So many of those who knew and loved Betty White are paying tribute after the comedy icon’s death and Rue McClanahan’s estate honored the Golden Girls star in a touching way. While everyone from The Golden Girls kept in touch in the years after the show ended, White and McClanahan were particularly close. They had remained friends until McClanahan’s passing in 2010, which was rather hard on White at the time.
“We adored each other. It hurts more than I even thought it would, if that’s even possible. She was everything, as far as a friend is concerned," White said, per OK Magazine. “You can’t work that closely together and not become a family. I hear these horror stories about series where they don’t speak off camera. How do you do comedy if you’re not speaking to each other?”
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The Golden Girls starred White, McClanahan, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty as four women sharing a Miami home during their golden years. White was the oldest of all four main cast members on The Golden Girls, and she also spoke about how it’s hard for her to believe that she’s the only one left because of that.
On the official Rue McClanahan page on Facebook, which is run by the estate, an image of McClanahan’s Blanche tweaking White’s Rose was posted along with a nice message. It says, “Isn’t it nice to know that her old pal ‘Ruesy’ - as Betty White called Rue - was waiting to welcome her and tweak her nose. R.I.P. Betty White. With love, laughter, and tears, Estate of Rue.”
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Amelia Kinkade, an actress who led the Night of the Demons horror movie series and also appeared on The Golden Girls, is Rue McClanahan’s niece. She knew White personally as well and had already been planning to set out on a Golden Girls cruise just days after White’s death. The Golden Girls star also coincidentally passed on Kinkade’s birthday on New Year’s Eve. Taking to Facebook the day after, Kinkade posted her own message of tribute for White.
“I’m daring the hellish airports and hopping through hoops to get to the port on Monday, but I’ll be posting pics of the Golden Girls cruise once we set sail out of Ft Lauderdale,” Kinkade said. “Blessings to all of you who have sent prayers to Betty White who went to Heaven with a bang and blaze of fireworks on my Birthday! Yes I knew her, and yes, she was one of the kindest most wonderful stars I’ve ever met.”
So many tributes have been posted online for White in the days since her death from friends, family, and fans alike. What they all have in common is a shared love for White, who by all accounts was just as wonderful to everyone behind the scenes as she was talented on the screen. The Golden Girls may be back together again, but all four will be forever missed. Rest in peace.
