
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)

Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Miriam Radford

The View
1997
as Self

The Love Boat
1977
as April Dunlevy / Mary Hubble / Doris Simpson / Laura Thornton Hayes

Mannix
1967

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

Newhart
1982

Spider-Man
1994
as Mrs. Hardy (voice)

Lou Grant
1977

Trapper John, M.D.
1979

Intimate Portrait
1993
as Self

Boy Meets World
1993
as Bernice Matthews
The Tony Danza Show
2004
as Self

Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009
as Self

Empty Nest
1988
as Blanche Devereaux

Charles in Charge
1984
as Irene Pembroke

All in the Family
1971
as Ruth Rempley

The John Larroquette Show
1993
as Rue McClanahan

Hope & Faith
2003
as Sylvia

Mama's Family
1983
as Frances Marie Crowley

Crazy like a Fox
1984
as Angie

Maude
1972
as Vivian Harmon

Burke's Law
1994
as Jinxy Duke

Gimme a Break!
1981

Promised Land
1996
as Valerie Carter

Where the Heart Is
1969
as Margaret Jardin #2

Remember WENN
1996
as Dusty Foxx

Cover Up
1984

The Golden Palace
1992
as Blanche Devereaux

American Playhouse
1982

Nurses
1991
as Blanche Devereaux

Wonderfalls
2004
as Millie Marcus

Love Boat: The Next Wave
1998
as Abigail Jordan

Ladies Man
1999
as Aunt Lou

Another World
1964
as Caroline Johnson

Supertrain
1979
as Ms. Rick

Whoopi
2003
as Marian

Here's Boomer
1981
as Thelma
$weepstake$
1979

Darkroom
1981

The Lot
1999
as Priscilla Tremaine

Sordid Lives: The Series
2008
as Peggy Ingram
Grandpa Goes to Washington
1978
Safe Harbor
1999
as Grandma Loring

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

Rainbow
1978
as Ida Koverman

NBC 75th Anniversary Special
2002
as Self

Generation Gap
2008
as Kay

The Fighting Temptations
2003
as Nancy Stringer

Out to Sea
1997
as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers

Blade
1973
as Gail

Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self

This World, Then the Fireworks
1997
as Mom Lakewood

Mickey's 60th Birthday
1988
as Self

Dear God
1996
as Mom Turner

To My Daughter
1990
as Laura Carlson

Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force
1978
as Mat's Mother

Annabelle's Wish
1997
as Scarlett (voice)

They Might Be Giants
1971
as Daisy Playfair

Betty White: First Lady of Television
2018
as Self (archive Footage)

Picnic
1986
as Flo Owens

Miracle Dogs
2003
as Katherine Mannion

The Man in the Brown Suit
1989
as Suzy Blair

Gridlock
1980
as Adele Sherman

The Day the Bubble Burst
1982
as Barbara Arvey

Rusty: A Dog's Tale
1998
as Edna Callahan

A Different Approach
1978

Mother of the Bride
1993
as Margaret Becker Hix

Message from Nam
1993
as Beatrice Andrews

Baby of the Bride
1991
as Margaret Becker Hix

The Dreamer of Oz
1990
as Matilda Joslyn Gage

Children of the Bride
1990
as Margaret Becker

Five Minutes to Live
1961
as Pamela
Take My Daughters, Please
1988
as Lilah Page

The Women
2002
as Countess DeLage

Gaze
2010
as Self (archive footage)

A Saintly Switch
1999
as Aunt Fanny

The People Next Door
1970
as Della

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series
2003
as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)

Help Save Planet Earth
1990
as Self

Innocent Victims
1996
as Marylou Hennis

The Little Match Girl
1987
as Frances Dutton

Back to You & Me
2005
as Helen Ludwick
Liberace
1988
as Frances Liberace

The Moving of Sophia Myles
2000
as Mary-Margaret

The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments
2003
as Self / Blanche Devereaux

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1989

A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story
1994
as Grandma Stephens

The Golden Girls: 40 Years of Laughter and Friendship
2025
as Self / Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)

Word of Honor
1981
as Maggie McNeill

A Holiday to Remember
1995
as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt

The Wickedest Witch
1989
as Avarissa

Topper
1979
as Clara Topper

Having Babies III
1978
as Gloria Miles

After the Shock
1990
as Sherra Cox

The Skin of Our Teeth
1983
as Fortune Teller

The Golden Girls: Ageless
2021
as Self (archive footage)

Some of My Best Friends Are...
1971
as Lita Joyce

The Rimers of Eldritch
1972
as Cora Groves

The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985

Hogan's Goat
1971
as Josey Finn

Modern Love
1990
as Mrs. Evelyn Parker

Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls
2021
as Blanche Devereaux

Nunsense 2: The Sequel
1994
as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina

Five Minutes to Love
1963
as Sally 'Poochie'

Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula
1997
as Self

Nunsense
1993
as Rev. Mother Mary Regina
Border to Border
1998
as Mrs. Kirby
The Grass Eater
1961

Angel's Flight
1965
as Dolly

Nunsense 3: The Jamboree
1998
as Mother Superior
How to Succeed with Girls
1964
as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)

Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide
1990
as Herself

Nuncrackers
2001
as Reverend Mother
Just Between Us
1961

Hollywood After Dark
1961
as Sandy
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 CineFlixo, 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
- Rainbow (1978) — as Ida Koverman
- NBC 75th Anniversary Special (2002) — as Self
- Generation Gap (2008) — as Kay
Where to Watch Rue McClanahan Films
Most Rue McClanahan movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo 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.