Rue McClanahan
Known For
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
Feb 21, 1934 (92 years old)
Place of Birth
Healdton, Oklahoma, USA
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.
Known For
| 2025 | The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and FriendshipSelf / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage) | |
| 2022 | Golden Girls 3033Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound) | |
| 2021 | Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden GirlsBlanche Devereaux | |
| 2021 | The Golden Girls: AgelessSelf (archive footage) | |
| 2018 | Betty White: First Lady of TelevisionSelf (archive Footage) | |
| 2010 | GazeSelf (archive footage) | |
| 2009 | Celebrity Ghost StoriesSelf | |
| 2008 | Generation GapKay | |
| 2008 | Sordid Lives: The SeriesPeggy Ingram | |
| 2005 | Back to You & MeHelen Ludwick | |
| 2004 | The Tony Danza ShowSelf | |
| 2004 | WonderfallsMillie Marcus | |
| 2003 | The Golden Girls: Their Greatest MomentsSelf / Blanche Devereaux | |
| 2003 | The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait SeriesBlanche Devereaux (archive footage) | |
| 2003 | Miracle DogsKatherine Mannion | |
| 2003 | The Fighting TemptationsNancy Stringer | |
| 2003 | WhoopiMarian | |
| 2003 | Hope & FaithSylvia | |
| 2002 | NBC 75th Anniversary SpecialSelf | |
| 2002 | The WomenCountess DeLage | |
| 2001 | NuncrackersReverend Mother | |
| 2000 | The Moving of Sophia MylesMary-Margaret | |
| 1999 | A Saintly SwitchAunt Fanny | |
| 1999 | Safe HarborGrandma Loring | |
| 1999 | Ladies ManAunt Lou | |
| 1999 | The LotPriscilla Tremaine | |
| 1998 | Rusty: A Dog's TaleEdna Callahan | |
| 1998 | Nunsense 3: The JamboreeMother Superior | |
| 1998 | Border to BorderMrs. Kirby | |
| 1998 | Love Boat: The Next WaveAbigail Jordan | |
| 1997 | Starship TroopersBiology Teacher | |
| 1997 | This World, Then the FireworksMom Lakewood | |
| 1997 | Out to SeaMrs. Ellen Carruthers | |
| 1997 | Lugosi: Hollywood's DraculaSelf | |
| 1997 | Annabelle's WishScarlett (voice) | |
| 1997 | King of the HillBunny (voice) | |
| 1997 | The ViewSelf | |
| 1996 | Dear GodMom Turner | |
| 1996 | Innocent VictimsMarylou Hennis | |
| 1996 | Promised LandValerie Carter | |
| 1996 | Remember WENNDusty Foxx | |
| 1995 | A Holiday to RememberMiz Leona / Clay's Aunt | |
| 1994 | A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell StoryGrandma Stephens | |
| 1994 | Nunsense 2: The SequelRev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina | |
| 1994 | Spider-ManMrs. Hardy (voice) | |
| 1994 | Touched by an AngelAmelia Bowthorpe Archibald | |
| 1994 | Touched by an AngelLila Winslow | |
| 1994 | Burke's LawJinxy Duke | |
| 1993 | NunsenseRev. Mother Mary Regina | |
| 1993 | Mother of the BrideMargaret Becker Hix | |
| 1993 | Message from NamBeatrice Andrews | |
| 1993 | The John Larroquette ShowRue McClanahan | |
| 1993 | Boy Meets WorldBernice Matthews | |
| 1993 | Intimate PortraitSelf | |
| 1992 | The Golden PalaceBlanche Devereaux | |
| 1991 | Baby of the BrideMargaret Becker Hix | |
| 1991 | NursesBlanche Devereaux | |
| 1990 | Children of the BrideMargaret Becker | |
| 1990 | Night of 100 Stars IIISelf | |
