- Name: Rue McClanahan
- Date of Birth: February 21, 1934
- Place of Birth: Not available
Mini-bio:
Graduating cum laude from the University of Tulsa, Rue McClanahan studied acting with Uta Hagen and at the Perry-Mansfield school. After her professional debut with a Pennsylvania stock company in 195... read more
Rue McClanahan Wiki Profile
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| "People always ask me if I'm like Blanche. And I say, 'Well, Blanche was an oversexed, self-involved, man-crazy, vain Southern Belle from Atlanta -- and I'm not from Atlanta!'" - Rue McClanahan
Soon after graduating she decided to move to New York City to look for work as a professional actress. Rue studied acting under theatre legend Uta Hagen. Her first job, however, ended up being in Erie, Pennsylvania at the Erie Playhouse. It was during this time that Rue met the man who would be her first husband, Tom Bish. They were married in 1958, less than a year after meeting. The marriage faded quickly and to make matters worse, Rue discovered that she was pregnant. Her son, Mark, was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and soon thereafter, in 1959, Rue and Tom filed for divorce. After the birth of her son, Rue lived with her parents in Ardmore for a while and opened a dance and acting school. In 1959, soon after her divorce from Tom Bish, she married a good friend, Norman Hartwig. Rue and Norman realized that they were not actually in love but rather were just very good friends and divorced in 1961. After the divorce, she moved back to New York City.  In the early 1960s, Rue began her film career with such B-list flicks as The Grass Eater and Door-to-Door Maniac, and exploitation films--Hollywood After Dark (produced in 1964) and Five Minutes to Love (1963). During the 1960s, she also began a professional career in theater, performing on and off Broadway, in such shows as MacBird!, Sticks and Bones, and Plaza Suite. In 1964, Rue landed a role in the theatrical production The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, where she became acquainted with Peter DeMaio, a fellow actor. Soon after meeting, they were wed. The tumultuous union came to an end after seven years, in 1971. In 1970 Rue landed her first major television role on the soap opera Another World as the character Caroline Johnson.  Rue as Sally Weber in Jimmy Shine It was in the early 1970s that Hollywood finally began to discover Rue. She starred in a production of Jimmy Shine with Dustin Hoffman and was given a role on a soap opera Another World. However, it was her performance in Tonight In Living Color that lead producer Norman Lear to offer her a guest appearance on an episode of his sitcom All In The Family in 1972. Lear was so impressed by Rue's tremendous talent and ability to do comedy that in 1973 he decided to cast her in his series Maude (1972-1978) starring Bea Arthur. In 1976, brought together by a mutual friend, Rue met the man who would become her fourth husband, Gus Fisher. In 1976, Gus and Rue were married in a traditional Greek wedding. Gus decided to pursue work in commercial real estate and ended up spending more time with his clients than his wife. In 1979, the marriage came to an end. After Maude was canceled, Norman Lear offered Rue a television series of her own, Apple Pie, in which she played the lead role and co-starred with Dabney Coleman and Jack Gilford. Unfortunately, the show only lasted two episodes before it was canceled when ABC changed executives (however, seven episodes were actually made). Maude's success made Rue into a popular television actress and in 1982, she was offered a role in the comedy series Mama's Family (which first aired in January 1983). However, Rue was unhappy with the way her character was being written and only appeared on the show until 1985, when her character was killed off. While in her dressing room on the set of Mama's Family, Rue experienced a sharp pain under her right rib and was taken to the emergency room for a severe gall bladder attack. When she woke up from the operation, she was unable to breathe. She had developed Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome, a disease of the lungs that can onset after surgery and is almost always fatal. She spent three weeks in the hospital, including five days in the ICU with a questionable chance to survive, before returning home to recover. After two more weeks, Rue returned to Mama’s Family. However, she could only speak very softly, as she had lost her voice due to her vocal chords becoming damaged while she was receiving treatment in the hospital. It was years before she finally regained a full vocal range. In 1984, Rue became reacquainted with and married her high school sweetheart Tom Keel, but they divorced after only a year. In 1985, Rue was offered what is undoubtedly her best-known television role on the hit comedy series The Golden Girls, where she portrayed the character of the over-sexed, highly confident Southern belle with a hearty appetite for men, Blanche Devereaux.   