RUE MCCLANAHAN, THE EMMY-WINNING ACTRESS WHO PLAYED SOUTHERN BELLE BLANCHE DEVEREAUX IN THE ACCLAIMED TELEVISION SERIES THE GOLDEN GIRLS, HAS DIED. HER MANAGER BARBARA LAWRENCE SAID MCCLANAHAN DIED OF A 'MASSIVE STROKE', AGED 76. 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 THEATER IN THE 1960s BEFORE SHE WAS TAPPED FOR TV IN THE 1970s FOR THE 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. 'THE GOLDEN GIRLS' AIMED TO SHOW 'THAT WHEN PEOPLE MATURE, THEY ADD LAYERS', SHE TOLD THE NEW YORK TIMES IN 1985. 'THEY DON'T TURN INTO OTHER CREATURES. THE TRUTH IS WE ALL STILL HAVE OUR CHILD, OUR ADOLESCENT, AND YOUR YOUNG WOMAN LIVING IN US.' FELLOW 'GOLDEN GIRL' BETTY WHITE CALLED MCCLANAHAN A CLOSE AND DEAR FRIEND. 'I TREASURED OUR RELATIONSHIP', SAID WHITE. 'IT HURTS MORE THAN I EVEN THOUGHT IT WOULD, IF THAT'S EVEN POSSIBLE.' MCCLANAHAN WON AN EMMY FOR HER WORK ON THE SHOW IN 1987. AFTER 'THE GOLDEN GIRLS' WAS CANCELED IN 1992, MCCLANAHAN, WHITE AND GETTY REPRISED THEIR ROLES IN A SHORT-LIVED SPINOFF, 'GOLDEN PALACE'.
No comments:
Post a Comment