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Rue McClanahan Biography (1934?-)

Full name, Eddi-Rue McClanahan; born February 21, 1934 (some sources say 1935), in Healdton, OK; daughter of William Edwin (a building contractor) and Dreda Rheua-Nell (a beautician; maiden name, Medaris) McClanahan; married Tom Bish (an actor), 1958 (divorced); married Norman Hartweg (an actor), 1959 (divorced, 1961); married Peter DeMaio (an actor), 1964 (divorced, 1971); marriedGus Fisher (a realtor), 1976 (divorced, 1978); married Tom Keel, 1985 (divorced, 1986); married Morrow Wilson, December 25, 1997; children: (first marriage) Mark. Addresses: Agent: Agency for the Performing Arts, Inc., 9000Sunset Blvd., Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90069; Don Buchwald & Associates, 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90048.; Manager: EnsembleEntertainment, 10474 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 380, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Nationality

American

Gender

Female

Occupation

Actress, producer, writer

Birth Details

February 21, 1934?

Healdton, Oklahoma, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Caroline Johnson, Another World, NBC, 1970-1971
• Second Margaret Jardin, Where the Heart Is, CBS, 1971-1972
• Vivian Cavender Harmon, Maude, CBS, 1972-1978
• Ginger-Nell Hollyhock, Apple Pie, ABC, 1978
• Aunt Fran Crawley, Mama's Family, NBC, 1983-1985
• Blanche Devereaux, The Golden Girls, NBC, 1985-1992
• Blanche Devereaux, The Golden Palace, CBS, 1992
• Grandma Loring, Safe Harbor, The WB, 1999
• Miniseries
• Beatrice Andrews, Danielle Steel's "Message from Nam," NBC, 1993
• Marylou Hennis, Innocent Victims, ABC, 1996
• Pilots
• Gloria Miles, Having Babies III, ABC, 1978
• Grandpa Goes to Washington, NBC, 1978
• Lil Brenner, Mother and Me, M.D., NBC, 1979
• Charlotte Sugarman, The Son-in-Law, NBC, 1980
• Liz Wescott, And They All Lived Happily Ever After, CBS, 1981
• Masquerade, ABC, 1983
• Miss Parsifal, Small & Frye, 1983
• Sister Coretta, Spell Bound, The WB, 1996
• Episodic
• (Television debut) Malibu Run (also known as The Aquanauts), CBS, 1960
• (Uncredited) Waitress, "Who Killed April?," Burke's Law, 1964
• Ruth Rempley, "The Bunkers and the Swingers," All in the Family, CBS, 1972
• Cora Groves, "The Rimers of Eldritch," Playhouse New York, PBS, 1972
• Carol Babcock, "My Secret Mother," ABC's Matinee Today, ABC, 1973
• "Game Plan," Mannix, CBS, 1974
• "Seventeen Forever," Insight, syndicated, 1975
• $20,000 Pyramid, 1976
• "A Slight Drinking Problem," Insight, syndicated, 1977
• April, "The Last Hundred Bucks," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978
• Sweepstakes, NBC, 1979
• Janet, "Where Have You Been, Billy Boy?," Supertrain, NBC, 1979
• Margaret Fielding, "Bowling/Command Performances," Fantasy Island,ABC, 1979
• Maggie McKenna, "Guns," Lou Grant, CBS, 1980
• "Private Eye," Here's Boomer, NBC, 1980
• Mary Hubble, "The Promoter/The Judges/The Family Plan/Forever Engaged/Maythe Best Man Win: Parts 1 & 2," The Love Boat, ABC, 1980
• Marian Grover, "The Second Time Around," Gimme a Break!, NBC, 1981
• Mrs. Louise Michaelson, "Daisies," Darkroom, ABC, 1981
• Doris Simpson, "His Girls Friday," The Love Boat, ABC, 1982
• Mary, "John's Other Life," Trapper John, M.D., CBS, 1982
• "The Final Round," Fantasy Island, ABC, 1982
• Eleanor Smathers, "The Way We Thought We Were," Newhart, CBS, 1983
