Rue McClanahan
Known for Acting · 127 credits
- Born
- 1934-02-21
- Died
- 2010-06-03
- Place of birth
- Healdton, Oklahoma, USA
- Also known as
- Patti Leigh · Patty Leigh · Rhue McClanahan · Ру МакКлэнахан
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (54)
Law & Order
1990
as Lois McIntyre
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Columbo
1971
as Verity Chandler
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
King of the Hill
1997
as Bunny (voice)
The View
1997
as Self
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Miriam Radford
Mannix
1967
The Love Boat
1977
as April Dunlevy / Mary Hubble / Doris Simpson / Laura Thornton Hayes
Great Performances
1971
as Josey Finn / Cora / Faye Precious
Touched by an Angel
1994
as Amelia Archibald / Lila Winslow
The Golden Girls
1985
as Blanche Devereaux
Alice
1976
Fantasy Island
1978
as Gertie Lawton
Trapper John, M.D.
1979
Lou Grant
1977
Newhart
1982
Spider-Man
1994
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)
Intimate Portrait
1993
as Self
Boy Meets World
1993
as Bernice Matthews
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self
Empty Nest
1988
as Blanche Devereaux
Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009
as Self
All in the Family
1971
as Ruth Rempley
Charles in Charge
1984
as Irene Pembroke
The John Larroquette Show
1993
as Rue McClanahan
Hope & Faith
2003
as Sylvia
Mama's Family
1983
as Frances Marie Crowley
Maude
1972
as Vivian Harmon
Crazy like a Fox
1984
as Angie
Burke's Law
1994
as Jinxy Duke
Gimme a Break!
1981
Where the Heart Is
1969
as Margaret Jardin #2
Promised Land
1996
as Valerie Carter
Remember WENN
1996
as Dusty Foxx
Cover Up
1984
Nurses
1991
as Blanche Devereaux
The Golden Palace
1992
as Blanche Devereaux
Another World
1964
as Caroline Johnson
Love Boat: The Next Wave
1998
as Abigail Jordan
Ladies Man
1999
as Aunt Lou
American Playhouse
1982
Wonderfalls
2004
as Millie Marcus
Supertrain
1979
as Ms. Rick
Whoopi
2003
as Marian
Darkroom
1981
Here's Boomer
1981
as Thelma
The Lot
1999
as Priscilla Tremaine
$weepstake$
1979
Sordid Lives: The Series
2008
as Peggy Ingram
Safe Harbor
1999
as Grandma Loring
Grandpa Goes to Washington
1978
Apple Pie
1978
as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock
Golden Girls 3033
2022
as Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)
Movies (73)
Starship Troopers
1997
as Biology Teacher
The Earth Day Special
1990
as Blanche Devereaux
Out to Sea
1997
as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
The Fighting Temptations
2003
as Nancy Stringer
NBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self
Rainbow
1978
as Ida Koverman
This World, Then the Fireworks
1997
as Mom Lakewood
Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
Generation Gap
2008
as Kay
Dear God
1996
as Mom Turner
They Might Be Giants
1971
as Daisy Playfair
The Day the Bubble Burst
1982
as Barbara Arvey
Betty White: First Lady of Television
2018
as Self (archive Footage)
Annabelle's Wish
1997
as Scarlett (voice)
To My Daughter
1990
as Laura Carlson
Gridlock
1980
as Adele Sherman
The Man in the Brown Suit
1989
as Suzy Blair
Blade
1973
as Gail
Mickey's 60th Birthday
1988
as Self
Mother of the Bride
1993
as Margaret Becker Hix
Message from Nam
1993
as Beatrice Andrews
Gaze
2010
as Self (archive footage)
The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003
as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978
as Mat's Mother
Children of the Bride
1990
as Margaret Becker
A Different Approach
1978
Take My Daughters, Please
1988
as Lilah Page
Picnic
1986
as Flo Owens
Help Save Planet Earth
1990
as Self
Miracle Dogs
2003
as Katherine Mannion
Back to You & Me
2005
as Helen Ludwick
The People Next Door
1970
as Della
A Saintly Switch
1999
as Aunt Fanny
Topper
1979
as Clara Topper
Innocent Victims
1996
as Marylou Hennis
The Women
2002
as Countess DeLage
Rusty: A Dog's Tale
1998
as Edna Callahan
The Dreamer of Oz
1990
as Matilda Joslyn Gage
Baby of the Bride
1991
as Margaret Becker Hix
The Moving of Sophia Myles
2000
as Mary-Margaret
The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003
as Self / Blanche Devereaux
The Little Match Girl
1987
as Frances Dutton
The Skin of Our Teeth
1983
as Fortune Teller
Five Minutes to Live
1961
as Pamela
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1989
After the Shock
1990
as Sherra Cox
Liberace
1988
as Frances Liberace
Word of Honor
1981
as Maggie McNeill
The Golden Girls: Ageless
2021
as Self (archive footage)
The Wickedest Witch
1989
as Avarissa
A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story
1994
as Grandma Stephens
Hogan's Goat
1971
as Josey Finn
Having Babies III
1978
as Gloria Miles
Some of My Best Friends Are...
1971
as Lita Joyce
Modern Love
1990
as Mrs. Evelyn Parker
The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship
2025
as Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)
The Rimers of Eldritch
1972
as Cora Groves
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
1997
as Self
Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021
as Blanche Devereaux
How to Succeed with Girls
1964
as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)
Nunsense
1993
as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
Five Minutes to Love
1963
as Sally 'Poochie'
Nunsense 2: The Sequel
1994
as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina
A Holiday to Remember
1995
as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt
The Grass Eater
1961
Border to Border
1998
as Mrs. Kirby
Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
1998
as Mother Superior
Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide
1990
as Herself
Nuncrackers
2001
as Reverend Mother
Angel's Flight
1965
as Dolly
Hollywood After Dark
1961
as Sandy
Just Between Us
1961
About 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 Gold… With 127 credits spanning from 1961 to 2025, Rue McClanahan has appeared in 73 films and 54 TV shows.
Fans searching for Rue McClanahan movies, Rue McClanahan filmography, or the latest projects starring Rue McClanahan can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Rue McClanahan Movies
- Starship Troopers (1997) — as Biology Teacher
- The Earth Day Special (1990) — as Blanche Devereaux
- Out to Sea (1997) — as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers
- The Fighting Temptations (2003) — as Nancy Stringer
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) — as Self
Where to Watch Rue McClanahan Films
Most Rue McClanahan movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Rue McClanahan, check our movies catalogue and browse page.