Эдди МакКлэнэхан: Жизнь и карьера американской актрисы

American actress (1934–2010)

Eddi Rue McClanahan (February 21, 1934 – June 3, 2010) was an American actress and comedian best known for her roles on television sitcoms, including Vivian Harmon on Maude (1972–78), Aunt Fran Crowley on Mama's Family (1983–84), and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls (1985–92), and its spin off series The Golden Palace (1992–93). McClanahan won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987 for her role in The Golden Girls.

Eddi Rue McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, on February 21, 1934. She was the daughter of Dreda Rheua Nell ( Medaris), a beautician, and William Edwin "Bill" McClanahan, a building contractor. She was raised Methodist and was of Irish and Choctaw ancestry. where she acted in school plays and won the gold medal in oration. A National Honor Society member, McClanahan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, at the University of Tulsa, where she majored in both German and theater and joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority,

A life member of the Actors Studio, McClanahan made her professional stage début at Pennsylvania's Erie Playhouse in 1957, in the play Inherit the Wind. but did not make her Broadway début until 1969, when she portrayed Sally Weber in the original production of John Sebastian and Murray Schisgal's play with music, Jimmy Shine, with Dustin Hoffman in the title role. McClanahan first worked with actress Bea Arthur on the sitcom Maude (1972–78). Arthur played Maude Findlay, and McClanahan played Maude's best friend Vivian Cavender, who eventually married Maude's next door neighbor Dr. Arthur Harmon (played by Conrad Bain). After Maude, McClanahan starred in Apple Pie, a series created for her by Norman Lear, but which aired only two episodes before it was canceled. In an interview, McClanahan said she also did another of the pilot episodes The Baxters for Lear but told him she did not want to do the series itself. It is unknown if her appearance was in the actual pilot or an unaired pilot, presumably the latter given she is not credited and the show is not attributed to her anywhere. It is also possible she never actually filmed the episode but was just considering it. Many years later, a script binder entitled The Baxters was discovered to be a part of her collection. On Mama's Family (1983–90), McClanahan portrayed Fran, an uptight spinster sister to Mama Thelma Harper (Vicki Lawrence). Fran was a journalist for the local paper. Also in the cast was McClanahan's future Golden Girls costar Betty White. McClanahan and White appeared on the first two seasons before the show was canceled by NBC and then retooled for first run syndication. On The Golden Girls (1985–92) and its short lived spin off The Golden Palace (1992–93), McClanahan portrayed man crazed Southern belle Blanche Devereaux, owner of the house she lived in and rented out to her three roommates and best friends: Dorothy Zbornak (Arthur), Rose Nylund (White), and Sophia Petrillo (Estelle Getty). McClanahan received four Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the show, winning the award in 1987. She appeared as a leader of Al Anon in a 1970s informational film called Slight Drinking Problem, in which Patty Duke played the enabling and eventually self empowered wife of an alcoholic. In feature films, she appeared in The Rotten Apple (1961) and Walk the Angry Beach (1968). She appeared in the Walter Matthau Jack Lemmon comedy Out to Sea (1997). On television, she appeared as Matilda Joslyn Gage, mother in law of L. Frank Baum in the made for TV movie The Dreamer of Oz (1990). She made guest appearances on Murder, She Wrote and Newhart. In the early 1990s, McClanahan appeared as Margaret Becker in a trilogy of made for television films: Children of the Bride, Baby of the Bride, and Mother of the Bride. She voice acted in cartoons, voicing Scarlett in the 1997 Fox Christmas special Annabelle's Wish. She played the role of Steve's grandmother in the Blue's Clues video Blue's Big Treasure Hunt (1999). On Spider Man: The Animated Series, she appeared in the 1994 episode "Doctor Octopus: Armed And Dangerous" as Anastasia Hardy. She played a biology teacher in 1997's Starship Troopers. She voiced the role of Bunny in a 2007 episode of King of the Hill, "Hair Today, Gone Today." In 2009, she appeared in an episode of Law & Order as a woman who had an affair with John F. Kennedy. On Broadway, McClanahan appeared in the all woman cast of The Women in 2001 2002, alongside Cynthia Nixon, Jennifer Coolidge, among others. She replaced Tammy Grimes as "The Visitor from New York" (Hannah Warren) in the Neil Simon comedy California Suite from April 4, 1977, until the show closed on July 2 of that same year. In 2003, she appeared alongside Mark Hamill in the two hander Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida. She chose not to continue with the production and was replaced by Polly Bergen for the Broadway performances. The same year, she appeared in the musical romantic comedy film The Fighting Temptations as Nancy Stringer, which costarred Cuba Gooding, Jr., Beyoncé Knowles, Mike Epps, and Steve Harvey. On Broadway, she replaced Carole Shelley as Madame Morrible in the musical Wicked on May 31, 2005. She played the role for eight months until January 8, 2006. She was replaced by Carol Kane on January 10, 2006. Her autobiography, My First Five Husbands and the Ones Who Got Away, was released in 2007. McClanahan's final acting role was as Peggy Ingram in the cable series Sordid Lives on the Logo network, which premiered July 23, 2008.

