'Golden Girls' star Rue McClanahan passes away at 76

[DJ Tony]

One of the two remaining actress of the hit series "Golden Girls" Rue McClanahan passed away at the age 76.

Full story:

http://www.tmz.com/2010/06/03/golden-girls-rue-mcclanahan-dies/

Rue McClanahan..... Thank you.. For being a friend.

 

[MarcB]

I know they were all sick, but this is the 3rd year in a row this has happened.

Estelle Getty - Sophia died in 08 and Bea Arthur - Dorothy died last year. Now Rue McClanahan dies this year. Thankfully Betty White says she's in good health otherwise I would say she needs to watch her back, although emotionally it could take a toll on her too.

 

[formeraa]

Although it's hard to see co-workers pass away, you must remember that Golden Girls ended 18 years ago. I'm sure that Betty has moved on emotionally. We, the public, see all the reruns and probably associate them together more than they ever were.

 

[searadiofreak]

Rue, Bea Arthur, and Betty White all had CBS connections before getting together on NBC. Rue and Bea both guest starred on "All In The Family", and Rue had a recurring role on Bea's "Maude". Betty joined MTM seasons 4-7. I'm sure most have heard the story that based on Betty's role on MTM, she was orginally cast in the "Blanche" role on Golden Girls, and Rue originally as "Rose". They turned it around at the rest is sitcom history.

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

Rue, Bea Arthur, and Betty White all had CBS connections before getting together on NBC. Rue and Bea both guest starred on "All In The Family", and Rue had a recurring role on Bea's "Maude". Betty joined MTM seasons 4-7. I'm sure most have heard the story that based on Betty's role on MTM, she was orginally cast in the "Blanche" role on Golden Girls, and Rue originally as "Rose". They turned it around at the rest is sitcom history.

Or as Ms. McClanahan wrote in her memoir, attributed to Ms. Arthur, "Rue, I am not interested in doing 'Maude and Vivian' meet 'Sue Anne Nivens!"

 

[LKellerIII]

Although it's hard to see co-workers pass away, you must remember that Golden Girls ended 18 years ago. I'm sure that Betty has moved on emotionally. We, the public, see all the reruns and probably associate them together more than they ever were.

Moved on? Maybe not. This excerpt from the Associated Press obit on Ms. McClanahan:


Fellow "Golden Girl" Betty White called McClanahan a close and dear friend. "I treasured our relationship," said White, who was working in Los Angeles on the set of her TV Land comedy "Hot in Cleveland" on Thursday. "It hurts more than I even thought it would, if that's even possible."

In April 09, both McClanahan and White appeared on Larry King Live to talk about Bea Arthur when she died. Betty White was on camera in the CNN LA studio, and Rue was on the phone. They are both animal rights advocates (apparently Arthur was too). The two women got into a brief argument about a particular organization - but it seemed like the kind of bickering that friends engage in.


Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/artic...03/entertainment/e084807D38.DTL#ixzz0pp9rKrbg

 

[formeraa]

Although it's hard to see co-workers pass away, you must remember that Golden Girls ended 18 years ago. I'm sure that Betty has moved on emotionally. We, the public, see all the reruns and probably associate them together more than they ever were.

Moved on? Maybe not. This excerpt from the Associated Press obit on Ms. McClanahan:

In context, my quote was responding to the previous poster who implied that having three friends die in three years must be having an emotional toll on Betty. Older people, such as Betty White, have friends dying constantly. While it is definitely a sad occasion, they can't let themselves "dwell" on it or let it take an emotional "toll". Of course, Betty is saddened by the death of a co-worker and friend. But, whether it has taken a long-term emotional toll on Betty is unlikely.

 

[LKellerIII]

Although it's hard to see co-workers pass away, you must remember that Golden Girls ended 18 years ago. I'm sure that Betty has moved on emotionally. We, the public, see all the reruns and probably associate them together more than they ever were.

Moved on? Maybe not. This excerpt from the Associated Press obit on Ms. McClanahan:

In context, my quote was responding to the previous poster who implied that having three friends die in three years must be having an emotional toll on Betty. Older people, such as Betty White, have friends dying constantly. While it is definitely a sad occasion, they can't let themselves "dwell" on it or let it take an emotional "toll". Of course, Betty is saddened by the death of a co-worker and friend. But, whether it has taken a long-term emotional toll on Betty is unlikely.

Oh, I wasn't criticizing your post, formeraa - just adding some context to the "moving on" statement. It's worth noting that both White and McClanahan mourned Bea Arthur's death last April, but in a more detached way - as fellow professionals. Arthur was apparently a bit more of the 'diva' and wanted to be the center of attention in Golden Girls. In fact, before Bea Arthur's death, McClanahan was quoted as saying she felt constrained in the last few years on GG, primarily because Arthur wasn't very interested in the "ensemble" thing.

Betty White seemed to take all that more in stride, probably because she doesn't take things very seriously ...probably the secret to her longevity.

