Eddi-Rue "Rue" McClanahan

1934 - 2010  (76 years)

• Name	Eddi-Rue "Rue" McClanahan  [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Nickname	Rue
  Born	21 Feb 1934	Healdton, Carter County, Oklahoma   [1, 2, 3, 5]
  Gender	Female
  Died	3 Jun 2010	Manhattan, New York County, New York   [2, 3]
  Buried	Y  [2]
  Notes	Actor Rue McClanahan of the 'Golden Girls' fame passed away in Manhattan on Thursday. She was 76. She is survived by husband, Morrow Wilson, son, Mark T. Bish and sister, Melinda Lou McClanahan. Barbara Lawrence, her Manager, confirmed the cause of death to be a brain hemorrhage. Ms. McClanahan was ailing for sometime and had undergone heart bypass surgery in 2009. Earlier, she underwent treatment for breast cancer in 1997. Rue McClanahan shot into limelight with her performance in 'The Golden Girls', an epic sitcom telecast in 1985. 'The Golden Girls' was an instant hit, climbing to No. 1 position after its very first show. Rue McClanahan's role, as a Southern belle Blanche Devereaux, played a key contribution in the immense popularity of the show. Other actors who played the Golden Girls were Ms. Betty White (Rose), Ms. Bea Arthur (Dorothy) and Ms. Estelle Getty (Sophia, Dorothy's mother). With the passing away of Ms. McClanahan, only Ms. White (88) survives of the 'eccentric four'. She was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1934. Her father was a contractor and mother a beautician. She grew up in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Her debut as an actor came early when she played a part in 'The Three Little Kittens', a local production, at the tender age of four. She studied drama and German at the University of Tulsa and graduated in 1956. In her early career, she appeared onstage in New York on several occasions. In her Broadway debut in Murray Schisgal's 'Jimmy Shine', Ms. McClanahan's played the role of a prostitute. She won Obie Award for her role of the father's mistress in Oliver Hailey's "Who's Happy Now?", an Off Broadway family drama. She also acted in sitcoms, 'All in the Family' and 'Maude'. However, it was her work in 'The Golden Girls' that brought her maximum fame. The sitcom, which is about four eccentric middle aged women, gained unprecedented popularity and won many Emmys. Ms. McClanahan captured this prestigious award for her outstanding performance as lead actor. Her role in the show was inspired by 'Gone with the Winds' actors, Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois, she once said. On another occasion she remarked that 'The Golden Girls' brought out different layers that people go on adding as they age. The show reveals our child, adolescence as well as personality as mature women, she added. Many industry critics believe that shows like 'Sex and the City', which is about four young funny women, take cue for 'The Golden Girls'. After "The Golden Girls" was discontinued in 1992, Ms. McClanahan acted in "The Golden Palace", a spinoff. She also acted in movies and on Broadways. She was a passionate animal rights activist and delivered a lecture on 'Aging Gracefully'. Ms. McClanahan was married six times-Morrow Wilson, Tom Bish, Norman Hartweg, Peter D'Maio, Gus Fisher and Tom Keel- and titled her autobiography, which was authored in 1997, 'My First Five Husbands ? And the Ones Who Got Away.'
  Person ID	I4977	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	17 Aug 2014

  
  

  Father	William "Bill" Edwin McClanahan,   b. 4 Jul 1908, Tucumcari, Quay County, New Mexico ,   d. 20 Feb 1999, Plano, Collin County, Texas  (Age 90 years)
  Mother	Rhuea Nell Medaris,   b. 11 Jul 1912, Kenefick, Bryan County, Oklahoma ,   d. 16 Nov 1973, Ardmore, Carter County, Oklahoma  (Age 61 years)
  Married	9 Apr 1933  [1]
  Family ID	F2654	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Children	1. Living
  Last Modified	9 Dec 2006
  Family ID	F2544	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 21 Feb 1934 - Healdton, Carter County, Oklahoma Died - 3 Jun 2010 - Manhattan, New York County, New York  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  McClanahan, Rue Rue McClanahan shot into limelight with her performance in ?The Golden Girls?, a 1985 sitcom. It was an instant hit, climbing to No. 1 position after its very first show. Rue McClanahan?s role, as a Southern belle Blanche Devereaux, was a key part in the immense popularity of the show. She was born in Healdton, Oklahoma in 1934. Her father was a contractor and mother a beautician. She grew up in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Her debut as an actor came early when she played a part in ?The Three Little Kittens?, a local production, at the tender age of four. She studied drama and German at the University of Tulsa and graduated in 1956. In her early career, she appeared onstage in New York on several occasions.

  
  

• Sources

  [S468] Williams, Cova Jean Hurst--Family Researcher (GEDCOM file). [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), # 47466619 (Reliability: 3). [S333] Ancestry.com - U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current [database online], (Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration. The Social Security Administration Death Master File contains information on millions of deceased individuals with United States social security numbers whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration. Birth years for the individuals listed range from 1875 to last year. Information in these records includes name, birth date, death date, and last known residence.). [S1299] 1940 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.), Healdton, Carter, Oklahoma; Roll: T627_3281; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 10-24. Listed as Edde Rue McClanahan. (Reliability: 3). [S1299] 1940 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.), Healdton, Carter, Oklahoma; Roll: T627_3281; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 10-24. (Reliability: 3).