Former Soap Star & Golden Girl Rue McClanahan Has Died

Rue McClanahan, the Emmy-winning actress who starred as the saucy Blanche Devereaux in the hit TV series THE GOLDEN GIRLS, died early Thursday morning of a massive stroke, according to multiple reports. She was 76.

"She passed away at 1 a.m.," her manager, Barbara Lawrence, told People.com. "She had a massive stroke."

McClanahan had suffered a minor stroke earlier this year while recovering from triple bypass surgery. McClanahan's rep told the magazine that at the time of her death Thursday, McClanahan "had her family with her. She went in peace."

McClanahan was born on February 21, 1934, in Healdton, Oklahoma. After majoring in theater at the University of Tulsa, began her career as an actress in the mid-1950s, appearing in off-Broadway productions in New York. She made her Broadway debut in 1969, in the role of Sally Weber in the musical "Jimmy Shine," and soon moved from the stage to daytime with her role as nanny Caroline Johnson on ANOTHER WORLD from July 1970 to September 1971. In her storyline, Caroline kidnapped Michael and Marianne Randolph (her own twins had died). On an episode of THE GOLDEN GIRLS many years later, when the ladies were all sick McClanahan's Blanche insisted on watching ANOTHER WORLD.

After AW, she had roles on WHERE THE HEART IS and LOVE OF LIFE.

McClanahan gained more prominence after landing the part of Vivian Harmon in MAUDE with future GOLDEN GIRLS co-star Bea Arthur. In recent years, McClanahan starred as Peggy Ingram on Logo's soap SORDID LIVES: THE SERIES.