A New York stage actress in the 1950s, McClanahan was plucked from the stage by Norman Lear for roles on All in the Family and later Maude. For two years (1982 - 1984), she played "Aunt Fran" on Mama's Family until it was canceled by NBC. She hit her comedic stride as a sharp tongued oversexed Southern belle on The Golden Girls.



Mother of Mark Bish. In 1997, Rue was diagnosed with cancer. She had a lumpectomy and five months of chemotherapy. She now does a lecture entitled "Aging Gracefully" for breast-cancer support groups. Became a sister of Kappa Alpha Theta at the University of Tulsa. Is of Scot-Irish and Choctaw Indian ancestry. Still has "jitters" for opening nights, about rehearsals and worrying about not having enough time to prepare perfectly. Is a vegan and dedicated animal rights activist. Suffered a minor stroke while recovering from heart bypass surgery, which she had in November 2009 [January 14, 2010]. Was estranged (in 2009) from her sixth husband, Morrow Wilson at the time of her death.