Blanche Devereaux

BLANCHE ELIZABETH MARIE HOLLINGSWORTH-DEVEREAUX aka BLANCHE DEVEREAUX
"... and no one, ever, steals a man from Blanche Devereaux!"

- Blanche saying to Sophia, who are both dating a guy they are seeing, Fidel Santiago.

"GET 'OUTTA HERE!" - is yet another one of Blanche's favorite lines or catchphrases often mentioned

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche Elizabeth Marie Hollingsworth-Devereaux (née/maiden name: Hollingsworth) is one of the four, fictional, main characters on the highly-acclaimed, revered, and well-received 1985-1992 NBC situation-comedy/sit-com TV series, The Golden Girls, and its spin-off, The Golden Palace.

The character of Blanche appeared in a total of 8 seasons and a total of 204 full episodes in both The Golden Girls (total of 7 seasons, 180 episodes) as well as the spin-off of The Golden Palace (total of 1 season, 24 episodes).

Blanche also appeared in the a few episodes in the related spin-off TV series, to The Golden Girls and The Golden Palace, Empty Nest and Nurses.

A Memoriam of Eddi-Rue McClanahan - The Time of Her Passing
Blanche was portrayed by veteran stage actress and television actress, the late Rue McClanahan (birth name and formerly Eddi-Rue McClanahan, who was born on February 21st, 1934 to parents Dreda Rheua-Nell and William Edwin McClanahan).

A few tidbits regarding McClanahan's passing: Her passing was quite tragic and devastatingly sad yet peaceful and painless. To send our regards and respects to this most beloved television legend and celebrity, we would like to make notice as to how McClanahan passed away because the information is quite pertinent for fans to grasp and understand.

Alas, as per The Golden Girls Hollywood Special Collector's magazine article: on Memorial Day in May 2010 (May 31st, 2010, at the time), McClanahan was found in her 56th Avenue penthouse condo in Uptown Manhattan, New York City, by her good friend, Michael LaRue.

Out of nowhere, McClanahan slumped to the floor in her New York apartment, suffering a massive yet painless stroke that took her life that day on Memorial Day, May 31st, 2010. LaRue caught McClanahan before she could hit the floor and held onto her during her last, few minutes, calling 911 frantically. He remained genuinely and steadfastly by her side at the last, few minutes of her life up till her passing that evening on Memorial Day, May 31st, 2010.

Rue was age 76 when she passed.

LaRue mentioned dolefully in a later interview following McClanahan's passing of the last, few minutes being "long and tedious" as well as "seeing the light fade from her deep blue eyes".

Upon the ambulance rushing and arriving to New York Presbyterian Medical Center, McClanahan was pronounced "brain-dead" by medical physicians and experts. McClanahan was also on a ventilator and life support by the time she and Michael LaRue arrived. She was, practically, pronounced dead upon arrival that day on May 31st, 2010 at New York Presbyterian Medical Center. (Farrell, O'Connor, Powell, 2018).

The cause of death was a massive stroke or a cerebrovascular accident. Rue sustained a transient ischemic attack, or a smaller stroke, just seven months prior to her passing, which occurred in October 2009. She was placed on a potent anticoagulant medication called Warfarin following the transient ischemic stroke, and since Rue had a history of prior knee surgery in February 2019, Rue still sustained a second and fatal stroke that cost her life. On a medical standpoint, Warfarin is used primarily to reduce the likelihood of developing blood clots, which are common to form sporadically in the blood vessels following any type of stroke. Yet, the medication did not save her. Why is that? Medically speaking and fundamentally, Rue was also a heavy cigarette smoker for a good majority of her life. A cigarette contains an active chemical compound of nicotine, which is a highly addictive product as well as a potent vasoconstrictor, that narrows the blood vessels resulting in increased blood pressure plus a risk of developing small blood clots throughout over time. Rue was seen in earlier photos of holding a lit cigarette following her university days, particularly in a famous photo of Rue McClanahan dating her first husband/ex-husband, Tom Bish, when she was age 24 in year 1958. Here, she is age 24.

