Acting · Healdton, Oklahoma, USA · Born February 21, 1934
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.
MovieThe Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20
2025
as Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
TVGolden Girls 3033
2022
as Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
MovieForever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021
as Blanche Devereaux
MovieThe Golden Girls: Ageless
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MovieBetty White: First Lady of Television
2018
as Self (archive Footage)
MovieGaze
2010
as Self (archive footage)
TVCelebrity Ghost Stories
2009
as Self
MovieGeneration Gap
2008
as Kay
TVSordid Lives: The Series
2008
as Peggy Ingram
MovieBack to You & Me
2005
as Helen Ludwick
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self
MovieSpider-Man vs. Doc Ock
2004
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
TVWonderfalls
2004
as Millie Marcus
TVHope & Faith
2003
as Sylvia
MovieThe Fighting Temptations
2003
as Nancy Stringer
TVWhoopi
2003
as Marian
MovieMiracle Dogs
2003
as Katherine Mannion
MovieThe Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003
as Self / Blanche Devereaux
MovieThe Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003
as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
MovieThe Women
2002
as Countess DeLage
MovieNBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self
MovieNuncrackers
2001
as Reverend Mother
MovieThe Moving of Sophia Myles
2000
as Mary-Margaret
Safe Harbor
1999
as Grandma Loring
TVLadies Man
1999
as Aunt Lou
TVThe Lot
1999
as Priscilla Tremaine
MovieA Saintly Switch
1999
as Aunt Fanny
MovieRusty: A Dog's Tale
1998
as Edna Callahan
Border to Border
1998
as Mrs. Kirby
TVLove Boat: The Next Wave
1998
as Abigail Jordan
MovieNunsense 3: The Jamboree
1998
as Mother Superior
MovieStarship Troopers
1997
as Biology Teacher
MovieAnnabelle's Wish
1997
as Scarlett (voice)
TVThe View
1997
as Self
MovieThis World, Then the Fireworks
1997
as Mom Lakewood
MovieOut to Sea
1997
as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
MovieLugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
1997
as Self
TVKing of the Hill
1997
as Bunny (voice)
MovieDear God
1996
as Mom Turner
TVPromised Land
1996
as Valerie Carter
MovieInnocent Victims
1996
as Marylou Hennis
TVRemember WENN
1996
as Dusty Foxx
MovieA Holiday to Remember
1995
as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
TVSpider-Man
1994
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
TVTouched by an Angel
1994
as Amelia Archibald
MovieA Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story
1994
as Grandma Stephens
TVBurke's Law
1994
as Jinxy Duke
MovieNunsense 2: The Sequel
1994
as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
TVIntimate Portrait
1993
as Self
MovieMessage from Nam
1993
as Beatrice Andrews
TVBoy Meets World
1993
as Bernice Matthews
TVThe John Larroquette Show
1993
as Rue McClanahan
MovieNunsense
1993
as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
MovieMother of the Bride
1993
as Margaret Becker Hix
TVThe Golden Palace
1992
as Blanche Devereaux
MovieBaby of the Bride
1991
as Margaret Becker Hix
TVNurses
1991
as Blanche Devereaux
MovieThe Dreamer of Oz
1990
as Matilda Joslyn Gage
MovieTo My Daughter
1990
as Laura Carlson
MovieChildren of the Bride
1990
as Margaret Becker
TVLaw & Order
1990
as Lois McIntyre
MovieAfter the Shock
1990
as Sherra Cox
MovieNight of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
MovieThe Earth Day Special
1990
as Blanche Devereaux
MovieModern Love
1990
as Mrs. Evelyn Parker
MovieRue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide
1990
as Herself
MovieHelp Save Planet Earth
1990
as Self
MovieThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1989
MovieThe Wickedest Witch
1989
as Avarissa
MovieThe Man in the Brown Suit
1989
as Suzy Blair
Take My Daughters, Please
1988
as Lilah Page
MovieMickey's 60th Birthday
1988
as Self
TVEmpty Nest
1988
as Blanche Devereaux
Liberace
1988
as Frances Liberace
MovieThe Little Match Girl
1987
as Frances Dutton
MoviePicnic
1986
as Flo Owens
MovieThe NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
TVThe Golden Girls
1985
as Blanche Devereaux
TVCrazy like a Fox
1984
as Angie
TVCharles in Charge
1984
as Irene Pembroke
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Miriam Radford
TVCover Up
1984
TVMama's Family
1983
as Frances Marie Crowley
MovieThe Skin of Our Teeth
1983
as Fortune Teller
TVNewhart
1982
MovieThe Day the Bubble Burst
1982
as Barbara Arvey
TVAmerican Playhouse
1982
as Fortune Teller
TVDarkroom
1981
as Mrs. Louise Michaelson
TVGimme a Break!
1981
TVHere's Boomer
1981
as Thelma
MovieWord of Honor
1981
as Maggie McNeill
MovieGridlock
1980
as Adele Sherman
MovieTopper
1979
as Clara Topper
TVTrapper John, M.D.
1979
TVSupertrain
1979
as Ms. Rick
$weepstake$
1979
MovieRainbow
1978
as Ida Koverman
TVApple Pie
1978
as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
Grandpa Goes to Washington
1978
MovieSergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978
as Mat's Mother
MovieHaving Babies III
1978
as Gloria Miles
TVFantasy Island
1978
as Gertie Lawton
MovieA Different Approach
1978
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as April Dunlevy
TVLou Grant
1977
TVAlice
1976
MovieBlade
1973
as Gail
MovieThe Rimers of Eldritch
1972
as Cora Groves
TVMaude
1972
as Vivian Harmon
MovieSome of My Best Friends Are...
1971
as Lita Joyce
MovieHogan's Goat
1971
as Josey Finn
TVColumbo
1971
as Verity Chandler
MovieThey Might Be Giants
1971
as Daisy Playfair
TVGreat Performances
1971
as Josey Finn
TVAll in the Family
1971
as Ruth Rempley
MovieThe People Next Door
1970
as Della
TVWhere the Heart Is
1969
as Margaret Jardin #2
TVMannix
1967
MovieAngel's Flight
1965
as Dolly
How to Succeed with Girls
1964
as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
TVAnother World
1964
as Caroline Johnson
MovieFive Minutes to Love
1963
as Sally 'Poochie'
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
MovieFive Minutes to Live
1961
as Pamela
The Grass Eater
1961
Just Between Us
1961
MovieHollywood After Dark
1961
as Sandy