• "How Do I Love Thee?," The Love Boat, ABC, 1984
• "Ted Knight," This Is Your Life, 1984
• Mother Goose, "Big Bad Mel," Alice, CBS, 1984
• Katrina, "Grandpa's Secret Life," Gimme a Break!, NBC, 1984
• Mattie Bemstein, "Murder in Malibu," Cover Up, NBC, 1984
• "Paying the Piper," The Love Boat, ABC, 1984
• Irene Pembroke, "Home for the Holidays," Charles in Charge, CBS, 1984
• "Turn of the Century-Fox," Crazy Like a Fox, CBS, 1985
• Irene Pembroke, "Grandma Returns," Charles in Charge, syndicated,1985
• Miriam Radford, "Murder Takes the Bus," Murder, She Wrote, 1985
• Blanche Devereaux, "Fatal Attraction," Empty Nest, NBC, 1988
• Madam, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Nightmare Classics,Showtime, 1989
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, 1989
• Blanche Devereaux, "Moon over Miami," Nurses, 1992
• Dame Edna's Hollywood, 1992
• Bernice Matthews, "Grandma Was a Rolling Stone," Boy Meets World,1993
• Tricksy, "Who Killed the Host at the Roast?," Burke's Law, 1994
• Amelia Bowthorpe Archibald, "Manny," Touched by an Angel, 1994
• Voice of Anastasia Hardy, "Dr. Octopus: Armed and Dangerous," Spider-Man (animated), 1995
• Virginia Redfield, "Mama Miller," Murphy Brown, 1996
• Herself, "Here We Go Again," The John Larroquette Show, 1996
• Dusty Foxx, "The Diva That Wouldn't Die," Remember WENN, 1996
• Valerie Carter, "Intolerance," The Promised Land, CBS, 1997
• Abigail Jordan, "Captains Courageous," The Love Boat: The Next Wave, WB, 1998
• Priscilla Tremaine, The Lot, AMC, 1999
• Voice of Grandma Burns, "Blue's Big Treasure Hunt," Blue's Clues (animated), 1999
• Aunt Lou, "Travels with My Aunt," Ladies Man, CBS, 2000
• Aunt Lou, "Romance," Ladies Man, CBS, 2000
• Lila Winslow, "Shallow Water: Parts 1 & 2," Touched by an Angel, CBS, 2001
• Sally Jessy Raphael, 2002
• Marian, "American Woman," Whoopi, NBC, 2004
• Also appeared as Lucille, "Kidnapped," The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer; in Improv Tonight, syndicated; Route 66; and Empire.
• Movies
• Ida Koverman, Rainbow, NBC, 1978
• Mat's mother, Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force, NBC, 1978
• Clara Topper, Topper, ABC, 1979
• Adele Sherman, Gridlock (also known as The Great American Traffic Jam), NBC, 1980
• Maggie McNeil, Word of Honor, CBS, 1981
• Barbara Arvay, The Day the Bubble Burst, NBC, 1982
• Frances Dutton, The Little Match Girl, NBC, 1987
• Frances Liberace, Liberace, ABC, 1988
• Lilah Page, Take My Daughters, Please (also known as All My Darling Daughters), NBC, 1988
• Suzy Blair, Agatha Christie's "The Man in the Brown Suit" (also known as The Man in the Brown Suit), CBS, 1989
• Sherra Cox, After the Shock (also known as To the Heroes: The San Francisco Earthquake, October 17, 1989), USA Network, 1990
• Mathilde Gage, Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story, NBC, 1990
• Margret Becker Hix, Children of the Bride, CBS, 1990
• Laura Carlson, To My Daughter, NBC, 1990
• Margret Becker Hix, Baby of the Bride, CBS, 1991
• Margret Becker Hix, Mother of the Bride, CBS, 1993
• Grandma Stephens, A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story (also known as Margaret), NBC, 1994
• Miz Leona, A Holiday to Remember (also known as A Christmas Love), CBS, 1995
• Verity Chandler, Columbo: Ashes to Ashes, ABC, 1998
• Aunt Fanny Moye, A Saintly Switch (also known as In Your Shoes), ABC, 1999
• Mary-Margaret, The Moving of Sophia Myles, CBS, 2000