In addition, Rue was also recovering from a recent triple bypass surgery, which is major heart surgery, in February of 2009 (the month of Rue's birthday), and was also suffering from years of moderate-to-severe anxiety disorder that consumed most of her life - anxiety and cigarette smoking. All in all, with this combination of ailments in play, Rue developed increasing blood pressure or hypertension. Furthermore, hypertension can result in developing small blood clots to form within the body due to poor blood circulation and a narrowed circumference within the blood vessels. With the combination of cigarette smoking, moderate-to-severe anxiety disorder, post-surgery, and hypertension, developing a stroke is highly commonplace - in actuality, it is mentioned to be six times more in comparison to the average person. In fact, it was said Rue was smoking cigarettes heavily with battling moderate-to-severe anxiety disorder since her college years up till the time of her first stroke in late 2009. (Daily UK, 2019).

Rue was placed on a ventilator and life support for nearly three days with no advancement or progress in her general condition. There was nothing further medically to do for her.

Unfortunately, she was taken off the ventilator and life support by her one and only son, Mark Bish, passing away early morning at around 1:00AM E.S.T. in New York Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City on June 3rd, 2010.

Medically, she passed away on June 3rd, 2010. Naturally, she passed away on May 31, 2010. Her family was around her since their arrival at New York Presbyterian Medical Center through it all - her 6th husband/ex-husband, Charles Morrow Wilson - her one and only son, Mark Bish - her one and only sister, Dr. Melinda L. McClanahan, and her good friend, Michael LaRue. (Farrell, O'Connor, Powell, 2018).

Rue's number one worst fear was dying alone.

Her second fear was being alone - why she married six times throughout her lifetime, rushed through relationships and marriages to try and be with someone, but only her 6th marriage was actually happy and successful when she turned age 64.

Rue was cremated, and her ashes were given to her one and only sister (younger sister), Dr. Melinda L. McClanahan - a respectable physician and a highly regarded board advisor for the State of Oklahoma's Interstate of Technology and Regulatory Council or the Oklahoma's ITRC. (ITRC, 2020).

For more insider-scoop information regarding to Rue's one and only sister, Dr. Melinda L. McClanahan, she is to send her regards to her older sister and appear in the near future's Golden Con (Convention) in 2022:

https://thankyouforbeingafan.com/melinda-mcclanahan-to-speak-at-golden-con/ Rue posing in 1971 The portrait shot of Rue right at the debut of the TV hit series, Maude, in 1972The photo above was taken when Rue released her semi-raunchy autobiography, "My First Five Husbands... And The Ones Who Got Away" in the year of 2007. This is her on the release night in 2007 at a book-signing in New York City.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche Portrayed More So of Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois
The producers wanted to create the character of Blanche Devereaux somewhat of a cross between Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBois - a scandalous, man-hungry, promiscuous woman who hunts down men of interest... well, in striving hopes to search for her next love. (And Blanche Devereaux had a waistline just like Scarlett O'Hara, right?)

Though, at the same time, Blanche Devereaux was quite possibly more Southern than Blanche DuBois. (Colucci, 2016).

Why Rue McClanahan Dropped The 'Eddi' In Her First Name
Eddi-Rue McClanahan was her full first or birth name given to her by her parents, of course. However, Rue dropped the Eddi part officially and legally just shortly after graduating from The University of Tulsa at age 21. Rue earned a Bachelor's in Arts, was a distinguished member of The National Honor Society, and also the vice president of The Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. The reason being: She was called by someone as Eddi, and was mistaken as a male.

Rue McClanahan Co-Starred with Beatrice Arthur
It is true that Rue McClanahan and Beatrice Arthur co-starred as the main characters in the 6 seasons of the 1972-1978 hit TV series of Maude. Rue played the role of an air-head and scatterbrained character of the best friend and next-door neighbor, Vivian Cavender-Harmon, to Maude Hilliard-Findlay.

Rue McClanahan Co-Starred with Betty White
Furthermore, it is also true that Rue McClanahan and Betty White co-starred as the secondary main characters in the 2 season of the 1983-1985 hit TV series of Mama's Family. Rue played the role of an uptight, sarcastic, sharp-tongued character, Aunt Frances Crowley (for a total of 24 episodes in the first 2 seasons)

Betty White played the role of a snobbish, wealthy, yet assertive character of Mary Ellen Harper-Jackson (for a total of 16 episodes in the first 2 seasons). (Mama's Family, IMBd, 2020).

Rue McClanahan Was the Youngest Out of All the Girls, and the Character of Blanche as well
In actuality, Rue McClanahan was the youngest out of the four actresses. Rue was born in the year of 1934; Beatrice and Betty were born in the year of 1922, and Estelle was born in the year of 1923.

Thus, McClanahan was 12 years younger than both Beatrice and Betty and 11 years younger than Estelle. When the debut first took off on that wondrous day of September 14th, 1985, Rue McClanahan was 51, Betty White and Beatrice Arthur were 63, and Estelle Getty was 62.

