The Golden Girls stars Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux.
Eddi-Rue McClanahan ( February 21 , 1934 -- June 3 , 2010 ) was an American actress and comedienne best known for her roles on television as Vivian Harmon on Maude ( 1972 -- 78 ) , `` Aunt '' Fran Crowley on Mama 's Family ( 1983 -- 84 ) , and Blanche Devereaux on The Golden Girls ( 1985 -- 92 ) , for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987 . The Golden Girls . The show stars Beatrice Arthur , Betty White , Rue McClanahan , and Estelle Getty , as four older women who share a home in Miami , Florida .