"This was funny. These were great characters. We had a great hit on our hands, I knew it. Betty White was always astounded. She'd say, 'We got picked up for another 13!' I'd say, 'Betty, join the real world. This is a big hit.'" 

    About This Interview

    In her two-and-a-half-hour interview, Rue McClanahan (1934-2010) talks about how she got her start in acting on the stage, and touches on some of her feature films from the 1960s. She discusses her first regular role in television, as scheming nurse "Caroline Johnson" on Another World. She recalls how, when her character tries unsuccessfully to poison the mother of the twins she is caring for, she received a fan letter recommending a better poison. She speaks in great detail about her role as "Vivian Cavender," best friend to Beatrice Arthur on the sitcom Maude. For Maude, she describes her character, talks about working with the ensemble cast, and comments on memorable series episodes. McClanahan then talks about her work as series regular "Aunt Fran" on Mama's Family. Finally, she discusses at length the production of the classic 1980s sitcom The Golden Girls and her role as "Blanche Devereaux." She talks about the casting process, working with the series production personnel, and the transition of the show into The Golden Palace. Jim Colucci conducted the interview on May 4, 2006 in New York, NY.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Rue McClanahan

    Rue McClanahan on the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," and on her fan mail

    04:22
    Thumbnail of Rue McClanahan

    Rue McClanahan on guest-starring, along with Vincent Gardenia, on the All in the Family episode "The Bunkers and the Swingers"

    05:22
    Thumbnail of Rue McClanahan

    Rue McClanahan on convincing Beatrice Arthur to take the role on The Golden Girls, and how the casting then fell into place

    04:58
    Thumbnail of Rue McClanahan

    Rue McClanahan on "Blanche Devereaux's" accent and wardrobe on The Golden Girls

    06:23
    Thumbnail of Rue McClanahan

    Rue McClanahan on The Golden Girls spin-off, The Golden Palace

    04:08
    Thumbnail of Rue McClanahan

    Rue McClanahan on how The Golden Girls impacted her career

    01:07
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On her early life and influences; on when she began to perform; on her first television appearance, on The Aquanauts

    16:53

    On various feature films; on appearing on Burke's Law, and on appearing on Broadway; on playing "Caroline Johnson" on Another World

    11:33

    Chapter 2

    On being dropped from the soap Another World and going on Where the Heart Is; on guest-starring, along with Vincent Gardenia, on the All in the Family episode "The Bunkers and the Swingers"

    07:38

    On being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude; on working with Beatrice Arthur as "Maude Findlay" on Maude; on working with Bill Macy as "Walter Findlay" on Maude

    08:39

    On working with the supporting cast of Maude; on her favorite Maude episodes; on how Maude reflected the times

    08:17

    Chapter 3

    On the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," and on her fan mail; on specific episodes of Maude; on working with producer Rod Parker on Maude, and on her favorite episodes

    12:26

    On the popularity of Maude and all of Norman Lear's shows; on Beatrice Arthur ending Maude, and on the series Apple Pie; on various pilots she did for Norman Lear

    10:38

    On appearing as "Aunt Fran" on Mama's Family; on working with the cast of Mama's Family, including Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, and Betty White; on favorite episodes of Mama's Family

    06:27

    Chapter 4

    On first getting the script for The Golden Girls; on the switch to her playing "Blanche Devereaux" on The Golden Girls (the role originally intended for Betty White); on convincing Beatrice Arthur to take the role on The Golden Girls, and how the casting then fell into place

    08:10

    On working with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls; on Golden Girls creator Susan Harris; on the show being a tough sell because they were all over 50

    08:30

    On "Blanche Devereaux's" accent and wardrobe on The Golden Girls; on her relationships with the cast of The Golden Girls; on Golden Girls producers Paul Witt and Tony Thomas

    12:46

    Chapter 5

    On how the production team for The Golden Girls was different from her previous show, and having input into her character; on her favorite Golden Girls episode, “Journey to the Center of Attention”; on The Golden Girls spin-off, The Golden Palace