Yes, Estelle Getty was one year younger than Beatrice Arthur! You better believe it!

Now, you know...

In addition, the character of Blanche was also the youngest out of the four (as many may want to debate). Blanche was about a year or two years younger than both Rose and Dorothy.

Written by: Jessica Aleksandra

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Betty White was Supposed to Play Blanche Devereaux; Rue McClanahan was Supposed to Play Rose Nylund. Here is the Story:
The character of Rose Nylund was supposed to be portrayed by Rue McClanahan initially as per the producers, Jay Sandrich and Tony Thomas, plus the producers/creators, Paul Junger Witt and Susan Harris, of The Golden Girls. Furthermore, the character of Blanche Devereaux was supposed to be portrayed by Betty White initially.

The story goes:

Television TV show producer, Jay Sandrich, who directed the TV hit series from 1972-1978 of The Mary Tyler Moore Show with television celebrity, Betty White, wanted to cast roles for the up-and-coming, The Golden Girls. After the producers, Jay Sandrich and Tony Thomas, as well as the producer/creators, Paul Junger Witt and Susan Harris (who were married to one another), gathered together, discussed, scrutinized, analyzed, and finally selected the first Golden Girl: Estelle Getty - they needed to cast the other remaining three main roles.... and quickly.

Estelle Getty was the first Golden Girl selected by the creators, Paul Junger Witt and Susan Harris as well as the producers, Jay Sandrich and Tony Thomas, after they bore witness to Estelle's marvelous display of her character, Mrs. Anne Beckoff. The Torch Song Trilogy was Getty's latest stage performance in New York in early 1982. Estelle did several stage plays throughout the course of her lifetime following university, but never once landed a role for a television series or a film/movie prior to 1985. When Estelle Getty was called to rehearse for the first time, ever, for a television series, she was beyond terrified and enthralled. Alas, Estelle Getty suffered from stage fright.

That fateful day on February 8, 1985, Estelle Getty landed the grand opportunity of her lifetime - her first, potential role for a television series. (Colucci, 2016).

[To read more regarding Estelle's audition as to how she became the first Golden Girl, please visit Sophia Petrillo's biography page]

The next two individuals, selected out of the many auditions by other skilled actresses, finally narrowed down to veteran television celebrities, Betty White and Rue McClanahan.

Talk about luck of the draw and competition...

Betty White previously played the role of a sarcastic, promiscuous, man-hungry character, Susan Ann Nivens, in the 1973-1977 hit TV series, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Paul Junger Witt described it as, "She (Betty) had played that part brilliantly on Mary, and so we knew she could play Blanche. We didn't know if she could do the Southern thing. But, we had to assume she could do anything. She's so good." (Colucci, 2016).

On the other hand, Rue McClanahan previously portrayed the role of a naïve, empty-headed, and scatterbrained character of Vivian Cavender-Harmon in the 1972-1978 hit TV series, Maude. However, it was said that Rue McClanahan was just too tired of playing a pea-brained character throughout the years of the character of Vivian Cavender-Harmon in Maude for seven years.

Producer/creator, Paul Junger Witt mentioned, "The casting team zeroed in on Rue for Rose, realizing that even if the role was not as deeply written, Rue was someone who had always worked well in great ensembles and always carved out a really unique territory for herself." (Colucci, 2016).

Rue was nominated to play the part of Rose Nylund and not Blanche Devereaux.

Betty was nominated to play the part of Blanche Devereaux and not Rose Nylund.

However, when the script arrived in the mail to both Betty White and Rue McClanahan, both were in for the shock of their lives. Rue mentioned to her agent for The Golden Girls, "My agent told me that they had Betty White in mind for Blanche. How could I go to work every day playing Rose? I knew instinctively that I was just too right for Blanche." However, much to Rue's surprise, the agent hollered back and snapped, "Well, it's either that, or you don't do the series at all." .... (Colucci, 2016).

On the day of the rehearsal for Betty White to play the part of Blanche Devereaux and for Rue McClanahan to play the part of Rose Nylund, the producer, Jay Sandrich, blurted out something towards Rue McClanahan that would modify the very course of the casting of The Golden Girls entirely, "I'm going to do something unorthodox. Would you mind reading Blanche for me?" (Colucci, 2016).

Rue answered briefly, "If you insist."

