June 3 2010 – An intensely private Rue McClanahan and her family shocked America and the world when she died suddenly on Thursday, June 3, 2010. Rue McClanahan died at 76 years old on Thursday, June 3. Rue McClanahan’s cause of death was due to a massive stroke.
Betty White is now the only surviving cast member of the Golden Girls.
Rue McClanahan died surrounded by her closest relatives. Her son, Mark Bish, her sister, Dr. Melinda L. McClanahan and her nephew, Brendan Kinkade, were at her bedside. McClanahan had made it known that she didn’t want a public funeral but would have memorials instead. Memorials, to be held in Los Angeles and New York, will be announced at a later date.
Feb 2 2010 – Rue McClanahan had a heart by-pass surgery around November 2009. Betty White sent her sick former co-star, Rue McClanahan, a get well card and bouquet. McClanahan is recovering from a stroke. Betty White allegedly wrote on the card, “I hope you die, so I can be the last Golden Girl.”
Sources said McClanaham understood the humor of it and enjoyed a good laugh.
Nov 5 2009 – Rue McClanahan: Rue McClanahan heart bypass surgery
Rue McClanahan had a heart bypass surgery this week. McClanahan is now recovering in hospital. McClanahan first checked in with her doctor who advised her to check into a hospital in NY. McClanahan had an irregular heartbeat.
McClanahan had her operation on Tuesday, November 3. McClanahan is expected to recover fully after her convalescence. McClanahan was Blanche Devereaux in “The Golden Girls”, a TV comedy that aired from 1985 to 1992.
Rue McClanahan was last seen on a new TV appearance in “Law & Order”, aired in 2008.
Rue McClanahan background.
McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma. The McClanahan family moved to several towns while Rue was in her childhood. By the time McClanahan was 8 years old, she had experienced staying in 6 towns.
Mr McClanahan, Rue’s father, worked as a road builder who shifted constantly to be where his work project was. Rue suffered some unsettling and she sought refuge in her love for acting.
Rue McClanahan managed to go to school and university, at the U of Tulsa. McClanahan graduated and relocated to New York, to look for acting work. McClanahan worked part time as a filing clerk to support herself while searching for her break in the theater.
McClanahan started acting in Broadway in 1969. Slowly but surely, McClanahan obtained roles in TV series. Her small roles eventually landed her in Maude, CBS’ TV series. McClanahan probably met Beatrice “Bea” Arthur in 1972, in Maude, where they worked together. McClanahan starred as “Vivian”, the fried of the lead character, played by Bea Arthur.
McClanahan, Betty White, Estelle Getty and Bea Arthur eventually were cast together in The Golden Girls, in 1985. The Golden Girls ran from 1985 to 1992.
Rue McClanahan became popular but she failed to achieve success in marriage. McClanahan married 6 men and divorced 5 of them. McClanahan married Morrow Wilson in 1997 and he is named as her surviving husband.
Mark Bish.
McClanahan has a son named Mark Bish, from her first marriage to her first husband, Tom Bish. Mark Bish, now 28, works as a guitarist and plays in a few rock bands. Bish is based in LA, Ca. Mark once said his mother looked for a father figure for him when he was younger and she didn’t look for a mate for herself. That probably explained why her marriages failed.
Rue Clanahan’s humor.
McClanahan retained her sense of humor despite her heartaches in finding her true love in marriages. She joked about her husbands, saying she had some good cooks and some poor chefs who needed recipes to make even the simplest menu like a sandwich.
Rue McClanahan loved animals and she had several pets. McClanahan’s pets lasted longer than any of her 6 husbands. When McClanahan got married and then divorced, for the 5th time, she said she gave up on marriage. However, McClanahan was to marry for the sixth time.
McClanahan explained why she married so many times when she said she was an old fashioned gal who believed in marriage and not living together in sin.
McClanahan’s marriages cost her dearly. She suffered emotionally as well as materially. McClanahan’s 4th husband divorced her after 2 years and sued her for half of her earnings made while they lived together as a married couple.
McClanahan’s first 3 marriages were to actors. Her 5th marriage was to her school mate who was her high school boyfriend.All marriages were short-lived.
Rue McClanahan’s husbands.
McClanahan’s first husband was Tom Bish.
Her second husband was Norman Hartweg.
Her third husband was Peter DeMaio. McClanahan said she married Hartweg and DeMaio in her efforts to give her son Mark Bish, a home with two parents around. Mark was living with the McClanahan family when Rue was single and working. Peter DeMaio allegedly had a bad temper and affected Mark, who became withdrawn. McClanahan then divorced DeMaio.
McClanahan married her fourth husband, Gus Fisher. McClanahan said Fisher asked her to invest money in two buildings. That marriage didn’t last.
McClanahan’s fifth marriage was to Tom Keel. McClanahan said she married him because she thought they could last together, being former school mates and friends. McClanahan couldn’t be more wrong as their marriage ended after a year and Tom Keel had a large divorce settlement.
McClanahan married her sixth husband Morrow Wilson in 1997.
If you miss Rue McClanahan, read her words in her memoir, “My First Five Husbands . . . and the Ones Who Got Away”, published in 2007.
Timeline of deaths of the stars in The Golden Girls:
Estelle Getty died in 2008.
Bea Arthur died in 2009.
Rue McClanahan died in 2010.
The Best of Rue McClanahan video:
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