Rue McClanahan died today in Manhattan at the age of 76.

McClanahan was born in Oklahoma and attended the University of Tulsa where she majored in drama. She graduated with honors.

She was most famous for playing Blanche Devereaux in the show “Golden Girls.”

Her character was sassy and a southern belle. She had been treated for brain cancer and also had heart bypass surgery in the past.

The cause of death was a brain hemorrhage. She has played in many movies and even performed on Broadway for awhile. She had been working the stage since age four. She is survived by her 6th husband and one son.

She also had a sister who is still living. Rue Mcclanahan will be remembered most for her roll in the show “Golden Girls.” Her character was crazy and very sexual. She was a lot of fun and always had you laughing as you watched the show.

The show ended in 1992 after a long run of seven years. McClanahan was the youngest of all the actresses on this show. Betty White, who is 88 years old, is the only star of this show that still remains alive.

Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress best known for her role as Southern belle Blanche Devereaux on “The Golden Girls” passed away on June 3, 2010. She was 76 years old.

McClanahan was born Eddi-Rue McClanahan in Healdton, Oklahoma. She made her Broadway debut playing 1969 when she portrayed Sally Weber in “Jimmy Shine.”

She appeared with Bea Arthur in the television sit-com “Maude” from 1972-1978. From 1985-1992, McClanahan, Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty played four older women sharing a home in Miami in “The Golden Girls.”

An early celebrity supporter of PETA, McClanahan was an avid supporter of animal rights. Married six times, McClanahan published her memoir in 2007 titled “My First Five Husbands.”

McClanahan died in New York Presbyterian Hospital after suffering a stroke two days earlier. She is survived by one son, Mark Bish, from her first marriage.

Betty White is now the only surviving “Golden Girl.”

Rue McClanahan Dead At 76

“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