Rue McClanahan
Acting
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
Acting127
movieThe Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
2025
Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
tvGolden Girls 3033
2022
Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
movieForever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021
Blanche Devereaux
movieThe Golden Girls: Ageless
2021
Self (archive footage)
movieBetty White: First Lady of Television
2018
Self (archive Footage)
movieGaze
2010
Self (archive footage)
tvSordid Lives: The Series
2008
Peggy Ingram
movieBack to You & Me
2005
Helen Ludwick
tvWonderfalls
2004
Millie Marcus
tvHope & Faith
2003
Sylvia
movieThe Fighting Temptations
2003
Nancy Stringer
tvWhoopi
2003
Marian
movieMiracle Dogs
2003
Katherine Mannion
movieThe Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003
Self / Blanche Devereaux
movieThe Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003
Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
movieThe Women
2002
Countess DeLage
movieNuncrackers
2001
Reverend Mother
movieThe Moving of Sophia Myles
2000
Mary-Margaret
Safe Harbor
1999
Grandma Loring
tvLadies Man
1999
Aunt Lou
tvThe Lot
1999
Priscilla Tremaine
movieA Saintly Switch
1999
Aunt Fanny
movieRusty: A Dog's Tale
1998
Edna Callahan
tvLove Boat: The Next Wave
1998
Abigail Jordan
movieNunsense 3: The Jamboree
1998
Mother Superior
movieStarship Troopers
1997
Biology Teacher
movieAnnabelle's Wish
1997
Scarlett (voice)
tvThe View
1997
Self
movieThis World, Then the Fireworks
1997
Mom Lakewood
movieOut to Sea
1997
Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
tvKing of the Hill
1997
Bunny (voice)
movieDear God
1996
Mom Turner
tvPromised Land
1996
Valerie Carter
movieInnocent Victims
1996
Marylou Hennis
tvRemember WENN
1996
Dusty Foxx
movieA Holiday to Remember
1995
Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
tvSpider-Man
1994
Mrs. Hardy (voice)
tvTouched by an Angel
1994
Amelia Archibald / Lila Winslow
movieA Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story
1994
Grandma Stephens
tvBurke's Law
1994
Jinxy Duke
movieNunsense 2: The Sequel
1994
Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
movieMessage from Nam
1993
Beatrice Andrews
tvBoy Meets World
1993
Bernice Matthews
tvThe John Larroquette Show
1993
Rue McClanahan
movieNunsense
1993
Rev. Mother Mary Regina
movieMother of the Bride
1993
Margaret Becker Hix
tvThe Golden Palace
1992
Blanche Devereaux
movieBaby of the Bride
1991
Margaret Becker Hix
tvNurses
1991
Blanche Devereaux
movieThe Dreamer of Oz
1990
Matilda Joslyn Gage
movieTo My Daughter
1990
Laura Carlson
movieChildren of the Bride
1990
Margaret Becker
tvLaw & Order
1990
Lois McIntyre
movieAfter the Shock
1990
Sherra Cox
movieThe Earth Day Special
1990
Blanche Devereaux
movieModern Love
1990
Mrs. Evelyn Parker
movieThe Wickedest Witch
1989
Avarissa
movieThe Man in the Brown Suit
1989
Suzy Blair
tvEmpty Nest
1988
Blanche Devereaux
Liberace
1988
Frances Liberace
movieThe Little Match Girl
1987
Frances Dutton
moviePicnic
1986
Flo Owens
tvThe Golden Girls
1985
Blanche Devereaux
tvCharles in Charge
1984
Irene Pembroke
tvMurder, She Wrote
1984
Miriam Radford
tvMama's Family
1983
Frances Marie Crowley
movieThe Skin of Our Teeth
1983
Fortune Teller
movieThe Day the Bubble Burst
1982
Barbara Arvey
tvAmerican Playhouse
1982
Fortune Teller
tvDarkroom
1981
Mrs. Louise Michaelson
tvHere's Boomer
1981
Thelma
movieWord of Honor
1981
Maggie McNeill
movieGridlock
1980
Adele Sherman
movieTopper
1979
Clara Topper
tvSupertrain
1979
Ms. Rick
movieRainbow
1978
Ida Koverman
tvApple Pie
1978
Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
movieHaving Babies III
1978
Gloria Miles
tvFantasy Island
1978
Gertie Lawton / Margaret Fielding
tvThe Love Boat
1977
April Dunlevy / Mary Hubble / Doris Simpson / Laura Thornton Hayes
movieBlade
1973
Gail
movieThe Rimers of Eldritch
1972
Cora Groves
tvMaude
1972
Vivian Harmon
movieSome of My Best Friends Are...
1971
Lita Joyce
movieHogan's Goat
1971
Josey Finn
tvColumbo
1971
Verity Chandler
movieThey Might Be Giants
1971
Daisy Playfair
tvGreat Performances
1971
Josey Finn / Cora / Faye Precious
tvAll in the Family
1971
Ruth Rempley
tvWhere the Heart Is
1969
Margaret Jardin #2
How to Succeed with Girls
1964
Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
tvAnother World
1964
Caroline Johnson
movieFive Minutes to Love
1963
Sally 'Poochie'
Production2
movieMother of the Bride
1993
Co-Executive Producer
movieBaby of the Bride
1991
Co-Executive Producer