Then, Jay Sandrich turned to Betty White, and asked her, "She (Betty) can get a laugh doing anything. Can you read Rose?" (Colucci, 2016).

Betty White turned to Rue McClanahan, and the two exchanged shocked expressions. So, Rue McClanahan and Betty White did as they were instructed.

It was said in Betty White's autobiography, 'Here We Go Again: My Life in Television ', regarding the character switch as she wrote:"'From the script we had read, we knew the strong character of Dorothy, and her brutally frank mother, Sophia. We understand the lustful Blanche. But, I hadn't a clue who Rose was.'"The production crew and the cast members all remembered this day of the producer, Jay Sandrich, announcing the modified turnover.

Rather than having Betty White play yet another promiscuous, man-hungry character of Blanche Devereaux after the character of Susan Ann Nivens, Jay Sandrich just could not fathom that to occur a second time for Betty White. Nor could Jay Sandrich fathom the same fate for Rue McClanahan to play a second time of a spacey-headed character of Rose Nylund after the character of Vivian Cavender-Harmon.

Betty White mentioned, "But, the more I looked at Rose, the more I was okay with it, and I gave Jay Sandrich full credit for helping me make it work. He said Rose doesn't have a sarcastic bone in her body - that she isn't witty or hip at all. She takes every single word literally and puts them all together and it makes perfect sense for her - and when he said that, it made sense to me." (Colucci, 2016).

Little did everyone know, and even Jay Sandrich himself, that the switch would not be any more predictively correct and a historically monumental success!

Furthermore, "It was a perfect switch, in hindsight." Betty White said in an interview with wildaboutmovies.com in 2004.

Rue McClanahan mentioned shortly that day following Betty White selected to play as Rose Nylund, "Betty was hysterical as Rose. Her eyes went wide and stayed that way for seven years. I used to call them her Little Orphan Annie eyes - white ovals with nothing in them. The irony is that she's such and incredibly brilliant woman." (Colucci, 2016).

In addition, Betty White mentioned as well to Rue McClanahan regarding the historic switch, "And Rue took Blanche and went with he where I never would have had the guts to go. So, it just worked out beautifully." (Colucci, 2016).

There you have it, folks: Rue McClanahan as Blanche Devereaux and Betty White as Rose Nylund.

And, yes, the switch of the two character roles was very much real.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Rue McClanahan Had a Clause in her Contract to Keep All of Blanche's Clothes/Accessories at the Debut
There was a clause in the contract upon the debut of The Golden Girls for the veteran television actress, Rue McClanahan, to keep every single clothing piece, jewelry, accessory that the character of Blanche wore. As per Blanche's massively flaunty, body-hugging, and feministic wardrobe of style as well as the many, luxurious, and slinky nightgowns that Blanche wore, and as many Golden Girls' fans often called "Deverobes", Rue McClanahan was in the same sense of style in her actual life. McClanahan often resorted to an incredibly tasteful and sensual clothing that screamed out, "Look at me". (Farrell, O'Connor, Powell, 2018).

Reportedly, through the whole seven seasons of The Golden Girls, Rue McClanahan took home about a total of 500 of Blanche's outfits, fitting in a whooping eleven full-sized walk-in closets (not Californian closets) in her estate in the Los Angeles' The San Fernando Valley in Southern California at the time in the early 1990s. Therefore, McClanahan did not even have to do much clothing shopping throughout the series of The Golden Girls, we can imagine.

Furthermore, McClanahan decided to run a small gig on the side of a Blanche-inspired clothing line that she named initially as "Very Rue", which McClanahan changed to officially as "A Touch of Rue". McClanahan's concept of her Blanche-inspired clothing line of "A Touch of Rue" was to cater to women in their 40s and 50s to still look absolutely stunning and feel young just like Blanche Devereaux did in The Golden Girls with such sensual style. As per Rue McClanahan, her line is "wearable in real life and available at affordable prices. This Touch of Rue garment may make you even more irresistible. We assume no responsibility for remarkable results." (Farrell, O'Connor, Powell, 2018).

Article in further detail as:

https://greensboro.com/a-touch-of-rue-viewers-who-covet-her-golden-girl-look-soon-can-buy-it/article_0c4b0b1c-50e8-542d-aa98-5bc4be4b5e33.html

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche Was the Most Difficult Character For Producers to Create
As the creator of The Golden Girls, Susan Harris, described it, "Blanche was definitely the hardest character for us. We wanted very distinct characters, and that's why we placed their origins in different parts of the country."