An animal rights advocate and vegetarian, McClanahan was one of the first celebrity supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to transforming communities to protect and improve the lives of cats, and appeared in a public service announcement for the organization in early 2010. McClanahan was a supporter of gay rights, including advocating for same sex marriage in the United States. In January 2009, she appeared in the star studded Defying Inequality: The Broadway Concert—A Celebrity Benefit for Equal Rights.

In June 1997, McClanahan was diagnosed with breast cancer, for which she was treated successfully. had to be postponed. On January 14, 2010, Entertainment Tonight reported that while recovering from surgery, the actress suffered a minor stroke. In March 2010, fellow Golden Girls cast member Betty White reported on The Ellen DeGeneres Show that McClanahan was doing well and that her speech had returned to normal. McClanahan died on June 3, 2010, at age 76, at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital after she suffered a brain hemorrhage. After cremation, her ashes were given to her family. White told Entertainment Tonight that McClanahan was a "close and dear friend." McClanahan was survived by her sixth husband, Morrow Wilson (from whom she separated in 2009); her son from her first marriage, Mark Bish (of Austin, Texas); her sister, Melinda Lou McClanahan (of Silver City, New Mexico); and other family, including her niece, actress and author Amelia Kinkade. No funeral service was held for McClanahan; her family created an official memorial page on Facebook, and memorial services were held during the summer of 2010 in New York and Los Angeles. In February 2017, a Golden Girls–themed eatery named Rue La Rue Cafe, owned by McClanahan's close friend Michael La Rue (who inherited many of the star's personal belongings and in turn decorated the restaurant with them), opened in the Washington Heights section of the New York City borough of Manhattan. However, after less than a year in business, the cafe closed in November 2017.

Year Title Role Notes 1961 The Grass Eater Loraina 1961 Five Minutes to Live Pamela Uncredited 1963 Five Minutes to Love Sally "Poochie" Alternate titles: The Rotten Apple / It Only Takes Five Minutes 1964 How to Succeed with Girls Lorena 1965 Angel's Flight Dolly Alternate title: Shock Hill 1968 Walk the Angry Beach Sandy Alternate titles: Hollywood After Dark / The Unholy Choice 1970 The People Next Door Della 1971 The Pursuit of Happiness Mrs. O'Mara They Might Be Giants Daisy Some of My Best Friends Are Lita Joyce 1973 Blade Gail 1978 Having Babies III Gloria Miles TV movie Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U. S. Air Force Mat's Mother TV movie Rainbow Ida Koverman TV movie 1979 Topper Clara Topper TV movie 1980 The Great American Traffic Jam Adele Sherman TV movie 1981 World of Honor Maggie McNeill TV movie 1982 The Day the Bubble Burst Barbara Arvey TV movie 1986 Picnic Flo Owens TV movie 1987 Little Match Girl Frances Dutton TV movie 1988 Liberace Frances Liberace TV movie Take My Daughters, Please Lilah Page TV movie 1989 The Man in the Brown Suit Suzy Blair TV movie The Wickedest Witch Avarissa TV special 1990 Modern Love Mrs. Evelyn Parker The Earth Day Special Blanche Devereaux TV special After the Shock Sherra Cox TV movie Children of the Bride Margret Becker TV movie To My Daughter Laura Carlson TV movie The Dreamer of Oz: The L. Frank Baum Story Matilda Electa Joslyn Gage TV movie 1991 Baby of the Bride Margret Becker Hix TV movie 1993 Mother of the Bride Message from Nam Beatrice Andrews TV miniseries Nunsense Reverend Mother Regina TV movie 1994 A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story Grandma Stephens TV movie Nunsense 2: The Sequel Reverend Mother Regina TV movie 1995 A Holiday to Remember Miz Leona TV movie 1996 Innocent Victims Marylou Hennis TV miniseries Dear God Mom Rue Turner 1997 This World, Then the Fireworks Mrs. Tessa Lakewood Out to Sea Ellen Carruthers Annabelle's Wish Scarlett (voice) TV movie Starship Troopers Ruth the Biology Teacher 1998 Border to Border Mrs. Eda Kirby Rusty: A Dog's Tale Edna Callahan Alternate title: Rusty: The Great Rescue Nunsense 3: The Jamboree Reverend Mother Regina TV movie 1999 A Saintly Switch Aunt Fanny TV movie 2000 The Moving of Sophia Myles Mary Margaret TV movie 2001 Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical Reverend Mother Regina Direct to video 2003 Miracle Dogs Katherine Mannion TV movie The Fighting Temptations Nancy Stringer 2005 Wit's End Dean Madison Back to You and Me Helen Ludwick TV movie 2008 Generation Gap Kay TV movie

