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.
74 movies · 54 shows
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
2025·9.0
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021·10.0
The Golden Girls: Ageless
2021·10.0
Betty White: First Lady of Television
2018·7.4
Gaze
2010·1.0
Generation Gap
2008·7.2
Back to You & Me
2005·6.6
Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock
2004·7.0
The Fighting Temptations
2003·5.8
Miracle Dogs
2003·6.1
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003·6.8
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003·9.4
The Women
2002·9.0
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002·6.0
Nuncrackers
2001·9.3
The Moving of Sophia Myles
2000·8.0
A Saintly Switch
1999·6.3
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
1998·5.8
Border to Border
1998·7.0
Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
1998·9.0
Starship Troopers
1997·7.1
Annabelle's Wish
1997·6.6
This World, Then the Fireworks
1997·5.2
Out to Sea
1997·5.8
Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
1997·8.5
Dear God
1996·5.4
Innocent Victims
1996·7.0
A Holiday to Remember
1995·4.9
A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story
1994·7.2
Nunsense 2: The Sequel
1994·6.3
Message from Nam
1993·5.3
Nunsense
1993·7.2
Mother of the Bride
1993·6.2
Baby of the Bride
1991·6.0
The Dreamer of Oz
1990·7.6
To My Daughter
1990·8.0
Children of the Bride
1990·7.0
After the Shock
1990·6.4
Night of 100 Stars III
1990·4.0
The Earth Day Special
1990·6.1
Modern Love
1990·4.6
Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide
1990·8.5
Help Save Planet Earth
1990·9.0
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1989·5.7
The Wickedest Witch
1989·6.3
The Man in the Brown Suit
1989·5.8
Take My Daughters, Please
1988·9.0
Mickey's 60th Birthday
1988·6.8
Liberace
1988·6.3
The Little Match Girl
1987·7.3
Picnic
1986·4.0
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985·0.0
The Skin of Our Teeth
1983·10.0
The Day the Bubble Burst
1982·5.0
Word of Honor
1981·7.5
Gridlock
1980·5.7
Topper
1979·7.0
Rainbow
1978·10.0
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978·4.4
Having Babies III
1978·4.8
A Different Approach
1978·6.5
Blade
1973·5.5
The Rimers of Eldritch
1972·0.0
Some of My Best Friends Are...
1971·4.6
Hogan's Goat
1971·6.3
They Might Be Giants
1971·7.0
The People Next Door
1970·5.9
Angel's Flight
1965·4.8
How to Succeed with Girls
1964·6.5
Five Minutes to Love
1963·4.3
Five Minutes to Live
1961·5.5
The Grass Eater
1961·9.0
Just Between Us
1961·0.0
Hollywood After Dark
1961·2.4