Rue McClanahan
Biography
Rue McClanahan was a veteran television actress and Broadway star of the 1950s. Noticed by television executive Norman Lear, she was cast in a number of television shows, including All in the Family in 1971 with Carroll OConnor and Maude in 1972 with Bea Arthur. McClanahan later co-starred in Mama's Family in 1983 with Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, Betty White, and Carol Burnett for three years. After NBC canceled that show, she became known for her role as the southern belle Blanche in The Golden Girls in 1985, working again with Bea Arthur and Betty White, alongside Estelle Getty. All four women won an Emmy Award. Born on February 21, 1934, in Healdton, Oklahoma, she died on June 3, 2010, at the age of 76, and was also known as Patti Leig.
Career overview
Rue McClanahan was a veteran television actress and Broadway star of the 1950s who was noticed by television executive Norman Lear. Lear cast her in a number of television shows, including All in the Family in 1971, starring with Carroll OConnor, and Maude in 1972, starring with Bea Arthur.
Following her work with Lear, McClanahan co-starred with Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, Betty White, and Carol Burnett in Mama's Family in 1983 for three years. After that show was canceled by NBC, McClanahan became probably best known for her role as the saucy, sharp southern belle, Blanche, in The Golden Girls in 1985. In this role, she once again worked with Bea Arthur and Betty White, as well as with relative newcomer Estelle Getty. All four of the women won an Emmy Award for the series.
According to archival records regarding her life and career, McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, USA, on February 21, 1934, and passed away on June 3, 2010, at the age of 76. During her acting career, she accumulated 128 known credits and was also known by the alternate name Patti Leig.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
138 titles- The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship - A Special Edition of 20/20 (2025) as Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
- Golden Girls 3033 (2022) as Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
- The Golden Girls: Ageless (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls (2021) as Blanche Devereaux
- Betty White: First Lady of Television (2018) as Self (archive Footage)
- Gaze (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009) as Self
- Sordid Lives: The Series (2008) as Peggy Ingram
- Generation Gap (2008) as Kay
- Back to You & Me (2005) as Helen Ludwick
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self
- Wonderfalls (2004) as Millie Marcus
- Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock (2004) as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
- Hope & Faith (2003) as Sylvia
- Whoopi (2003) as Marian
- Miracle Dogs (2003) as Katherine Mannion
- The Fighting Temptations (2003) as Nancy Stringer
- The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (2003) as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
- The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments (2003) as Self / Blanche Devereaux
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) as Self
- The Women (2002) as Countess DeLage
- Nuncrackers (2001) as Reverend Mother
- The Moving of Sophia Myles (2000) as Mary-Margaret
- Ladies Man (1999) as Aunt Lou
- The Lot (1999) as Priscilla Tremaine
- Safe Harbor (1999) as Grandma Loring
- A Saintly Switch (1999) as Aunt Fanny
- Love Boat: The Next Wave (1998) as Abigail Jordan
- Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998) as Edna Callahan
- Border to Border (1998) as Mrs. Kirby
- Nunsense 3: The Jamboree (1998) as Mother Superior
- King of the Hill (1997) as Bunny (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- Starship Troopers (1997) as Biology Teacher
- Out to Sea (1997) as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
- Annabelle's Wish (1997) as Scarlett (voice)
- Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (1997) as Self
- This World, Then the Fireworks (1997) as Mom Lakewood
- Promised Land (1996) as Valerie Carter
- Remember WENN (1996) as Dusty Foxx
- Dear God (1996) as Mom Turner
- Innocent Victims (1996) as Marylou Hennis
- A Holiday to Remember (1995) as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Amelia Archibald
- Touched by an Angel (1994) as Lila Winslow
- Spider-Man (1994) as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
- Burke's Law (1994) as Jinxy Duke
