Rue McClanahan Net Worth

Rue McClanahan's Quotes

• Compassion is the foundation of everything positive, everything good. If you carry the power of compassion to the marketplace and the dinner table, you can make your life really count.
• People always ask me if I'm like Blanche. And I say, "Well, Blanche was an oversexed, self-involved, man-crazy, vain Southern belle from Atlanta -- and I'm not from Atlanta!"
• [on her religion when asked about it] Yes, I am a Methodist. I have been affiliated with the Methodist church since I was a child and I must say that I simply love it! There are three things in this world that I love; animals, my Golden Girls and being a Methodist. I can't fathom being a member in any other religion than the Methodist church. It is so relaxed and welcoming and you can just be yourself while worshiping with no strings attached. I am very proud to be a member in the Methodist church!

Interesting Facts about Rue McClanahan

1. Mother of Mark Bish and aunt of actress Amelia Kinkade.
2. In 1997, McClanahan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and five months of chemotherapy. She did a series of lectures entitled "Aging Gracefully" for breast-cancer support groups.
3. She graduated cum laude in the University of Tulsa with a joint degree in German and Theatre Arts. She was the only female member of the school's science club. She joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority at the University of Tulsa.
4. Played the same character, Blanche Devereaux, on four different TV series: The Golden Palace (1992), The Golden Girls (1985), Nurses (1991), and Empty Nest (1988).
5. One of Rue's maternal great-great-great-great-grandmothers, SheNiYah, was a Choctaw Native American. Rue also had English, and small amounts of Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Welsh, German, French-Canadian, Dutch, and remote Portuguese, ancestry.
6. After her second marriage broke up, she went to New York, and started doing films. She thought her They Might Be Giants (1971) part was her best movie part.
7. When it came to stage performances she had "jitters" for opening nights, about rehearsals and worrying about not having enough time to prepare perfectly.
8. Betty White was originally considered for the role of the sexpot, Blanche, on The Golden Girls (1985). However, Betty had already been the aggressive Sue Ann Nivens on Mary Tyler Moore (1970) and Rue had played the introverted Vivian on Maude (1972). It was thought best not to typecast these two actresses by having them portray similar characters. Therefore, Betty got the part of naive Rose Nylund and Rue played the oversexed Blanche.
9. A vegan and dedicated animal rights activist, she was an Honorary Director for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
10. Suffered a minor stroke while recovering from heart bypass surgery, which she had in November 2009 [January 14, 2010].
11. After moving to New York City, she worked as a file clerk before finding success in the theater.
12. Was estranged (in 2009) from her sixth husband, Morrow Wilson at the time of her death.
13. She was a lifelong liberal Democrat. In 2003 she wrote a letter to presidential nominee John Kerry telling him that he lost both her vote and respect due to pheasant hunting. She endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election.
14. She modeled her accent for Blanche Deveraux after Rosalynn Carter.
15. She kept every outfit she wore while on The Golden Girls (1985) and used a majority of them for her everyday wear away from the show.
16. Was a supporter, donor, and advocate for the Methodist Healthcare Systemand its 15 care services. She gave a speech about her battle with breast cancer at the Travis Park United Methodist Church in East Travis, Texas on May 11, 2000.
17. Portraying Madame Morrible in Broadway's Wicked. [June 2005]
18. Spoke at a press conference at Saratoga Springs, New York protesting the use of diving horses at Magic Forest Theme Park, Lake George, New York. [May 2003]
19. She was inducted into the 2015 inaugural Closter Hall of Fame in Closter, New Jersey.
20. She was awarded the 1985 Pasadena Playhouse Alumni and Associates Woman of the Year Award at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California.