Trivia

She kept every outfit she wore while on The Golden Girls (1985) and she used the majority of them as her everyday wear away from the show.

In 1997, McClanahan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had a lumpectomy and five months of chemotherapy. She did a series of lectures for breast cancer support groups titled; "Aging Gracefully.".

Betty White was originally considered for the role of the sexpot, Blanche, on The Golden Girls (1985). However, Betty had already been the aggressive Sue Ann Nivens on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and Rue had played the introverted Vivian on Maude (1972). Both actresses had also recently had semi-regular roles on Mama's Family (1983), Betty, as the conniving Ellen Harper, and Rue as the prudish Fran Crowley. It was thought best not to typecast these two actresses by having them portray similar characters three times. Therefore, Betty got the part of naive Rose Nylund and Rue played the oversexed Blanche.

Played the same character, Blanche Devereaux, on four different TV series: The Golden Palace (1992), The Golden Girls (1985), Nurses (1991), and Empty Nest (1988).

She modeled her accent for Blanche Deveraux after Rosalynn Carter.

In November 2009 she had heart bypass surgery. While recovering, on January 14 2010, she suffered a minor stroke.

She graduated cum laude at the University of Tulsa with a joint degree in German and Theatre Arts. She was the only female member of the school's science club. She joined the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

In 2009 she became estranged from her sixth husband, Morrow Wilson. This was still the case at the time of her death.

One of Rue's maternal great-great-great-great-grandmothers, SheNiYah, was a Choctaw Native American. Rue also had English, and small amounts of Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Welsh, German, French-Canadian, Dutch, and remote Portuguese, ancestry.

When it came to stage performances she had "jitters" on opening nights, and about rehearsals, worrying that she wouldn't have enough time to prepare perfectly.

After moving to New York City, she worked as a file clerk before finding success in the theater.

After her second marriage broke up, she went to New York, and started doing films. She thought her They Might Be Giants (1971) role was her best movie part.

In May 2003 she spoke at a press conference in Saratoga Springs, New York protesting the use of diving horses at Magic Forest Theme Park, Lake George, New York.

A vegan and dedicated animal rights activist, she was an Honorary Director of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Was a supporter, donor, and advocate for the Methodist Healthcare System and its 15 care services. On May 11, 2000 she gave a speech at the Travis Park United Methodist Church, in East Travis, about her battle with breast cancer.

Mother of Mark Bish and aunt of actress Amelia Kinkade.

Between May 31 2005 and January 8 2006, she portrayed Madame Morrible in the Broadway musical; Wicked.

She was a lifelong liberal Democrat. In 2003 she wrote a letter to presidential nominee John Kerry telling him that he had lost both her vote and her respect due to his pheasant hunting. She endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election.

She was the only member of the 'Golden Girls' quartet who didn't pass away less than 20 days shy of an upcoming birthday. Estelle Getty died just 3 days shy her 85th (in 2008), Bea Arthur died just 18 days shy her 87th (in 2009) and Betty White died just 17 days shy her 100th (in 2021).

Early in her career, it was constantly suggested that she alter her surname, because most people would find it difficult to pronounce or keep saying. She denied the request because the christian name she went by ('Rue') was short.

She was inducted into the 2015 inaugural Closter Hall of Fame in Closter, New Jersey.

She was awarded the 1985 Pasadena Playhouse Alumni and Associates Woman of the Year Award at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California.