 

[searadiofreak]

Betty White seems to have the secret to longevity. Let things bounce off 'em. Don't take anything too seriously. Have a sense of humor. Admit you are growing old. And more importantly, KEEP WORKING! Thank God for her talent, and her attitude.

 

[cspotrun]

that show doesn't get the credit it deserves... it was one of the best written sit-coms of all time, and the last one that was actually funny.

 

[DToTheJ]

I know they were all sick, but this is the 3rd year in a row this has happened.

Estelle Getty - Sophia died in 08 and Bea Arthur - Dorothy died last year. Now Rue McClanahan dies this year.

Good to see not many people are throwing that "T" word around in light of this development...

Thankfully Betty White says she's in good health otherwise I would say she needs to watch her back, although emotionally it could take a toll on her too.

Does this mean Betty White is now the Paul (or Ringo, if you prefer) of "The Golden Girls"?

By the way... "Golden Girls" marathon on WE TV today beginning at 5 PM ET.

 

[bpatrick]

Betty White seems to have so much on her plate right now
that she's probably not dwelling too much on the prospect of death
(maybe she'll be the female George Burns and live to be 100).

Rue McClanahan's passing wasn't a total shock; she'd been
ill for several months. But it still saddens when a viewer favorite
passes on. BTW, "Golden Girls" was funny and raunchy enough to
attract college students who wouldn't normally watch television on
Saturday nights, let alone a show where all the main characters are
over 50, and it seems to picking up a new generation in reruns.
So let's look on the bright side, if there is one: Rue, Bea, Betty, and
Estelle will be making us laugh long after they're all gone.

 

[MarcB]

Yeah I remember friends of mine watching The Golden Girls reruns on Lifetime, drinking a 40 and have debates about which of the Golden Girls was the hottest. :

 

[DToTheJ]

I wonder if they're going to break out a six-pack tonight and pour some on the ground in honor of their "dead hotties"... :

 

[LKellerIII]

that show doesn't get the credit it deserves... it was one of the best written sit-coms of all time, and the last one that was actually funny.

In my memory, the show did get a lot of "credit" - critics praised it, it had a long run, and it's enduring popularity with younger viewers proves that the show has 'legs.'

This past Christmas, I went to see a San Francisco stage production of The Golden Girls - done primarily by men in drag...I did say San Francisco, didn't I? But it was not done in ridicule - it was a very loving portrayl of all the characters, and the audience (gay, straight, young, old) were all obviously very familiar with the show. And the original script was faithful to the show, and could easily have been a real episode.

 

[formeraa]

Although it's hard to see co-workers pass away, you must remember that Golden Girls ended 18 years ago. I'm sure that Betty has moved on emotionally. We, the public, see all the reruns and probably associate them together more than they ever were.

Moved on? Maybe not. This excerpt from the Associated Press obit on Ms. McClanahan:

In context, my quote was responding to the previous poster who implied that having three friends die in three years must be having an emotional toll on Betty. Older people, such as Betty White, have friends dying constantly. While it is definitely a sad occasion, they can't let themselves "dwell" on it or let it take an emotional "toll". Of course, Betty is saddened by the death of a co-worker and friend. But, whether it has taken a long-term emotional toll on Betty is unlikely.

Oh, I wasn't criticizing your post, formeraa - just adding some context to the "moving on" statement. It's worth noting that both White and McClanahan mourned Bea Arthur's death last April, but in a more detached way - as fellow professionals. Arthur was apparently a bit more of the 'diva' and wanted to be the center of attention in Golden Girls. In fact, before Bea Arthur's death, McClanahan was quoted as saying she felt constrained in the last few years on GG, primarily because Arthur wasn't very interested in the "ensemble" thing.

Betty White seemed to take all that more in stride, probably because she doesn't take things very seriously ...probably the secret to her longevity.

No worries! I just wanted to make sure that I was being understood. Sometimes I don't fully express my thoughts. I was actually shocked by Rue's death. I guess I missed that reports of her illness. :'(

That being said, Betty's longevity is amazing. I remember being concerned about her after her husband's (Allen Ludden) sudden passing 30 years ago. But she just keeps going and going. Although I loved MTM and Golden Girls, my favorite White moments are actually from her appearances on Match Game 7x/PM. I just loved that show with Sommers, Reilly, Dawson, and frequent appearances by Whitel.

 

[MarcB]

I wonder if they're going to break out a six-pack tonight and pour some on the ground in honor of their "dead hotties"... :

Good question. I haven't been acquainted with them in years. And it's been over a year since the show was on Lifetime so you know it's been a while since I've seen those friends.

 

[DToTheJ]

What, they don't get the WE channel or something? ???

 

[sfradio]

What, they don't get the WE channel or something? ???

or the hallmark channel?

 

[MarcB]

WE is doing a marathon tonight. Hallmark isn't do any marathons. They're just gonna spotlight the best of Blanche all next week in their regular 9AM-11AM timeslot. I don't get WE because it's in a more expensive tier of Comcrap Digital Cable.