    09:39

    On how The Golden Girls impacted her career; on acting in front of an audience, and on the best advice she ever received about acting; on advice to an aspiring actor

    10:45

    On her proudest career achievement; on then-current projects; on her proudest life achievement

    02:54

    All in the Family

    Rue McClanahan on guest-starring, along with Vincent Gardenia, on the All in the Family episode "The Bunkers and the Swingers"

    05:22

    Another World

    Rue McClanahan on playing "Caroline Johnson" on Another World

    03:02

    Rue McClanahan on being dropped from the soap Another World and going on Where the Heart Is

    02:16

    Aquanauts, The aka Malibu Run

    Rue McClanahan on her first television appearance on The Aquanauts

    03:26

    Burke's Law

    Rue McClanahan on appearing on Burke's Law, and on appearing on Broadway

    02:44

    Golden Girls, The

    Rue McClanahan on first getting the script for The Golden Girls

    02:39

    Rue McClanahan on the switch to her playing "Blanche Devereaux" on The Golden Girls (the role originally intended for Betty White)

    00:33

    Rue McClanahan on convincing Beatrice Arthur to take the role on The Golden Girls, and how the casting then fell into place

    04:58

    Rue McClanahan on the real-life interactions of the stars of The Golden Girls

    02:44

    Rue McClanahan on working with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls

    01:53

    Rue McClanahan on Golden Girls creator Susan Harris

    04:52

    Rue McClanahan on The Golden Girls being a tough sell because the main characters were all over 50

    01:45

    Rue McClanahan on "Blanche Devereaux's" accent and wardrobe on The Golden Girls

    06:23

    Rue McClanahan on Estelle Getty's difficulties remembering her lines on The Golden Girls

    02:49

    Rue McClanahan on her friendships with Betty White and Beatrice Arthur on The Golden Girls

    02:45

    Rue McClanahan on Golden Girls producers Paul Witt and Tony Thomas

    00:50

    Rue McClanahan on how the production team for The Golden Girls was different from her previous show, and having input into her character

    02:21

    Rue McClanahan on her favorite Golden Girls episode, “Journey to the Center of Attention”

    03:10

    Rue McClanahan on The Golden Girls spin-off, The Golden Palace

    04:08

    Rue McClanahan on how The Golden Girls impacted her career

    01:07

    Golden Palace, The

    Rue McClanahan on The Golden Girls spin-off, The Golden Palace

    04:08

    Mama's Family

    Rue McClanahan on appearing as "Aunt Fran" on Mama's Family

    02:38

    Rue McClanahan on working with the cast of Mama's Family, including Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, and Betty White

    03:04

    Rue McClanahan on favorite episodes of Mama's Family

    00:45

    Maude

    Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude

    04:52

    Rue McClanahan on working with Beatrice Arthur as "Maude Findlay" on Maude

    01:41

    Rue McClanahan on her favorite Maude episodes

    03:01

    Rue McClanahan on working with Bill Macy as "Walter Findlay" on Maude

    02:06

    Rue McClanahan on working with the supporting cast of Maude, including Adrienne Barbeau, Esther Rolle, Conrad Bain, and Hermione Baddeley

    02:47

    Rue McClanahan on the writers of Maude

    01:37

    Rue McClanahan on how Maude reflected the times

    00:52

    Rue McClanahan on the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," and on her fan mail

    04:22

    Rue McClanahan on specific episodes of Maude

    03:28

    Rue McClanahan on working with producer Rod Parker on Maude, and on her favorite episodes

    04:36

    Rue McClanahan on the popularity of Maude and all of Norman Lear's shows

    02:00

    Rue McClanahan on the end of Maude, and on the series Apple Pie

    06:48

    Characters & Catchphrases

    Rue McClanahan on "Blanche Devereaux's" accent and wardrobe on The Golden Girls

    06:23

    Classic TV Series Episodes

    Rue McClanahan on the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," and on her fan mail

    04:22

    Rue McClanahan on the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," and on her fan mail

