Rue McClanahan TOPICS: Entertainment Health / Personal Women's Issues Spouse Programs Arts / Music / Drama Life Balance FEE CATEGORY:* 25.0k to 30.0k TRAVELS FROM: New York Profile Program Outlines Request This Speaker

Rue McClanahan: Profile

Rue McClanahan, nominated for an Emmy four times as best actress in a comedy series for her role as Blanche on "The Golden Girls," won the award in 1987. She was also nominated for four Golden Globes and received a Golden Apple.

Aside from "The Golden Girls," McClanahan is also known for her television role as Vivian Harmon in the award-winning series "Maude," which ran from 1972-1978. She starred in her own series, "Apple Pie," in 1978, and from 1982-1984, she played Aunt Fran on the series "Mama’s Family." Her latest television role was as Betsy on the series "Safe Harbor" in 1999. McClanahan also starred in a season finale of "Touched by An Angel."

She has starred in numerous films, including "Out To Sea," "Starship Troopers," "Dear God," and "They Might Be Giants." She has starred in over twenty television movies including, "To My Daughter," "The Dreamer of Oz," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Moving of Sophia Myles."

McClanahan's Broadway credits include "Jimmy Shine," starring Dustin Hoffman, and leading roles in "California Suite" and "Sticks and Bones." Some of her off-Broadway credits include "Who’s Happy Now?," for which she won the Obie Award, as well as "MacBird!," "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," "Afterplay," and the acclaimed "Vagina Monologues" in New York and Los Angeles. Overseas she starred in "Lettice and Lovage" at Vienna’s English Theatre and "Harvey" at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London. Her Shakespeare credits include Kate in "The Taming of the Shrew," the Nurse in "Romeo & Juliet," Maria in "Twelfth Night" and Lady Macbeth.

McClanahan was chosen to record the audio book of "Leading With My Heart," the autobiography of President Clinton’s mother, Virginia Kelley. An avid animal advocate, she has released two home videos on the care of pets. She also created "A Touch of Rue," and award-winning clothing line for women. As a writer, she has completed a stage musical, several short stories and a screenplay. Her musical farce, "Oedipus, Shmedipus, As Long As You Love Your Mother," played at the Globe Theatre in Burbank, California, to sold-out houses over the summer of 1991. Currently she is completing work on a second musical called "Cobra Island."

McClanahan was born in Healdton, Oklahoma, and graduated cum laude in Theatre from The University of Tulsa. She studied with Uta Hagen, Harold Clurman, and Bobby Lewis. She was awarded a one-of-a-kind third-year scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse, where she was later honored as Alumna of the Year. She is a member of The Actor’s Studio.

Now Rue McClanahan comes to the stage for a special discussion of her life experiences. She explores her own struggles including her recent fight with breast cancer. She speaks to her audience about the emotional, physical and psychological obstacles a woman must overcome in order to survive this deadly battle.

McClanahan looks at the whole range of difficult choices women are faced with when diagnosed with breast cancer - the moment they learn of it, telling their loved ones, the medical processes involved, acceptance and recovery. Most importantly, she demonstrates with colorful examples from her own life that to overcome obstacles you must have hope and faith in yourself and in those around you.

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