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.
Acted in
Golden Girls 3033
2022
as Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2022
as Blanche Devereaux
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021
as Blanche Devereaux
The Golden Girls: Ageless
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Spaceship Earth
2020
as Herself (Archival footage)
Betty White: First Lady of Television
2018
as Self (archive Footage)
Gaze
2010
as Self (archive footage)
Generation Gap
2008
as Kay
Sordid Lives: The Series
2008
as Peggy Ingram
Back to You & Me
2005
as Helen Ludwick
Wonderfalls
2004
as Millie Marcus
Hope & Faith
2003
as Sylvia
The Fighting Temptations
2003
as Nancy Stringer
Whoopi
2003
as Marian
Miracle Dogs
2003
as Katherine Mannion
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003
as Self / Blanche Devereaux
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003
as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
The Women
2002
as Countess DeLage
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self
Nuncrackers
2001
as Reverend Mother
The Moving of Sophia Myles
2000
as Mary-Margaret
Safe Harbor
1999
as Grandma Loring
Ladies Man
1999
as Aunt Lou
The Lot
1999
Ashes to Ashes
1998
as Verity Chandler
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
1998
as Edna Callahan
Border to Border
1998
as Mrs. Kirby
Love Boat: The Next Wave
1998
as Abigail Jordan
Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
1998
as Mother Superior
Starship Troopers
1997
as Biology Teacher
Annabelle's Wish
1997
as Scarlett (voice)
This World, Then the Fireworks
1997
as Mom Lakewood
Out to Sea
1997
as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
1997
as Self
King of the Hill
1997
as Bunny (voice)
Dear God
1996
as Mom Turner
Promised Land
1996
as Valerie Carter
A Holiday to Remember
1995
as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
Spider-Man
1994
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Amelia Bowthorpe Archibald
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Lila Winslow
A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story
1994
as Grandma Stephens
Burke's Law
1994
as Jinxy Duke
Nunsense 2: The Sequel
1994
as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
Intimate Portrait
1993
as Self
Message from Nam
1993
as Beatrice Andrews
Boy Meets World
1993
as Bernice Matthews
The John Larroquette Show
1993
as Rue McClanahan
Nunsense
1993
as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
Mother of the Bride
1993
as Margaret Becker Hix
The Golden Palace
1992
as Blanche Devereaux
Baby of the Bride
1991
as Margaret Becker Hix
Nurses
1991
as Blanche Devereaux
The Dreamer of Oz
1990
as Matilda Joslyn Gage
To My Daughter
1990
as Laura Carlson
Children of the Bride
1990
as Margaret Becker
Law & Order
1990
as Lois McIntyre
After the Shock
1990
as Sherra Cox
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
The Earth Day Special
1990
as Blanche Devereaux
Modern Love
1990
as Mrs. Evelyn Parker
Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide
1990
as Herself
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1989
The Wickedest Witch
1989
as Avarissa
The Man in the Brown Suit
1989
as Suzy Blair
Take My Daughters, Please
1988
as Lilah Page
Mickey's 60th Birthday
1988
as Self
Empty Nest
1988
as Blanche Devereaux
Liberace
1988
as Frances Liberace
The Little Match Girl
1987
as Frances Dutton
Picnic
1986
as Flo Owens
The Golden Girls
1985
as Blanche Devereaux
Crazy like a Fox
1984
as Angie
Charles in Charge
1984
as Irene Pembroke
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Miriam Radford
Cover Up
1984
Mama's Family
1983
as Frances Marie Crowley
The Skin of Our Teeth
1983
as Fortune Teller
Newhart
1982
The Day the Bubble Burst
1982
as Barbara Arvey
American Playhouse
1982
Darkroom
1981
Gimme a Break!
1981
Word of Honor
1981
as Maggie McNeill
Gridlock
1980
as Adele Sherman
Here's Boomer
1980
as Thelma
Topper
1979
as Clara Topper
Trapper John, M.D.
1979
Sweepstakes
1979
Rainbow
1978
as Ida Koverman
Apple Pie
1978
as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
Grandpa Goes to Washington
1978
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978
as Mat's Mother
Having Babies III
1978
as Gloria Miles
A Different Approach
1978
The Love Boat
1977
as April Dunlevy
The Love Boat
1977
as Mary Hubble
The Love Boat
1977
as Doris Simpson
Lou Grant
1977
Alice
1976
Blade
1973
as Gail
The Rimers of Eldritch
1972
as Cora Groves
Maude
1972
as Vivian Harmon
Some of My Best Friends Are...
1971
as Lita Joyce
Hogan's Goat
1971
as Josey Finn
Columbo
1971
as Verity Chandler
They Might Be Giants
1971
as Daisy Playfair
Great Performances
1971
as Josey Finn
Great Performances
1971
as Cora
Great Performances
1971
as Faye Precious
All in the Family
1971
as Ruth Rempley
The People Next Door
1970
as Della
Where the Heart Is
1969
as Margaret Jardin #2
Mannix
1967
Angel's Flight
1965
as Dolly
How to Succeed with Girls
1964
as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
Another World
1964
as Caroline Johnson
Five Minutes to Love
1963
as Sally 'Poochie'
Five Minutes to Live
1961
as Pamela
The Grass Eater
1961
Just Between Us
1961
Hollywood After Dark
1961
as Sandy