And as per co-producer and husband to Susan Harris, Paul Junger Witt said, "Blanche is almost a literary figure in representing that classic kind of Southern femineity, more Southern than Blanche DuBois. It's an homage. And certainly, a way to remember which character was the Southern one." (Colucci, 2017).

Some Confusion as to Blanche's Initials
In some instances throughout the TV series, many Golden Girls fans may be confused or even downright infuriated at the fact that some of the characters call Blanche by name as either Blanche Marie Devereaux or Blanche Elizabeth Devereaux. This may be because of the scriptwriters' many inconsistencies throughout the TV series due to changing scriptwriters per handful of episodes. However, in a previous episode, Viola Watkins (played by Ruby Dee), the Hollingsworth's nanny, called Blanche as "Blanche Marie Hollingsworth" because, in this instance, Blanche was not yet married.

However, it is gathered that Blanche's full name is Blanche Elizabeth Marie Hollingsworth-Devereaux or simply Blanche Elizabeth Marie Devereaux.

In Season 1, Episode 1 'The Pilot' or otherwise known as 'The Engagement' (that aired nationally on the famous debut date of September 14th, 1985), Blanche's last name was given as Hollingsworth. Again, due to the several scriptwriters' inconsistencies and the changing of scriptwriters per handful of episodes throughout the TV series, Blanche's name was then "corrected". Hollingsworth became Blanche's maiden name, and Devereaux became her married name, as per her late husband, George Devereaux.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche's Southern Accent
Blanche's accent was supposed to be from Atlanta, Georgia. However, the stage and television actress, Rue McClanahan, was born and bred in Healdton, Oklahoma. Rue had an Oklahoman accent.

Thus, Rue had to use a somewhat Southern accent to act out the Southern Belle of Blanche Devereaux.

However, as the girls first rehearsed the first episode of 'The Pilot' for one whole week prior to the debut day of September 14th in 1985, one of the directors, Jay Sandrich, mentioned, "No, no, I don't want to hear a Southern accent. I want to hear your regular Oklahoma accent." (Colucci, 2016). So, Rue would act completely her natural self. Well, there was no arguing with the director. Furthermore, co-producers, Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas both mentioned to Rue that they also agreed with the Oklahoma accent. Thus, the original Eddi-Rue McClanahan Oklahoma accent it was. "Rue mentioned: 'Okay, I know I'm not supposed to play it with a Southern accent. So, I have an idea. I'll do a real Mae West.' (Mae West was a famous sex symbol celebrity from sixty years before the time of The Golden Girls.) Then, Junger Witt and Thomas both replied back to Rue, 'What are you talking about? Of course, Blanche has a Southern accent!' (Colucci, 2016)."Additionally, McClanahan let out a massive sigh and responded, "Whew, I was thrilled to get to play it the way I wanted to in the first place." Junger Witt, continued, "I needed to pick a voice that wasn't Rue that would work to help me create a character." Junger Witt continued saying, "Rue needed to pick a voice that wasn't Rue, that would work to help her create a character." (Colucci, 2016).

Rue continues, "You can't just do your regular voice, your regular walk, your regular beliefs, your regular anything if you're creating a character. For example, Blanche's walk came to me very quickly after 'The Pilot'. That's not my natural walk. But, it's hers (Blanche's). And, I don't think there's anyone else on earth who walks like Blanche. Movement is very important to me in developing a role; and I think Blanche's walk showed self-assurance and her always being on top of the situation. If she was at The Rusty Anchor or on a date, she felt it was irresistible and beguiling. The shoes were a big part of it. The sound they made. I always have to know what a character is going to wear; and once I discovered the walk, Blanche always wore those slingbacks." (Colucci, 2016).

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Synopsis
Blanche was a highly promiscuous, overly confident, and sexually liberated woman out on the prowl almost too frequently during her spare time, in almost desperate search for a man who would be her next new love. Most of her free time consists of being out and about with a new man outside of the home or outside of her job at the museum. She was often observed as blatantly flirtatious and seductive with almost every man she came across with her little Southern Belle ways. However, Blanche knew of the existence of AIDS/HIV that was beginning to surface in the mid-80s. She always used protection and followed-up on every man's nearly full medical history.

Blanche's go-to color palette for her fashionable sense of style and attire was red - a lot of red. Red is the color closely associated with sexual attractiveness, of course.