In 1992, The Golden Girls ended its seven-year run when Bea Arthur decided to leave the show. The next season, the remaining actresses were cast in a follow-up series, The Golden Palace, which only lasted one season. During the years of The Golden Girls and The Golden Palace, Rue became one of the top television actresses of the 1980s and was in several movies and guest starred on numerous television shows. Since the end of The Golden Palace, Rue has performed in several theatrical productions both on, and off Broadway (one of which being Bye, Bye Birdie with The Civic Light Opera). She has promoted her own line of clothing for women over forty, appropriately called Very Rue (the name was later changed to A Touch of Rue). She has also become heavily involved in animal rights and is the honorary chairperson for the organization, PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. In late May of 1997, while she was performing in a play in New York City, Rue met Morrow Wilson, a friend of the plays producer (and also an actor/producer himself). Morrow assisted Rue in learning her lines but their relationship suddenly became intimate when Rue discovered a lump under her right arm. On June 6, 1997, Rue was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and five months of chemotherapy. She now does a lecture entitled "Aging Gracefully" for breast-cancer support groups. This was also the day that Morrow first told Rue that he loved her.  Rue with her husband, Morrow Wilson  On June 10, Morrow proposed and the couple was wed on Christmas day of 1997. The wedding was held at the Waldorf Astoria, one of New York City's most luxurious hotels, with 180 guests in attendance. Rue has also written several short stories, a screenplay, and musicals. She wrote and produced her own stage musical, Oedipus Schmedipus, As Long As You Love Your Mother, which was staged in Los Angeles in 1991. In 1999, she had a role on the WB network’s short-lived drama series Safe Harbor as Grandma Loring.  Rue is now completely cancer-free, and she and Morrow are still happily married and living in Manhattan with their cat, Bianca. She continues to do work in animal rights activism, breast cancer awareness, theater and television/film. In the fall and winter of 2001-2002, Rue starred on Broadway in the star-studded hit revival of The Women along with Kristen Johnston, Jennifer Tilly, Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Coolidge. In the spring of 2003, she starred opposite Mark Hamill in Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks. Rue also has a role in the feature film The Fighting Temptations, with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. There was a gala event in her honor in San Francisco at the Castro Theatre on Nov. 14, 2009; Which she had to miss to have a heart bypass surgery. "Golden: A Gala Tribute to Rue McClanahan" would have featured clips, a sing-along to the "Golden" theme and look-a-like contest. McClanahan, 75, said in a statement. - "My darlings, I'm just devastated that I am going to have to miss my own tribute. Unfortunately, my doctor has laid down the law, and I'm currently having some maintenance on the old ticker. Trust me, I'd much rather be in San Francisco having fun and being adored by all of you."  Late Breaking News: Golden Girl Rue McClanahan has suffered what her rep terms a "minor" stroke while recovering from heart bypass surgery The erstwhile Blanche Devereaux had her heart operation in November. The Emmy winner then spent two weeks in the ICU after doctors successfully removed the blood clot in her brain. Her recovery is slow but steady, with her speech and movement on the right side of her body affected. McClanahan, 75, is undergoing physical therapy but should be out of the hospital by the end of the month, according to her rep. With the death of Bea Arthur last year, McClanahan and Betty White are the last surviving stars of the hugely popular former NBC sitcom.Let's hope this Golden Girl is back in the pink as soon as possible. Her Sad Passing: McClanahan died on June 3, 2010 at 1:00 a.m. in the New York–Presbyterian Hospital after she suffered another stroke and subsequently a brain hemorrhage. She was 76 years old. She died with her son, Mark Bish, her sister and a nephew by her side.According to her rep, "Last week, she told her publicist...she was doing great. She didn't feel well on Monday." Her body was cremated after her death. McClanahan's longtime friend Betty White, who co-starred with her on both Mama's Family and The Golden Girls, told Entertainment Tonight that Rue was a "close friend and dear friend" and that her death "hurts more than I ever thought it would". McClanahan is survived by her sixth husband, Morrow Wilson (from whom she separated in 2009), her son from her first marriage, Mark Bish of Austin, Texas, her sister, Melinda L. McClanahan, of Silver City, New Mexico and a nephew, Brendan Kinkade. While there will be no funeral service for McClanahan, her family has created an official memorial page on Facebook, and memorial services are planned for summer 2010 in New York and Los Angeles. On June 10, 2010 McClanahan's extravagant New York apartment went on the market for $2.25 million. Primetime Success: In Maude, broadcast from 1972 to 1978, McClanahan played Maude's best friend, Vivian Harmon.  