• Katherine Mannion, Miracle Dogs, 2003
• Specials
• Jo Finn, Hogan's Goat, PBS, 1971
• Cora Groves, The Rimers of Eldritch, PBS, 1972
• Faye Precious, "Who's Happy Now?," Theater in America, PBS, 1975
• Ted Knight Musical Comedy Variety Special Special, 1976
• Circus of the Stars, CBS, 1977
• Esmerelda the fortune teller, "The Skin of Our Teeth," American Playhouse, PBS, 1983
• 59th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1985
• NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration, NBC, 1986
• Flo Owens, "Picnic," Broadway on Showtime, Showtime, 1986
• Comic Relief II, HBO, 1987
• Host, Disneyland's All-Star Comedy Circus, NBC, 1988
• Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park Grand Opening, NBC, 1989
• Avarissa the Witch, The Wickedest Witch (also known as The Worst Witch and The Witch), NBC, 1989
• Miss Moray, "Let Me Hear You Whisper," American Playwrights Theatre: The One Acts, Arts and Entertainment, 1990
• Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special, ABC, 1990
• Night of 100 Stars III, NBC, 1990
• The 2nd Annual Valvoline National Driving Test, CBS, 1990
• Bob Hope Presents the Ladies of Laughter, NBC, 1992
• The Ultimate Driving Challenge, CBS, 1993
• Bob Hope: The First Ninety Years, NBC, 1993
• Mother Superior Mary Regina, Nunsense, Arts and Entertainment, 1994
• Mother Superior Mary Regina, Nunsense 2: The Sequel (also known asNunsense II: The Second Coming), Arts and Entertainment, 1994
• Nunsense 3: The Jamboree, TNN, 1998
• Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Rue McClanahan, Lifetime, 2000
• Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Betty White, Lifetime, 2000
• Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Estelle Getty, Lifetime, 2001
• Countess De Lage, The Women (also known as Stage on Screen: TheWomen), PBS, 2002
• NBC 75th Anniversary Special (also known as NBC 75th Anniversary Celebration), NBC, 2002
• Interviewee, Intimate Portrait: Bea Arthur, Lifetime, 2003
• The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments, Lifetime, 2003
• CBS at 75, CBS, 2003
• Awards Presentations
• The 13th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1987
• The 3rd Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1989
• The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Presentation, Fox, 1991
• The 17th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1991
• The 48th Annual Golden Globe Awards, TBS, 1991
• The 18th Annual People's Choice Awards, CBS, 1992
• Host, The Seventh Annual Genesis Awards, The Discovery Channel, 1993
• Lifetime Presents: Disney's American Teacher Awards, Lifetime, 2001
• Television Work
• Movies
• Co-executive producer, Baby of the Bride, CBS, 1991
• Co-executive producer, Mother of the Bride, CBS, 1993
• Stage Appearances
• (Stage debut) Rachel, Inherit the Wind, Erie Playhouse, Erie, PA,1957
• (Off-Broadway debut) Hazel, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Players Theatre, 1964
• Understudy of female leads, The Best Laid Plans, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York City, 1966
• Nurse, Big Man, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1966
• Lady MacBird, MacBird!, Village Gate Theatre, New York City, 1967-1968
• Hostage, Hartford Stage Company, Hartford, CT, 1968
• The Firebugs, Hartford Stage Company, 1968
• The Threepenny Opera, Hartford Stage Company, 1968
