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Rue McClanahan

Rue McClanahan

Actor, also producer · Died June 3, 2010, aged 76 · Healdton, Oklahoma, USA

A veteran television actress and Broadway star of the 50s, Rue McClanahan was an actress noticed by television executive, Norman Lear. Lear cast her in a number of television shows, including "All in the Family" (1971) with 'Carroll OConnor' and "Maude" (1972) with Bea Arthur. McClanahan next co-starred with Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, Betty White and Carol Burnett in "Mama's Family" (1983) for three years, and after it was canceled by NBC, McClanahan was probably best known for her role as the saucy, sharp southern belle, Blanche, in "The Golden Girls" (1985). She once again worked with Bea Arthur and Betty White, and with relative newcomer Estelle Getty. All four of the women won Emmy Awards for their roles. After Bea Arthur left the show after eight seasons, McClanahan, White and Getty returned for a brief spin-off in "The Golden Palace" (1992). In the mid-nineties, McClanahan was diagnosed with cancer, but was able to fight it successfully. In addition to lending her talents to a number of made for TV films, McClanahan has also appeared on the big screen in recent years co-starring with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the comedy Out to Sea (1997) and with Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers (1997). McClanahan also spends her time joining and helping organizations against cancer, AIDS, and cruelty against animals.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 21, 1934
Died
June 3, 2010 (aged 76)
From
Healdton, Oklahoma, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
46 on MovieCove · 111 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 65 days to Oct 28Down 35% in 30 days

What are Rue McClanahan's films like?

Across their 28 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 50th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 42nd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
48%
Self
19%
Society
16%
Power
5%
Morality
5%
Ideas
5%
Survival
2%
Family bonds16 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose5 titles, browse their movies with this themeHope4 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 23 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 18 · Serious 2 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 16 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 15 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 18 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 5

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 16 · Engaged 7 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

17 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 17 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 17
Herald
3 of 17
Shapeshifter
2 of 17
Shadow
2 of 17
Hero
2 of 17
Threshold guardian
2 of 17
Mentor
2 of 17
Trickster
1 of 17
Show the 17 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Warm
20
Joyful
15
Hopeful
11
Tense
5
Contemplative
5
Other
16

How their films linger

Feel-good22 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy18
  • Bittersweet7
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Rue McClanahan's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 31 of their 46 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (11).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Rue McClanahan's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

111 credits, 46 with a MovieCove page; 16 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Golden Girls 3033 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Blanche Devereaux (voice) (archive sound)

  • Forever Golden! A Celebration of the Golden Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Blanche Devereaux

  • Generation Gap(2008)

    as Kay

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Sordid Lives: The Series(2008)

    Show 12 episodes · as Peggy Ingram

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Back to You and Me(2005)

    as Helen Ludwick

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Mrs. Hardy (voice)

  • Wonderfalls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Millie Marcus

  • Hope & Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Sylvia

  • The Fighting Temptations(2003)

    as Nancy Stringer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Whoopi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Marian

  • Miracle Dogs(2003)

    as Katherine Mannion

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Blanche Devereaux (archive footage)

  • The Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Countess DeLage

  • Nuncrackers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Reverend Mother

  • The Moving of Sophia Myles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mary-Margaret

  • Ladies Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Aunt Lou

  • Safe Harbor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 10 episodes · as Grandma Loring

  • The Lot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Priscilla Tremaine

  • A Saintly Switch(1999)

    as Aunt Fanny

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Rusty: A Dog's Tale(1998)

    as Edna Callahan

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Border to Border (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mrs. Kirby

  • Love Boat: The Next Wave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · as Abigail Jordan

  • Nunsense 3: The Jamboree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mother Superior

  • Starship Troopers(1997)

    as Biology Teacher

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Annabelle's Wish(1997)

    as Scarlett (voice)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • This World, Then the Fireworks(1997)

    as Mom Lakewood

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Out to Sea(1997)

    as Mrs. Ellen Carruthers

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • King of the Hill(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Bunny (voice)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Dear God(1996)

    as Mom Turner

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Valerie Carter

  • Innocent Victims (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Marylou Hennis

  • Remember WENN(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Dusty Foxx

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • A Holiday to Remember(1995)

    as Miz Leona / Clay's Aunt

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Spider-Man: The Animated Series(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Hardy (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Touched by an Angel(1994)

    Show 2 episodes · as Amelia Archibald · as Lila Winslow

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

  • A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story(1994)

    as Grandma Stephens

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Burke's Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Jinxy Duke

