Thank You For Being A Friend: Golden Girl Rue McClanahan Passes Away

Another classic TV icon passed away earlier today, leaving Betty White as the world’s sole surviving Golden Girl.

Rue McClanahan, who continues to make the world laugh daily thanks to Golden Girls DVD’s and reruns, has died at the age of 76.

McClanahan’s vivacious Blanche Devereaux was a bit of spice added to the comic mix of the series, which also starred White, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty. But the actress had many other successes. In the 1970’s, she played Maude Findlay’s best friend Vivian on Maude, where her character eventually married Conrad Bain’s Arthur. Bain lost another co-star last week when his Diff’rent Strokes castmate Gary Coleman died.

She also had a turn as Aunt Fran in the first two seasons of Mama’s Family. When the show went from network to syndication, her character was written off the show as having died.

I specifically also remember seeing an episode of Gimme A Break! with a guest star turn from McClanahan as a very aggressive woman who set her sights on Dolph Sweet’s “Chief.”

Thanks go out to Ms. McClanahan for years of television enjoyment that will be loved for many generations to come. Can someone put The Golden Palace and the rest of Maude on DVD already so we can see more of Rue? Thanks.