    04:22

    First Big Break

    Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude

    04:52

    Pivotal Career Moments

    Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude

    04:52

    Pop Culture

    Rue McClanahan on the Maude episode "Maude's Dilemma," and on her fan mail

    04:22

    Rue McClanahan on "Blanche Devereaux's" accent and wardrobe on The Golden Girls

    06:23

    Actor

    Rue McClanahan on advice to an aspiring actor

    00:58

    Actress

    Rue McClanahan on acting in front of an audience, and on the best advice she ever got about acting

    08:41

    Performers

    Rue McClanahan on acting in front of an audience, and on the best advice she ever received about acting

    08:41

    Rue McClanahan on advice to an aspiring actor

    00:58

    Comedy Series

    Rue McClanahan on guest-starring, along with Vincent Gardenia, on the All in the Family episode "The Bunkers and the Swingers"

    05:22

    Rue McClanahan on playing "Vivian Harmon" on Maude

    16:56

    Rue McClanahan on co-starring on Maude

    21:14

    Rue McClanahan on co-starring on Mama's Family

    06:27

    Rue McClanahan on The Golden Girls

    29:28

    Rue McClanahan on The Golden Girls, including the end of the show

    10:56

    Daytime/Primetime Serials

    Rue McClanahan on being dropped from the soap Another World and going on Where the Heart Is

    02:16

    Beatrice Arthur

    Rue McClanahan on working with Beatrice Arthur as "Maude Findlay" on Maude

    01:41

    Rue McClanahan on Beatrice Arthur ending Maude, and on the series Apple Pie

    06:48

    Rue McClanahan on convincing Beatrice Arthur to take the role on The Golden Girls, and how the casting then fell into place

    04:58

    Rue McClanahan on working with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls

    01:53

    Rue McClanahan on her friendships with Betty White and Beatrice Arthur on The Golden Girls

    02:45

    Hermione Baddeley

    Rue McClanahan on working with the supporting cast of Maude, including Adrienne Barbeau, Esther Rolle, Conrad Bain, and Hermione Baddeley

    02:47

    Conrad Bain

    Rue McClanahan on working with the supporting cast of Maude, including Adrienne Barbeau, Esther Rolle, Conrad Bain, and Hermione Baddeley

    02:47

    Adrienne Barbeau

    Rue McClanahan on working with Adrienne Barbeau on Maude

    02:47

    Ken Berry

    Rue McClanahan on working with the cast of Mama's Family, including Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, and Betty White

    03:04

    Vincent Gardenia

    Rue McClanahan on guest-starring, along with Vincent Gardenia, on the All in the Family episode "The Bunkers and the Swingers"

    05:22

    Estelle Getty

    Rue McClanahan on working with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls

    01:53

    Rue McClanahan on Estelle Getty's difficulties remembering her lines on The Golden Girls

    02:49

    Susan Harris

    Rue McClanahan on Golden Girls creator Susan Harris

    04:52

    Vicki Lawrence

    Rue McClanahan on working with the cast of Mama's Family, including Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, and Betty White

    03:04

    Norman Lear

    Rue McClanahan on being cast by Norman Lear as "Vivian Harmon" on Maude

    04:52

    Rue McClanahan on various pilots she did for Norman Lear

    01:50

    Bill Macy

    Rue McClanahan on working with Bill Macy as "Walter Findlay" on Maude

    02:06

    Esther Rolle

    Rue McClanahan on working with the supporting cast of Maude, including Adrienne Barbeau, Esther Rolle, Conrad Bain, and Hermione Baddeley

    02:47

    Tony Thomas

    Rue McClanahan on Golden Girls producers Paul Witt and Tony Thomas

    00:50

    Betty White

    Rue McClanahan on working with the cast of Mama's Family, including Vicki Lawrence, Ken Berry, and Betty White

    03:04

    Rue McClanahan on the switch to her playing "Blanche Devereaux" on The Golden Girls (the role originally intended for Betty White)

    00:33

    Rue McClanahan on working with Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, and Estelle Getty on The Golden Girls

    01:53

    Rue McClanahan on her friendships with Betty White and Beatrice Arthur on The Golden Girls

    02:45

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