The Emmy-winning actress who brought the sexually liberated Southern belle Blanche Devereaux to life on the hit TV series died on Thursday at 1 am, reported People magazine online.
She had undergone treatment for breast cancer in 1997 and later lectured to cancer support groups on 'ageing gracefully.' In 2009, she had heart bypass surgery
Her most loved role came in 1985 when she co-starred with Arthur, Betty White and Estelle Getty in 'The Golden Girls', a runaway hit that broke the sitcom mould by focusing on four ageing and frequently eccentric women living together in Miami.
White, who is enjoying a career renaissance with a recent appearance on Saturday Night Live, is now the only surviving Golden Girl.Getty died in 2008 and Arthur passed away the following year.
"Rue was a close and dear friend. I treasure our relationship. It hurts more than I ever thought it would, if that's even possible," White, 88, said in a statement today.
McClanahan was born Eddi-Rue McClanahan in Healdton, Oklahoma, to building contractor William McClanahan and his wife, Dreda Rheua-Nell, a beautician.
Her acting career began on the stage and she won an Obie, the off-Broadway version of the Tony, in 1970 for 'Who's Happy Now', playing the 'other woman' in a family drama written by Oliver Hailey.
She had appeared only sporadically on television until producer Norman Lear tapped her for a guest role on 'All in the Family' in 1971 and she went from there to a regular role in the spinoff 'Maude'
McClanahan was married six times, Tom Bish, with whom she had a son, Mark Bish; actor Norman Hartweg; Peter D'Maio; Gus Fisher; and Tom Keel. She married husband Morrow Wilson on Christmas Day in 1997.She called her 2007 memoir 'My First Five Husbands ... And the Ones Who Got Away'.