Blanche Devereaux is a character from the sitcom television series The Golden Girls, and its spin-off The Golden Palace.
The character was inspired by Blanche DuBois (to whom Blanche Devereaux is compared in the pilot script) and Scarlett O’Hara.
Blanche was portrayed by Rue McClanahan for 8 years and 204 episodes across the two series.
Is Blanche still alive?
Rue McClanahan who portrayed the Blanche Devereaux character is not alive.
McClanahan was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 1997, for which she was treated successfully.
About 12 years later, on November 14, 2009, McClanahan was to be honored for her lifetime achievements at an event, Golden: A Gala Tribute to Rue McClanahan, at the Castro Theatre in San Francisco, California.
However, the event was postponed due to McClanahan’s hospitalization.
It was reported on January 14, 2010, by Entertainment Tonight, that, while recovering from surgery, the actress had suffered a minor stroke.
McClanahan died on June 3, 2010, at age 76, at NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital after she suffered a brain hemorrhage.