Rue McClanahan

Rue McClanahan (born February 21, 1934 in Healdton, Oklahoma) is an American actress, best known for her roles acting alongside Bea Arthur on the television sitcoms Maude and The Golden Girls.

In the former series, broadcast from 1972 to 1978, McClanahan played Maude Findlay's best friend, Vivian Harmon. In the latter series, broadcast from 1985 until 1992, McClanahan portrayed the man-crazed Southern belle Blanche Deveraux.

Her breakout role was of maniacal nanny Caroline Johnson on Another World from July 1970-September 1971. Unlike a number of actors who become famous after leaving soaps, McClanahan has always praised daytime drama and the people who work in it. 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 to kill Pat with!

A lifelong animal rights advocate, McClanahan was one of the first celebrity supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. She is also a lifelong Democrat. In December 2003 she wrote a letter informing Democrat John Kerry that his pheasant hunting had cost him her vote.

In May 2005, McClanahan took over the role of Madame Morrible in the hit Broadway musical Wicked.

TV Work

• Another World (cast member from 1970-1971)
• Hogan's Goat (1971)
• Where the Heart Is (cast member from 1971-1972)
• Maude (1972-1978)
• The Rimers of Eldritch (1974)
• Having Babies III (1978)
• Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force (1978)
• Apple Pie (1978) (canceled after a few episodes)
• Rainbow (1978)
• Topper (1979)
• Gridlock (1980)
• Word of Honor (1981)
• The Day the Bubble Burst (1982)
• The Skin of Our Teeth (1983)
• Mama's Family (cast member from 1983-1985)
• The Golden Girls (1985-1992)
• Picnic (1986)
• The Little Match Girl (1987)
• Liberace (1988)
• Take My Daughters, Please (1988)
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1989)
• The Man in the Brown Suit (1989)
• The Wickedest Witch (1989)
• After the Shock (1990)
• Children of the Bride (1990)
• To My Daughter (1990)
• The Dreamer of Oz (1990)
• Baby of the Bride (1991) (also co-executive producer)
• The Golden Palace (1992-1993)
• Nunsense (1993)
• Mother of the Bride (1993)
• Message from Nam (1993)
• Nunsense 2: The Sequel (1994)
• A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (1994)
• A Holiday to Remember (1995)
• Innocent Victims (1996)
• Columbo: Ashes to Ashes (1998)
• A Saintly Switch (1999)
• Safe Harbor (1999) (canceled after 11 episodes)
• The Lot (cast member in 1999)
• Stage On Screen: The Women (2002)
• Miracle Dogs (2003)
• Back to You and Me (2005)

Filmography

• Door-to-Door Maniac (1961)
• The Grass Eater (1961)
• Five Minutes to Love (1963)
• How to Succeed with Girls (1964)
• Angel's Flight (1965)
• Walk the Angry Beach (1968)
• The People Next Door (1970)
• The Pursuit of Happiness (1971)
• They Might Be Giants (1971)
• Some of My Best Friends Are (1971)
• Survival of Spaceship Earth (1972) (documentary)
• Blade (1973)
• A Different Approach (1978) (short subject)
• Modern Love (1990)
• Biosphere 2 (1991)
• Dear God (1996)
• Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (1997) (documentary)
• Out to Sea (1997)
• This World, Then the Fireworks (1997)
• Starship Troopers (1997)
• Border to Border (1998)
• Rusty: A Dog's Tale (1998)
• The Fighting Temptations (2003)
• Wit's End (2004)

External link

• Fan site
• IMDB profile