Rue McClanahan

People magazine just posted some sad news, reporting that actor Rue McClanahan has died at the age of 72.

The petite firecracker from Oklahoma got her start on Broadway and in soap operas, then showed off her wonderful comic timing in a role as Bea Arthur's best friend, Vivian, on the progressive, long-running Norman Lear sitcom, Maude.

But McClanahan will be best remembered for her role as outspoken Southern belle Blanche Devereaux on the revered 80s sitcom The Golden Girls. Teaming up once more with old pal Bea Arthur brought out the best in McClanahan, who became an audience favourite and an Emmy winner during her seven seasons on the series.

Her seemingly effortless way with one-liners often disguised how many boundaries she was pushing on the show. Before McClanahan's man-hungry Blanche, few female characters had joked frankly about sex on TV, and her character's refusal to apologize for having a libido after the age of 50 now seems groundbreaking. Today, it seems doubtful Kim Cattrall's voracious Sex and the City character could ever have existed if McClanahan hadn't done the bit first, and done it so brilliantly. Her considerable comic gifts will be missed.

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