“Golden Girls” actress Rue McClanahan is recovering from a stroke which occurred after a heart by-pass operation in New York in November.

The doctors said they were able to remove the blood clot from the 75 year old actress’ brain, but the effects of the stroke left her with slurred speech and trouble moving the right side of her body.

She spent two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital and is now undergoing physical therapy. Back in November, Ms. Mclanahan had gone to her physician in New York for a routine visit, but he did not like the results of her tests and scheduled her for the heart by-pass surgery.

Mclanahan canceled an appearance at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco on November 14th saying “Darlings, I would much rather be with you there, you know how Blanch Devereux loved a party with men”.

Doctors report that Ms. McClanahan is improving and that she should be released from the hospital by the end of the month.

Rue McClanahan, 75, underwent the surgery in November and had the stroke January 14th.

McClanahan’s right side and speech were affected by the stroke but after the blood clot was removed from her brain, her recovery is expected to be full. Doctors are positive about her outlook after a two week stay in the intensive care unit and her participation in phyiscal therapy.

McClanahan was scheduled to attend her own tribute at The Castro Theater in November but had to cancel due to the surprise surgery. Fans hope she will be able to reschedule the appearance. Meanwhile, the other Golden Girl Betty White is scheduled to receive a lifetime achievement award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 23rd.

McClanahan and White starred in an Emmy winning television series alongside Bea Arthur and Estelle Getty. The show ended in 1992. Estelle Getty died in 2008 and Bea Arthur in 2009.

The hospitalization and surgery came after McClanahan made a visit to her doctor for a physical and the physician didn’t like what he found.

Rue’s rep says the surgery was successful and McClanahan is expected to make a full recovery.

“She is doing absolutely great…She went for her physical the other day and her doctor didn’t like what he found. As Rue put it, she needed ‘a little work on her ticker.’ She was in great spirits when she went in for surgery yesterday. She’s resting in a hospital in NY and she’ll probably be out in a week.”

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, McClanahan, 74, was forced to pull out of an appearance at a San Francisco gala in her honor later this month. Golden: A Gala Tribute to Rue McClanahan had been scheduled to take place at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco Nov. 14 and would have featured clips from the hit show, a sing-along to The Golden Girls theme and a look-a-like contest.

The show will likely be reschedued.

“My darlings, I’m just devastated that I am going to have to miss my own tribute,” McClanahan, 75, said in a statement from her hotel room Thursday. “Unfortunately, my doctor has laid down the law, and I’m currently having some maintenance on the old ticker,” she added. “Trust me, I’d much rather be in San Francisco having fun and being adored by all of you.”

Rue McClanahan Recovering After Heart Surgery