Remembering 'Golden Girl' Rue McClanahan
By Mike Ryan
Rue McClanahan, the youngest of the four "Golden Girls," died Thursday of a stroke at the age of 76.
McClanahan had a storied career on television, first starring as Vivian Cavender Harmon on the groundbreaking show "Maude" with her future "Golden Girls" costar Bea Arthur.
"Maude," a spinoff of "All in the Family," pushed the limits of 1970s primetime programming by addressing issues such as abortion, women's liberation and civil rights. It followed the adventures of an outspoken liberal and her relationship with her fourth husband, Walter, and took place in the New York City suburb of Tuckahoe.
In the early 1980s, McClanahan starred as Fran Crowley in "Mama's Family" — a sitcom based on Vicki Lawrence's popular sketch from "The Carol Burnett Show." She only appeared during one season. However, what made that season notable because of her two on-screen sisters. One was played by Carol Burnett, the other ... Betty White.
Mama's Family (1983) The Wedding - with Carol Burnett 2/6It almost seemed preordained that McClanahan would once again team up with her two former co-stars for her defining role as sultry Blanche Devereaux on one of the most popular sitcoms of all time, "The Golden Girls." Shockingly, the role that defined McClanahan almost never happened.
She was originally cast as the more scatterbrained and innocent Rose Nylund but McClanahan thought Rose was too similar to her role on "Maude." At the same time, Betty White, who was originally cast as Blanche, thought Blanche was too similar to White's role on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." So they switched.
McClanahan, as Blanche, became iconic for her stories and one-liners based on her plethora of male suitors, her age, or her prowess. Blanche Devereaux was truly the original Samantha Jones from "Sex and the City."
The Golden Girls - The Best of BlancheWith the passing of McClanahan, only one of the original "Golden Girls" is still alive. Bea Arthur died in April of 2009 and Estelle Getty passed away in 2008. Betty White — who just hosted "Saturday Night Live" in May and is the oldest of the four — is the last surviving "Golden Girl."