"Golden Girls" Rue McClanahan has died; She was 76

Golden Girls star Rue McClanahan has passed away after suffering a stroke. She was 76 years-old.

Her rep. Barbara Lawrence issued a statement, "Rue McClanahan passed away this morning, June 3rd at 1:00 am at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She suffered a cerebral hemorrhage on Monday, May 31st. She died peacefully with her son, Mark Bish, her sister, Dr. Melinda L. McClanahan and her nephew, Brendan Kinkade at her side."

McClanahan, who played the liberated Blanche Devereaux on the '80s sitcom Golden Girls is also a breast cancer survivor (1997), recovering from bypass surgery last year and early this year he had a minor stroke.


Betty White released a statement on the death of her close friend, "Rue was a close and dear friend. I treasured our relationship. It hurts more than I even thought it would, if that's even possible."

McClanahan's co-star in Golden Girls, Beatrice Arthur, died from cancer last year, Estelle Getty died in 2008. Surviving star Betty White, 88, is currently enjoying an overwhelming boost on her career, recently hosted Saturday Night Live.

[Photo courtesy by Todd Williamson/Getty Images]