Rue Mcclanahan Death

Friday, June 4, 2010 at 6:25 am

Rue Mcclanahan Death: In less than two years, Betty White has seen the passing of her ‘Golden Girls’ castmates Estelle Getty, Bea Arthur and Rue McClanahan. Now, the comedy icon has given her first reaction to McClanahan’s death today from a stroke.

“Rue was a close and dear friend,” she tells ‘The Insider.’ “I treasure our relationship. It hurts more than I ever thought it would, if that’s even possible.”

From 1985 to 1992, White and McClanahan played unlikely friends on the hit series — White, as simple Rose, and Rue as the bodacious Blanche. Both actresses portrayed these same characters on four different sitcoms — ‘The Golden Girls,’ ‘The Golden Palace,’ ‘Nurses’ and ‘Empty Nest.’

‘Golden’ co-stars Estelle Getty and Bea Arthur passed away in July of 2008 and April of 2009, respectively.

White and McClanahan’s working relationship began well before either was a ‘Golden Girl.’ Both were supporting players on Vicki Lawrence’s kitchy sitcom ‘Mama’s Family’ in the early 1980s — White as Mama’s snooty daughter Ellen, while Rue appeared as her unmarried sister, Fran.

According to IMDB, White was originally considered for the role of Blanche on ‘Girls.’ However, producers were reluctant to typecast White as sexually aggressive after her turn as Sue Ann Nivens on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show.’ As Rue had already played a more introverted character — that of Vivian on ‘Maude’ — producers felt it best to challenge the actresses with roles unlike anything they had ever played before. It’s a good thing they did; White and McClanahan were iconic as Rose and Blanche, respectively. Both actresses won lead actress Emmys for ‘Girls.’

White and McClanahan also shared an interest in animal rights activism. Rue was active on behalf of PETA, and White endorses a number of animal welfare causes, including the Los Angeles Zoo Commission, the Morris Animal Foundation and Actors & Others for Animals. White has also published a book about her love of animals

Rue Mcclanahan Death

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