- Nunsense 2: The Sequel (1994) as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
- A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994) as Grandma Stephens
- Boy Meets World (1993) as Bernice Matthews
- Intimate Portrait (1993) as Self
- The John Larroquette Show (1993) as Rue McClanahan
- Mother of the Bride (1993) as Margaret Becker Hix
- Mother of the Bride (1993) Co-Executive Producer
- Nunsense (1993) as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
- Message from Nam (1993) as Beatrice Andrews
- The Golden Palace (1992) as Blanche Devereaux
- Nurses (1991) as Blanche Devereaux
- Baby of the Bride (1991) as Margaret Becker Hix
- Baby of the Bride (1991) Co-Executive Producer
- Law & Order (1990) as Lois McIntyre
- The Earth Day Special (1990) as Blanche Devereaux
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- To My Daughter (1990) as Laura Carlson
- The Dreamer of Oz (1990) as Matilda Joslyn Gage
- After the Shock (1990) as Sherra Cox
- Children of the Bride (1990) as Margaret Becker
- Help Save Planet Earth (1990) as Self
- Modern Love (1990) as Mrs. Evelyn Parker
- Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide (1990) as Herself
- The Wickedest Witch (1989) as Avarissa
- The Man in the Brown Suit (1989) as Suzy Blair
- The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1989)
- Empty Nest (1988) as Blanche Devereaux
- Take My Daughters, Please (1988) as Lilah Page
- Mickey's 60th Birthday (1988) as Self
- 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
- The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (1985)
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Miriam Radford
- Charles in Charge (1984) as Irene Pembroke
- Crazy like a Fox (1984) as Angie
- Cover Up (1984)
- Mama's Family (1983) as Frances Marie Crowley
- The Skin of Our Teeth (1983) as Fortune Teller
- American Playhouse (1982) as Fortune Teller
- Newhart (1982)
- The Day the Bubble Burst (1982) as Barbara Arvey
- Gimme a Break! (1981)
- Darkroom (1981) as Mrs. Louise Michaelson
- Here's Boomer (1981) as Thelma
- Word of Honor (1981) as Maggie McNeill
- Gridlock (1980) as Adele Sherman
- Trapper John, M.D. (1979)
- Supertrain (1979) as Ms. Rick
- $weepstake$ (1979)
- Topper (1979) as Clara Topper
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Gertie Lawton
- Fantasy Island (1978) as Margaret Fielding
- Grandpa Goes to Washington (1978)
- A Different Approach (1978)
- Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force (1978) as Mat's Mother
- Apple Pie (1978) as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
- Rainbow (1978) as Ida Koverman
- Having Babies III (1978) as Gloria Miles
- The Love Boat (1977) as April Dunlevy
- The Love Boat (1977) as Mary Hubble
- The Love Boat (1977) as Doris Simpson
- The Love Boat (1977) as Laura Thornton Hayes
- Lou Grant (1977)
- Alice (1976)
- Blade (1973) as Gail
- Maude (1972) as Vivian Harmon
- Maude (1972)
- The Rimers of Eldritch (1972) as Cora Groves
- Columbo (1971) as Verity Chandler
- 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
- They Might Be Giants (1971) as Daisy Playfair
- Some of My Best Friends Are... (1971) as Lita Joyce
- Hogan's Goat (1971) as Josey Finn
- The People Next Door (1970) as Della
- Where the Heart Is (1969) as Margaret Jardin #2
- Mannix (1967)
- Angel's Flight (1965) as Dolly
- Another World (1964) as Caroline Johnson
- How to Succeed with Girls (1964) as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
- Five Minutes to Love (1963) as Sally 'Poochie'
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Five Minutes to Live (1961) as Pamela
- Just Between Us (1961)
- The Grass Eater (1961)
- Hollywood After Dark (1961) as Sandy
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Rue McClanahan best known for?
Rue McClanahan is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Celebrity Ghost Stories (2009), True Romance (1993), Wonderfalls (2004), Hope & Faith (2003).
When and where was Rue McClanahan born?
Rue McClanahan was born on February 21, 1934 in Healdton, Oklahoma, USA. They passed away on June 3, 2010.
How many credits does Rue McClanahan have?
Rue McClanahan has accumulated over 138 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1961 to 2025.
What is Rue McClanahan's background in cinema and television?
Rue McClanahan was a veteran television actress and Broadway star of the 1950s. Noticed by television executive Norman Lear, she was cast in a number of television shows, including All in the Family in 1971 with Carroll OConnor and Maude in 1972 with Bea Arthur. McClanahan later co-starred in Mama's Family in 1983 with...