Rue as Vivian Harmon She starred in the early seasons of Mama's Family as "Aunt Fran" Crowley from 1983 to 1985.  Rue as Aunt Fran  Rue As Blanche Devereaux Random Rue Trivia and Info - Her autobiography, My First Five Husbands, was released nationwide in the spring of 2007.    Rue at a book signing, 2007 Rue is the aunt of actress Amelia Kinkade. Who wrote Straight From the Horse’s Mouth: How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers and The Language of Miracles: A Celebrated Psychic Teaches You to Talk to Animals (RandomHouse and New World Library.)  Rue and Amelia Rue was a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Tulsa. She played the same character, Blanche Devereaux, on four different TV series: "The Golden Palace" (1992), "The Golden Girls" (1985), "Nurses" (1991), and "Empty Nest" (1988). She still has "jitters" for opening nights, about rehearsals and worrying about not having enough time to prepare perfectly.  Betty White as Sue Ann Nivans   Betty White was originally considered for the role of the sexpot, Blanche, on "The Golden Girls" (1985). However, Betty had already been the aggressive Sue Ann Nivens on "Mary Tyler Moore" (1970) and Rue had played the introverted Vivian on "Maude" (1972). It was thought best not to typecast these two actresses by having them portray similar characters. Therefore, Betty got the part of naive Rose Nylund and Rue played the oversexed Blanche. Rue as Vivian Harmon She thinks her role in"They Might Be Giants" was her best movie part.  <~~~~Madame Morrible Rue started in series of made for TV movies which aired 1990 -1993.  Children of the Bride which aired in 1990 on the USA network. Is the story of four adult children who have to deal with their mother's impending marriage to a much younger man  It was followed by Baby of the Bride in 1991, it was also shown on the USA network. It continues where the first story leaves off, with the happy couple returning from there Honeymoon. Soon after returning from their honeymoon, John and Margaret Hix receive the surprise of their life - at 53, Margaret is pregnant! Against her husband's wishes, Margaret decides to keep the baby... but she isn't the only one in the family who is expecting. Margaret's daughter, Mary, who has just left the convent, is due just a few months before her mother  The final movie in the series, Mother if the bride, aired in 1993. In this installment we find Margaret Becker Hix dealing with an upcoming wedding of her daughter, another daughter's romance with a motorcycle enthusiast and a surprise appearance by her ex-husband. Awards-  Emmy Awards:Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for: "The Golden Girls" (1986) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for: "The Golden Girls" (1987) (won) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for: "The Golden Girls" (1988) Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for: "The Golden Girls" (1989) Golden Globe Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for: "The Golden Girls" (1986) Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for: "The Golden Girls" (1987) Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series - Comedy/Musical for: "The Golden Girls" (1988) Obie Awards (Broadway):Best Actress for "Who's Happy Now" (1969) (won)  Golden Apple Awards: Female Star of the Year for: "The Golden Girls' (1986) (won)  TV Land Awards: Pop Culture Award for: "The Golden Girls" (2008) (won) Quintessential Non-Traditional Family for: "The Golden Girls" (2003) (won) More Pictures of the Lovely Rue-    |
| Rue McClanahan Information |
| Eye color: Green |
| Height: 5' 3" (1.60 m) |
| Nickname(s): Ruesy |
| Notable feature(s): Beautiful Eyes, Charming Smile |
| Education: She graduated cum laude in the University of Tulsa with a degree in German and theatre arts. She was also the only female member of the school's science club. |
| Family: Husband-Morrow Wilson Son-Mark Bish |
| Resides in: Manhattan with her husband and their,Bianca |
| Political affiliation: Rue is a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party |
| Charities/Causes: An Honorary Director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, and is a vegan and dedicated animal rights activist. |
| Personal Quotes: "Compassion is the foundation of everything positive, everything good. If you carry the power of compassion to the marketplace and the dinner table, you can make your life really count." |