  • Nunsense 2: The Sequel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Rev. Mother Superior Sister Mary Regina

  • Message from Nam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Beatrice Andrews

  • Boy Meets World(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Bernice Matthews

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The John Larroquette Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Rue McClanahan

  • Nunsense(1994)

    as Rev. Mother Mary Regina

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Mother of the Bride(1993)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Margaret Hix

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Golden Palace(1992)

    Show 24 episodes · as Blanche Devereaux

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Baby of the Bride(1991)

    Co-Executive Producer · as Margaret Hix

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Nurses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · as Blanche Devereaux

  • The Dreamer of Oz(1990)

    as Matilda Joslyn Gage

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • To My Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Laura Carlson

  • Children of the Bride(1990)

    as Margaret Becker

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Lois McIntyre

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • After the Shock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sherra Cox

  • The Earth Day Special(1990)

    as Blanche Devereaux

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • Modern Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Mrs. Evelyn Parker

  • The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • The Wickedest Witch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Avarissa

  • The Man in the Brown Suit(1989)

    as Suzy Blair

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Take My Daughters, Please(1988)

    as Lilah Page

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Empty Nest (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Blanche Devereaux

  • Liberace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Frances Liberace

  • The Little Match Girl(1987)

    as Frances Dutton

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Picnic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Flo Owens

  • The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Actor

  • The Golden Girls(1985)

    Show 180 episodes · as Blanche Devereaux

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Crazy like a Fox (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Angie

  • Charles in Charge(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · as Irene Pembroke

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all shows

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Miriam Radford

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Cover Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mama's Family(1983)

    Show 35 episodes · as Frances Marie Crowley

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Skin of Our Teeth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Fortune Teller

  • Newhart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Day the Bubble Burst(1982)

    as Barbara Arvey

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Fortune Teller

  • Darkroom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Louise Michaelson

  • Gimme a Break! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Here's Boomer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Thelma

  • Word of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Maggie McNeill

  • Gridlock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Adele Sherman

  • Topper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as Clara Topper

  • Trapper John, M.D. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Supertrain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Ms. Rick

  • $weepstake$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Rainbow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Ida Koverman

  • Apple Pie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · as Ginger-Nell Hollyhock

  • Grandpa Goes to Washington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force(1978)

    as Mat's Mother

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Having Babies III (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Gloria Miles

  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Gertie Lawton · as Margaret Fielding

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • A Different Approach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Actor

  • The Love Boat(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as April Dunlevy · as Doris Simpson · as Laura Thornton Hayes · as Mary Hubble

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all shows

  • Lou Grant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alice(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all shows

  • Blade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Gail

  • The Rimers of Eldritch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Cora Groves

  • Maude(1972)

    Show 119 episodes · as Vivian Harmon

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Some of My Best Friends Are...(1971)

    as Lita Joyce

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Hogan's Goat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Josey Finn

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Verity Chandler

  • They Might Be Giants(1971)

    as Daisy Playfair

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Great Performances (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Cora · as Faye Precious · as Josey Finn

  • All in the Family(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Ruth Rempley

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The People Next Door(1970)

    as Della

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Where the Heart Is (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 213 episodes · as Margaret Jardin #2

  • Mannix(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • Angel's Flight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Dolly

  • How to Succeed with Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Lorena (as Patty Leigh)

  • Another World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1,547 episodes · as Caroline Johnson

  • Five Minutes to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Sally 'Poochie'

  • Five Minutes to Live(1961)

    as Pamela

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Grass Eater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Just Between Us (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Actor

  • Hollywood After Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    as Sandy

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 111 titles from 1961 to 2022; peak year 1997.

Biggest box office

Starship Troopers (1997)

$121M worldwide

Highest rated

The Golden Girls (1985)

Midcredits 90th

Film career

19612022

Peak 1997 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting111 of 111: 109 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdProducing2 of 111: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

1960s10 · acting1970s24 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s38 · 38 acting · 2 crew2000s13 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 9 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Rue McClanahan's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 45th percentile, the median of all 28; across their 23 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 44th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

44thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Reach · how many have seen their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 23

Midcredits score across 46 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up12
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th17
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

17 of their 46 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic8
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · actor

The Earth Day Special (1990)

94th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Golden Girls (1985)

Midcredits 90th · 88% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 70, detractors 34. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Rue McClanahan's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 34 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 30 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 27 · mildMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Rue McClanahan work with?

People who share at least 2 of Rue McClanahan's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bea Arthur shares the most, 4.

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers