Rue McClanahan Dies at 76

[soxxy]

http://www.people.com/people/article...s-topheadlines

I had heard, but I had forgotten, that she must have been only about 50 when she began in The Golden Girls.

RIP

[Wyliefan]

Aww. R.I.P.

In addition to GG, I loved her in Nunsense II!

[manhn]

Blanche was always my favourite Golden Girl. Rue will be missed.

[lise]

that is so sad; i loved her in GG ad nunsense as well.

[michiruwater]

total sadface that the cast of GG is dying off in such quick succession. I love, love, love that show. RIP.

[Rex]

. Now only Betty White is left. RIP Rue.

[Civic]

I loved her character in the Golden Girls. Blanche was living proof that older women could do more than knit and bake cookies. RIP.

[floskate]

Wow I'm gutted to hear this sad sad news.

I was lucky enough to meet Rue once. I was an usher at a West End theatre just after I left drama school trying to make a living while I peddled my wares auditioning for every show in town. A Tom Stoppard play was on at the time (this was 1995 IIRC) and one evening, I had the great honour of being selected to escort Rue to a private VIP bar in the interval and to make sure she and her friends had everything they needed. I did that for a lot of celebs and minor royalty during my time there but Rue was the only one who not only took the time to say thank you and really mean it, but also actively engaged me in conversation. She was interested in where I had trained, what I wanted to achieve and what I was auditioning for as well as imparting some very sage advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of the business.

At the end of the show I escorted her to her car and she not only remembered my name but thanked me for my service and making her evening so enjoyable. She shook my hand, wished me luck and left something there and before I could say anything, let alone refuse her tip (which is kind of a British thing to do), she was gone. I opened my hand to find £100 for my troubles. I have never forgotten the kindness she showed me or that £100 which at the time went a loooong way to ensure I could actually afford to eat, let alone travel to auditions and such.

RIP Rue McClanahan. A truer star and more down to earth and generous lady I never did meet.

[Wyliefan]

What a lovely story, floskate. Thanks for sharing that.

[Cheylana]

Awwww... I didn't realize Rue was in such frail health!

. Now only Betty White is left. RIP Rue.

Can we take Betty White to an undisclosed location with 24-hour guards to keep her safe? We're losing too many GGs!!!

[olympic]

This is too sad. I will always remember watching GG on Saturday Nights when I was a teen [nerdy kid that I was]. Blanche on GG was a groundbreaking role; Senior Citizen who was sexy and unapologetically sexually active.

But let's not forget her role in 'Maude' in the 1970s or briefly in 'Mama's Family' in the early 80s.

RIP

[mindy74]

I got out of a 90 minute meeting with my boss to find this out. I've seen every episode of the GG so many times, I watch it every night before I go to bed as it's like a comfort blanket for me. I even named my cat Blanche.

I used to think, not that long ago, how sad it would be when the ladies started dying and now only Betty is still with us. I love each of them, both onscreen and for being generally awesome in real life, too.
Sad day

[Nan]

Very sad. RIP Rue

[Diane Mars]

Ho noooo

R.I.P Rue

[Aaron W]

Thanks for sharing that story, flo! It's a very nice one.

Estelle went in 2008, Bea in 2009, and now Rue in 2010. I certainly hope Betty White is able to break the one year cycle and remain in good health for many years to come.

[Satellitegirl]

floskate that is awesome She always seemed like she'd be nice, and it's good to know she really was!

RIP Rue. You'll be missed, but I'm happy we have GG reruns to remember you by

[Catherine M]

Thanks for sharing your story about Rue, Flo.

I was really sad when I heard the news this morning as I had just watched two Golden Girl reruns last night by chance and it brought back alot of memories watching the show way back when with my mom.

RIP Rue!

[nyrak]

Wow I'm gutted to hear this sad sad news.

I was lucky enough to meet Rue once. I was an usher at a West End theatre just after I left drama school trying to make a living while I peddled my wares auditioning for every show in town. A Tom Stoppard play was on at the time (this was 1995 IIRC) and one evening, I had the great honour of being selected to escort Rue to a private VIP bar in the interval and to make sure she and her friends had everything they needed. I did that for a lot of celebs and minor royalty during my time there but Rue was the only one who not only took the time to say thank you and really mean it, but also actively engaged me in conversation. She was interested in where I had trained, what I wanted to achieve and what I was auditioning for as well as imparting some very sage advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of the business.

At the end of the show I escorted her to her car and she not only remembered my name but thanked me for my service and making her evening so enjoyable. She shook my hand, wished me luck and left something there and before I could say anything, let alone refuse her tip (which is kind of a British thing to do), she was gone. I opened my hand to find £100 for my troubles. I have never forgotten the kindness she showed me or that £100 which at the time went a loooong way to ensure I could actually afford to eat, let alone travel to auditions and such.

RIP Rue McClanahan. A truer star and more down to earth and generous lady I never did meet.

What a nice story! Nice to know someone you like on TV is actually nice in real life.

RIP Rue

[ChelleC]

RIP

[Rex]

Can we take Betty White to an undisclosed location with 24-hour guards to keep her safe? We're losing too many GGs!!!

Seriously.

One GG is too many - I lurved them all.