Rue McClanahan

Biography

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 Known For

Law & Order

as Lois McIntyre

Columbo

as Verity Chandler

King of the Hill

as Bunny (voice)

The Mike Douglas Show

as Self

Murder, She Wrote

as Miriam Radford

The View

as Self

Great Performances

as Josey Finn

Great Performances

as Cora

Great Performances

as Faye Precious

The Love Boat

as April Dunlevy

The Love Boat

as Mary Hubble

The Love Boat

as Doris Simpson

The Golden Girls

as Blanche Devereaux

Spider-Man

as Mrs. Hardy (voice)

Alice

Mannix

Touched by an Angel

as Amelia Bowthorpe Archibald

Touched by an Angel

as Lila Winslow

Boy Meets World

as Bernice Matthews

Intimate Portrait

as Self