Rue McClanahan

Infobox actor
name = Rue McClanahan

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imagesize = 200px
caption = McClanahan at a book signing, 2007
birthname = Eddi Rue McClanahan
birthdate = birth date and age|1934|2|21
birthplace = Healdton, Oklahoma, United States
spouse = Morrow Wilson (1997–present)
Tom Keel (1985-1986) (divorced)
Gus Fisher (1976-1978) (divorced)
Peter DMaior (1964-1971) (divorced)
Norman Hartweg (1959-1961) (divorced)
Tom Bish (1958-1959) (divorced) 1 child
emmyawards = Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series "The Golden Girls", 1987

Rue McClanahan (born Eddi Rue McClanahan; February 21, 1934) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress, known for her roles on the television sitcoms "Maude" and "The Golden Girls".

Early life

McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, the daughter of Dreda Rheua-Nell (née Medaris), a beautician, and William Edwin McClanahan, a building contractor. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/5/Rue-McClanahan.html Rue McClanahan Biography (1934?-) ] ] [http://ebooks.palm.com/servlet/mw?t=book_excerpt&bookid=45261&si=60 palm eBook store: Excerpt from My First Five Husbands ... And the Ones Who Got Away ] ] She is of Irish and Choctaw Indian ancestry, and grew up in Ardmore, Oklahoma; she graduated from Ardmore High School in 1953. At the University of Tulsa, she majored in German and Theatre and was a member of the sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. She began acting on stage in New York City in 1957, but her breakout role was of maniacal nanny Caroline Johnson on "Another World" from July 1970 - September 1971. In the show, while taking care of twins Michael and Marianne Randolph, Caroline fell in love with their father, John, and began poisoning their mother, Pat. Due in part to McClanahan's performance, the short-term role was extended to over a year before Caroline was finally brought to justice after kidnapping the twins. McClanahan expected negative fan reaction but was generally popular, even getting one letter advising her on the best poisons with which to kill Pat. Unlike a number of actors who become famous after leaving soaps, McClanahan has always praised daytime drama and the people who work in it.

Early work

McClanahan starred in the long-running television series "Another World" from 1970 to 1971, In "Maude", broadcast from 1972 to 1978, McClanahan played Maude's (Bea Arthur) best friend, Vivian Harmon. She also appeared as a leader of Al-Anon in a 1970s informational video called "Slight Drinking Problem," in which Patty Duke played the enabling and eventually self-empowered wife of an alcoholic. She later starred in the early seasons of "Mama's Family" as "Aunt Fran" Crowley from 1983 to 1985. Her character was killed off.

"The Golden Girls"

In "The Golden Girls", broadcast from 1985 until 1992, McClanahan portrayed man-crazed Southern belle Blanche Devereaux. Deveraux was the owner of a house inhabited by four roommates: herself, Dorothy Zbornak (Bea Arthur), Rose Nylund (Betty White), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). She received an Emmy Award in 1987 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on "The Golden Girls".

She made a nod to her beginnings on "Another World" in an episode of "The Golden Girls", called "The Flu" when, as Blanche, she, along with Dorothy and Rose, were sick with the flu, and Blanche wanted to watch "Another World" over the strenuous objections of Dorothy.

Other work

McClanahan starred in 1961's "The Rotten Apple", as well "Walk the Angry Beach" in 1968. In 1971 she played a vicious fag-hag in the film "Some of My Best Friends Are..." which was set in a gay bar. In May 2005, McClanahan took over the role of Madame Morrible in the hit Broadway musical "Wicked", for which she received mixed reviews. She received positive notice from the "New York Times" though: "The former "Golden Girls" star Rue McClanahan, dressed in flamboyant kimonolike costumes, is doing maaahvelous things with vowel sounds as Madame Morrible, the flamboyant headmistress of the witches' school. She steals scenes with a flip of a hand." Rue also guest starred on Newhart and was honored at the 2008 TV Land Awards for the cast's roll in the Golden Girls, at which she was present.

Later life

A lifelong animal-rights advocate and vegetarian, McClanahan was one of the first celebrity supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). She is also a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party. In December 2003, she wrote a letter informing Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry that his pheasant hunting had cost him her vote. (Which went to Ralph Nader instead.)

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 1997 and survived with the help of cancer expert Dr. Larry Norton and her sixth husband, the much younger Morrow Wilson.Fact|date=March 2008 She is also the mother of one child, a son, Mark Bish, from a previous marriage.

In 2003 she appeared in the musical romantic comedy The Fighting Temptations as Nancy Stringer. McClanahan co-starred with Cuba Gooding Jr., Beyonce Knowles, Mike Epps and Steve Harvey.

She replaced Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible in the musical Wicked on May 31, 2005. And was replaced by Carol Kane on January 10, 2006.

Her autobiography, "My First Five Husbands", was released nationwide in the spring of 2007.

In June 2008, "The Golden Girls" was awarded the 'Pop Culture' award at the Sixth Annual TV Land Awards. Rue accepted the award with co-stars Bea Arthur and Betty White. [ [http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b141707_tv_land_awards_party_like_its_1979.html TV Land Awards Party Like It's 1979 - E! Online ] ] McClanahan is the aunt of author Amelia Kinkade.

Rue McClanahan is currently acting in the series "" on the Logo network, which premiered July 23rd, 2008. She plays Peggy Ingram, the older sister of Sissy Hickey and mother of Latrelle, LaVonda and Earl "Brother Boy".

Emmy Award nominations

McClanahan was nominated for four Emmy Awards:
* 1986 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - "The Golden Girls" - (Nominated)
* 1987 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - "The Golden Girls" - (Won)
* 1988 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - "The Golden Girls" - (Nominated)
* 1989 - Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series - "The Golden Girls" - (Nominated)

TV work

* "Another World" (cast member from 1970 – 1971)
* "Where the Heart Is" (cast member from 1971 – 1972)
* "Hogan's Goat" (1971)
* "Maude" (1974 – 1978)
* "Mama's Family" as Fran (cast member from 1983 – 1985)
* "The Golden Girls" (1985 – 1992) (acted also in the spin-off "The Golden Palace" 1992 – 1993)
* "The Man in the Brown Suit" (1989)
* "" (1991)
* "The Golden Palace" (1992 – 1993)
* "A Saintly Switch" (1999)
* "" (2008)
* "King of the Hill" brief 2007 appearance
* "Hope & Faith" brief 2005 appearance
* " Dads " TV Pilot

Filmography

* "The Rotten Apple" (1961)
* "Walk the Angry Beach" (1968)
* "Hollywood After Dark" (1968)
* "The Unholy Choice" (1968)
* "Some of My Best Friends Are..." (1971)
* "They Might Be Giants" (1971)
* "The Wickedest Witch" (1989)
* "Message from Nam" (1993)
* "Out to Sea" (1997)
* "Starship Troopers" (1997)
* "The Fighting Temptations" (2003)

References

External links

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