Betty White Comments on Death of Rue McClanahan

Betty White has released a statement about the death of former Golden Girls co-star Rue McClanahan. White says "Rue was a close and dear friend. I treasure our relationship. It hurts more than I ever thought it would, if that's even possible."

Golden Girl and former Broadway star Rue McClanahan, has sadly passed away at 1am today, June 3rd at the age of 76 according to her manager. McClanahan, who suffered a stroke in January, is said to have had another massive stroke early this morning.

The star had been recovering from bypass surgery that she received in November which she underwent to treat an acute cardiac illness.

McClanahan began acting on Off-Broadway in New York City in 1957, and her Broadway debut in 1969 when she portrayed Sally Weber in the original production of John Sebastian and Murray Schisgal's musical Jimmy Shine with Dustin Hoffman in the title role. She went on to star on Broadway in Father's Day, Sticks and Bones, California Suite, The Women, and Wicked. McClanahanthen found primetime success in Maude, broadcast from 1972 to 1978, playing Maude's (Bea Arthur) best friend, Vivian Harmon; and, of course, in The Golden Girls, broadcast from 1985 until 1992 as Southern Belle Blanche Devereaux. She received an Emmy Award in 1987 for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on The Golden Girls.