Rue McClanahan Dead: 'Golden Girl' Dies Of Stroke At 76

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Rue McClanahan Dead: 'Golden Girl' Dies Of Stroke At 76

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/03/rue-mcclanahan-dead-golde_n_599256.html

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 1 a.m. 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. After that series ended in 1978, McClanahan landed the role as Aunt Fran on "Mama's Family" in 1983.

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.

[Enrique]

1. Betty White wins

:toast:

[Confusious]

3. too soon

time + tragedy = comedy

[Tailormyst]

2. awwwwwww

:( She was wonderful.

[xchrom]

4. Good Night, Blanche - we will see you soon. Nt

[tango-tee]

5. I loved those Golden Girls!

And Rue's character fit in so well - sorry to hear of her death.

[Kerrytravelers]

6. This is so sad. Only one Girl left.

:cry:


Evan ole' Stan is dead. He was the first to go.

[HillbillyBob]

7. Loved her in most everything I saw her in

Rest well Dear Rue.

[Cleita]

8. May she rest in peace.

The other girls will be there to greet her I'm sure. Besides Blanche, she was great as Aunt Fran and in all her other roles.

[bdamomma]

9. Aw she was great, she was great in Golden Girls.

[leftofcool]

10. Rest in Peace you darling!