Boat
1977 Lou Grant
1976 Alice
as Vivian Harmon1972 Maude
as Verity Chandler1971 Columbo
as Ruth Rempley1971 All in the Family
as Cora1971 Great Performances
as Josey Finn1971 Great Performances
as Faye Precious1971 Great Performances
as Margaret Jardin #21969 Where the Heart Is
1967 Mannix
as Caroline Johnson1964 Another World

Movies with Rue McClanahan as Crew(2)

Production/Co-Executive Producer1993 Mother of the Bride
Production/Co-Executive Producer1991 Baby of the Bride

Full Name: Rue McClanahan
Born: Wednesday, 02/21 1934 (February) in Healdton, Oklahoma (United States of America (USA))
Died: Thursday, 06/03 2010 (June) in New York City (aged: 76)
Zodiac sign: Pisces (Chinese zodiac sign: Dog)
Languages: American English
Educated at: University of Tulsa, University of Oklahoma
Spouses (current/former): Tom Bish, Norman Hartweg, Peter Demaio, Gus Fisher, Tom Keel, Morrow Wilson
Other names for Rue McClanahan (nicknames, foreign languages etc.):
"Patti Leigh"
"Patty Leigh"
"Rhue McClanahan"
"Eddi-Rue McClanahan"
Rue McClanahan frequently works together with these people:
David Herman (89x, Actor)
Phil Hendrie (19x, Actor)
Scott Klace (17x, Actor)
Phil LaMarr (13x, Actor)
Jessica Walter (12x, Actress)
William Windom (12x, Actor)
Dan Goggin (12x, Crew)
Susan Harris (12x, Crew)
Dick Van Patten (11x, Actor)
Herb Edelman (11x, Actor)
Charles Siebert (11x, Actor)
Edward Winter (11x, Actor)
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WatchPlayStream ID: PEOPLE:3520, Added: 03/23/2018, Last updated: 04/23/2024