| 1990 | Modern LoveMrs. Evelyn Parker | |
| 1990 | The Dreamer of OzMatilda Joslyn Gage | |
| 1990 | After the ShockSherra Cox | |
| 1990 | Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video GuideHerself | |
| 1990 | To My DaughterLaura Carlson | |
| 1990 | The Earth Day SpecialBlanche Devereaux | |
| 1990 | Help Save Planet EarthSelf | |
| 1990 | Law & OrderLois McIntyre | |
| 1989 | The Man in the Brown SuitSuzy Blair | |
| 1989 | The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde | |
| 1989 | The Wickedest WitchAvarissa | |
| 1988 | LiberaceFrances Liberace | |
| 1988 | Mickey's 60th BirthdaySelf | |
| 1988 | Take My Daughters, PleaseLilah Page | |
| 1988 | Empty NestBlanche Devereaux | |
| 1987 | The Little Match GirlFrances Dutton | |
| 1986 | PicnicFlo Owens | |
| 1985 | The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There | |
| 1985 | The Golden GirlsBlanche Devereaux | |
| 1984 | Charles in ChargeIrene Pembroke | |
| 1984 | Cover Up | |
| 1984 | Crazy like a FoxAngie | |
| 1984 | Murder, She WroteMiriam Radford | |
| 1983 | The Skin of Our TeethFortune Teller | |
| 1983 | Mama's FamilyFrances Marie Crowley | |
| 1982 | The Day the Bubble BurstBarbara Arvey | |
| 1982 | Newhart | |
| 1982 | American Playhouse | |
| 1981 | Word of HonorMaggie McNeill | |
| 1981 | Gimme a Break! | |
| 1981 | Darkroom | |
| 1981 | Here's BoomerThelma | |
| 1980 | GridlockAdele Sherman | |
| 1979 | TopperClara Topper | |
| 1979 | Trapper John, M.D. | |
| 1979 | $weepstake$ | |
| 1979 | SupertrainMs. Rick | |
| 1978 | A Different Approach | |
| 1978 | RainbowIda Koverman | |
| 1978 | Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air ForceMat's Mother | |
| 1978 | Having Babies IIIGloria Miles | |
| 1978 | Grandpa Goes to Washington | |
| 1978 | Apple PieGinger-Nell Hollyhock | |
| 1978 | Fantasy IslandGertie Lawton | |
| 1977 | Lou Grant | |
| 1977 | The Love BoatApril Dunlevy | |
| 1977 | The Love BoatMary Hubble | |
| 1977 | The Love BoatDoris Simpson | |
| 1977 | The Love BoatLaura Thornton Hayes | |
| 1976 | Alice | |
| 1973 | BladeGail | |
| 1972 | The Rimers of EldritchCora Groves | |
| 1972 | MaudeVivian Harmon | |
| 1971 | Some of My Best Friends Are...Lita Joyce | |
| 1971 | Hogan's GoatJosey Finn | |
| 1971 | They Might Be GiantsDaisy Playfair | |
| 1971 | All in the FamilyRuth Rempley | |
| 1971 | ColumboVerity Chandler | |
| 1971 | Great PerformancesJosey Finn | |
| 1971 | Great PerformancesCora | |
| 1971 | Great PerformancesFaye Precious | |
| 1970 | The People Next DoorDella | |
| 1969 | Where the Heart IsMargaret Jardin #2 | |
| 1967 | Mannix | |
| 1965 | Angel's FlightDolly | |
| 1964 | How to Succeed with GirlsLorena (as Patty Leigh) | |
| 1964 | Another WorldCaroline Johnson | |
| 1963 | Five Minutes to LoveSally 'Poochie' | |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf | |
| 1961 | Five Minutes to LivePamela | |
| 1961 | Hollywood After DarkSandy | |
| 1961 | The Grass Eater | |
| 1961 | Just Between Us | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas ShowSelf |
| 1993 | Mother of the BrideCo-Executive Producer | |
| 1991 | Baby of the BrideCo-Executive Producer |