• (Broadway debut) Sally Weber, Jimmy Shine, Brooks Atkinson Theatre, 1968-1969
• Betty, "The Golden Fleece," Tonight in Living Color, Actors Playhouse, New York City, 1969
• Faye Precious, Who's Happy Now?, Village South Theatre, New York City, 1969
• Dark of the Moon, 1970
• Standby, Father's Day, 1971
• Avis, God Says There Is No Peter Ott, 1972
• Caitlin Thomas, Dylan, Mercer O'Casey Theatre, New York City, 1972
• Harriet, Sticks and Bones, John Golden Theatre, New York City, 1972
• Crystal, Crystal and Fox, McAlpin Rooftop Theatre, New York City,1973
• Hannah, Diana, and Gert, California Suite, Eugene O'Neill Theatre,New York City, 1977
• Fortuneteller, The Skin of Our Teeth, Old Globe Theatre, San Diego, CA, 1983
• Jessie, In the Sweet Bye and Bye, Back Alley Theatre, Los Angeles,1985
• Flo, Picnic, Denver Auditorium Theatre, Denver, CO, then AhmansonTheatre, Los Angeles, 1986
• Bananas Shaughnessy, House of Blue Leaves, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA, 1987
• Night of 100 Stars III, Radio City Music Hall, New York City, 1990
• After-Play, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City, 1995
• Veta Louise Simmons, Harvey, 1995
• The Vagina Monologues, Westside Theatre, 1999-2003
• Countess De Largo, The Women, American Airlines Theater, New YorkCity, 2001-2002
• Also appeared as Blanche DuBois, A Streetcar Named Desire, Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena; in After the Fall; Who's Afraid of VirginiaWoolf?; Death of a Salesman; and Critic's Choice.
• Film Appearances
• Pamela, Door-to-Door Maniac (also known as Five Minutes to Live and Last Blood), 1961
• Loraina, The Grass Eater, 1961
• Sally "Poochie," Five Minutes to Love (also known as It Only Takes Five Minutes and The Rotten Apple), 1963
• How to Succeed with Girls, 1964
• (As Rhu McClanahan) Angel's Flight (also known as Shock Hill), 1965
• Sandy, Walk the Angry Beach (also known as Hollywood After Dark and The Unholy Choice), 1968
• Daisy Playfair, They Might Be Giants, Universal, 1970
• Della, The People Next Door, AVCO-Embassy, 1970
• Mrs. O'Mara, The Pursuit of Happiness, 1971
• Lita Joyce, Some of My Best Friends Are ... (also known as TheBar), 1971
• Survival of Spaceship Earth, 1972
• Gail, Blade, 1973
• A Different Approach, 1978
• Mrs. Parker, Modern Love, Murphey-Triumph, 1990
• Hostess, Biosphere 2, 1991
• Mom Turner, Dear God, 1996
• Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula (also known as Bela Lugosi: Hollywood's Dracula), Seventh Art, 1997
• Edna Callahan, Rusty: A Dog's Tale (also known as Rusty: The Great Rescue), 1997
• Mom Lakewood, This World, then the Fireworks, Orion, 1997
• Mrs. Carruthers, Out to Sea, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1997
• Voice of Scarlett, Annabelle's Wish, Hallmark Entertainment, 1997
• Biology teacher, Starship Troopers, Columbia TriStar Home Video, 1997
• Mrs. Kirby, Border to Border, 1998
• Grandma, Blue's Big Treasure Hunt, 1999
• Reverend Mother, Nuncrackers, 2001
• Nancy Stringer, The Fighting Temptations, Paramount, 2003
• Dean Madison, Wit's End, 2004
• RECORDINGS
• Videos
• Rue McClanahan: The Dog Care Video Guide, 1990
• Rue McClanahan: The Cat Care Video Guide, 1990
• WRITINGS
• Stage Plays
• (With Norman Hartweg) Oedipus, Schmedipus, As Long As You Love Your Mother, 1986

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals

• Parade, October 21, 2001, p. 22
• TV Guide, December 22, 2001, pp. 41-44