Year Title Role Notes 1961 The Aquanauts Episode: "The Double Adventure" 1964 Burke's Law Waitress Episode: "Who Killed April?" 1970–71 Another World Caroline Johnson Unknown episodes 1971 Love of Life Mrs. Baylee Unknown episodes 1971–72 Where the Heart Is Margaret Jardin #2 Unknown episodes 1971 Great Performances Josef Finn Episode: "Hogan's Goat" 1972 All in the Family Ruth Rempley Episode: "The Bunkers and the Swingers" 1972–78 Maude Vivian Cavender Harmon 101 episodes 1972 Great Performances Cora Episode: "The Rimers of Eldrich" 1973 The ABC Afternoon Playbreak Carol Babcock Episode: "My Secret Mother" 1974 Mannix Gloria Episode: "Game Plan" 1975 Great Performances Faye Precious Episode: "Who's Happy Now" 1978 Apple Pie Ginger Nell Hollyhock 8 episodes Grandpa Goes to Washington Grace Episode: "Pilot" 1978–84 The Love Boat Various Characters 6 episodes 1979 $weepstake$ Episode: "Vince, Pete and Patsy, Jessica and Rodney" Supertrain Janet Episode: "Where Have You Been Billy Boy" Fantasy Island Margaret Fielding Episode: "Bowling/Command Performance" 1980 Lou Grant Maggie McKenna Episode: "Guns" Here's Boomer Thelma Episode: "Private Eye" 1981 Gimme a Break! Marian Episode: "The Second Time Around" Darkroom Mrs. Louise Michaelson Episode: "Daisies" 1982 Trapper John, M. D. Mary Renquist Episode: "John's Other Life" Fantasy Island Gertie Episode: "Dancing Lady/The Final Round" 1983 Newhart Eleanor Smathers Episode: "The Way We Thought We Were" American Playhouse Fortune Teller Episode: "The Skin of Our Teeth" Small & Frye Miss Parsifal Episode: "Pilot" 1983–84 Mama's Family Aunt Fran Crowley 24 episodes 1984 Gimme a Break! Katrina Episode: "Grandpa's Secret Life" Alice Mother Goose Episode: "Big Bad Mel" 1984–85 Charles in Charge Irene Pembroke 2 episodes 1985 Cover Up Mattie Bernstein Episode: "Murder in Malibu" Crazy Like a Fox Angie Episode: "Turn Off the Century Fox" Murder, She Wrote Miriam Redford Episode: "Murder Takes the Bus" 1985–92 The Golden Girls Blanche Devereaux 180 episodes 1988 Empty Nest Blanche Devereaux Episode: "Fatal Attraction" 1989 Nightmare Classics Madam Episode: "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" 1992 Nurses Blanche Devereaux Episode: "Moon Over Miami" 1992–93 The Golden Palace Blanche Devereaux 24 episodes 1993 Boy Meets World Bernice Matthews Episode: "Grandma Was a Rolling Stone" 1994 Burke's Law Jinxy Duke Episode: "Who Killed the Host at the Roast?" Touched by an Angel Amelia Bowthorpe Archinald Episode: "Manny" Spider Man Mrs. Hardy Episode: "Dr. Octopus: Armed and Dangerous" 1995 The Mommies Amanda Kellogg Episode: "The Mother of All In Laws" 1997 Promised Land Valerie Carter Episode: "Intolerance" Murphy Brown Virginia Redfeld Episode: "Mama Miller" 1998 Columbo Verity Chandler Episode: "Ashes to Ashes" Love Boat: The Next Wave Abigail Jordan Episode: "Captains Courageous" 1999 Safe Harbor Grandma Loring 11 episodes Blue's Clues Steve's Grandma Episode: "Blue's Big Treasure Hunt" 2000 Ladies Man Aunt Lou 2 episodes Intimate Portrait Herself Episode: "Rue McClanahan" 2001 Touched by an Angel Lila Winslow Episode: "Shallow Water" (Parts 1 & 2) 2002 Stage on Screen Countess de Lage Episode: "The Women" 2003 The Golden Girls: Their Greatest Moments Herself (co host) TV special 2004 Whoopi Marion Episode: "American Woman" Wonderfalls Millie Marcus Episode: "Barrel Bear" 2005 Hope & Faith Sylvia Episode: "O, Sister, Where Art Thou?" 2007 King of the Hill Bunny Episode: "Hair Today, Gone Today" 2008 Sordid Lives: The Series Peggy Ingram 13 episodes 2009 Law & Order Lois McIntyre Episode: "Illegitimate" Meet the Browns Lorraine Episode: "Meet Mr. Wrong"

McClanahan, Rue. (2007) My First Five Husbands And the Ones Who Got Away. New York: Crown Archetype.