Rue McClanahan, the star of television’s The Golden Girls and author of My First Five Husbands…And the Ones Who Got Away, has passed away.
On Broadway, she acted alongside Dustin Hoffman and Brad Davis. Her television career also included appearances on Maude and All in the Family. The Daily News has more details.
Here’s a happy little passage from her memoir: “When I was in my late twenties, I bought eight used dining room chairs for a dollar each (yes, a dollar!) and set about removing the old varnish. As I applied the varnish remover, a vivid visual memory flashed into my mind: I was almost eight months old, sidestepping along the front of the sofa, holding on for balance, looking up over my left shoulder at my mother and Aunt Irene standing in the doorway making vocal sounds.”
“‘Iddle bongingferd da wondy,’ said Mother. ‘Bid gerpa twack kelzenbluck, replied Aunt Irene. ‘Ferndock bandy,’ Mother replied. ‘Critzputh.’ And they laughed. I realized they were exchanging thoughts with those sounds. Oh, I thought, I’m brand new here. Soon, they’ll teach me to do that, too. What an exciting thought!”