Posted on 06/03/2010 10:44:50 AM PDT by Justaham
NEW YORK Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls," has died. She was 76.
Her manager Barbara Lawrence said McClanahan died Thursday at 1am of a stroke.
She had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 1997 and later lectured to cancer support groups on "aging gracefully." In 2009, she had heart bypass surgery.
McClanahan had an active career in off-Broadway and regional stages in the 1960s before she was tapped for TV in the 1970s for the key best-friend character on the hit series "Maude," starring Beatrice Arthur.
But her most loved role came in 1985 when she co-starred with Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty in "The Golden Girls," a runaway hit that broke the sitcom mold by focusing on the foibles of four aging and frequently eccentric women living together in Miami.
(Excerpt) Read more at tv.yahoo.com ...
Rest in peace, Rue. And thanks for the many laughs.
A damn shame, this death is a shock to me. Loved the Golden Girls..Betty White is the only one left..RIP Blanche
I kinda liked her character in Golden Girls - she played the part very, very well.
RIP, Rue.
RIP....
They seem to die in 3’s that’s for sure
1. Gary Coleman
2. Dennis Hopper and
3. Rue Mc Clanahan...
May GOD’s Peace be with all of them....
RIP Rue, and thanks for the memories.
In the meantime, Golden Girl, Betty White is still alive and kicking and is a huge hit, not only at the Super Bowl, but on Saturday Night Live as well — at the ripe young age of 88 !!
This is such sad news. Betty White was on TV yesterday, and was asked about Rue - and said she was doing ‘very well’!
She was sure some lady! May she Rest in Peace.
Don’t forget Art Linkletter, he died recently too.
Forgot! Yes now 4!
RIP Rue....
When our Target store opened here 15 - 20 years ago she was at the grand opening. What a gal! Loved her character on Golden Girls!
So sad...my favorite ‘Golden Girl’.
Then two more must die soon, always comes in 3.
5) Koppel kid
6) Brittany Murphy husband
She is in good company! She had friends waiting for her in Heaven!
Rest in peace Rue, You done good girl!
Well I hope not...
it is just alot of Celebrities in the Past have died in 3’s
I think the last trio was
Farrah Fawcett
Michael Jackson
Patrick Swayzee
Blanch was a hoot!
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