Blanche's role model and idol in such great awe and reverence is her father, Curtis 'Big Daddy' Hollingsworth (portrayed by Murray Hamilton in two episodes and then by David Wayne for a very brief moment in a snippet of an episode). Curtis is, otherwise known as to everyone as, 'Big Daddy'. Much to Blanche's shock, disapproval, and dismay, her father married a young widow named, Margaret Spencer (who became a Hollingsworth when married to 'Big Daddy') - years after her biological mother (and namesake), Elizabeth Ann Bennett, passed away from Alzheimer's Disease in the TV series



Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche's Family and Early Life, and the Mystery of Blanche's Age
Blanche Elizabeth Marie Hollingsworth-Devereaux was born some time around 1932 (we will get to this age mystery in a bit) into a Jewish family on The Hollingsworth Plantation called Twin Oaks in Atlanta, Georgia. Her parents were the late Elizabeth-Ann Margaret Bennett (otherwise known as Samantha Roquet) and Curtis 'Big Daddy' Hollingsworth. Furthermore, as horrible as it may sound to some, during the times of the Old South, such US states such as North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, and such, African-American individuals were enslaved through this horrific years of 1500-1870s. The Southern United States is renowned of its past brutality towards African-Americans, a fact we cannot deny of these dark pasts of US history. Caucasian families in the Old South would hire a nanny - an African-American women to take care of the children belonging to white families. During Blanche's childhood, it was true. Blanche and her four other siblings had a nanny - an African American woman taking care and looking after the children of the Hollingsworth family - the family's nanny, Viola "Mammy" Watkins. Mammy visits Blanche in Season 6, Episode 5, "Wham, Bam, Thank You, Mammy" (aired nationally on October 20th, 1990) with some shocking news that keeps Blanche in a tornado of emotions - she was in an affair with Curtis Hollingsworth for nearly fifty years.

During Blanche's senior year in high school, on Christmas, so it must be December 25 of about 1949, Blanche almost eloped with the father of her rival at cheerleading with the sole purpose of having her taken off the squad. (Although, it is widely believed that Blanche's exact age was never truly revealed. There were many attempts for the audience to speculate Blanche's age. So, let's say, if the year is 1949, and Blanche is in her senior year in high school, then that must mean 1949 - 17 = 1932!! DING DING DING...

For the most part, assuming that a high school student is typically age 17 then turning 18 his or her senior year in high school, Blanche must be born in either in 1932 or 1931. Which would mean that in year 1985, when the TV series first launched, Blanche would be about 53 or even 54. However, that's not all. More speculation begins to ensue regarding Blanche's actual age, as many fans still speculate and debate till this day. For one instance, Rose attempts to find out Blanche's age. In Season 2, Episode 1, 'End of the Curse' (that aired nationally on September 27th, 1986), Blanche believes she may be pregnant after being with the governor. (Of course, it is also said that Blanche always, always wears protection.) As the episode progresses, the audience learns that Blanche may not even be pregnant at all. In fact, Blanche was going through 'the phase' of menopause. She is... 'not a young spring chicken' anymore. Blanche missed her period for about two months, evidently. Rose snatched Blanche's documentation without Blanche's awareness, such as all sorts of official records like her birth certificate. However, after digging through these files (and it is uncertain as to how Rose found all these records), Blanche's age was 'deleted by authority of the governor.' It is assumed that Blanche got with the governor and bribed him to get rid of all of the birth dates from all history of Blanche Devereaux.

The very mystery of Blanche Devereaux's age is deemed... futile to dig up. Or is it?

Many fans of The Golden Girls will continue to debate further at itty-bitty, fine details as well as the producers' many inconsistencies throughout the TV series. In Season 3, Episode 25 entitled "Mother's Day" (that aired nationally on May 7th, 1988), it is revealed in a flashback that Blanche was, in fact, 17 in the year of 1949, meaning she was born in 1932 or 1931. So, Blanche must be about one of two years younger than Rose and Dorothy. Also, since Blanche said her sister, Charmaine, was one year ahead of her in school, and she was born in 1931 ,which most likely means that Blanche was born in 1932.

Therefore, that would make her about 53-years-old when the TV series first began in 1985, and 60 when the spin-off of The Golden Palace ending in 1993.

Of course, Blanche claims adamantly throughout the TV series that she is in her forties (sometimes, even younger).

--

For the majority of Blanche's life, she was married happily to her high school sweetheart, George Devereaux. From the back-story of the TV series, George passed away just nine years prior to the debut of The Golden Girls (the series debuted on September 14th, 1985), which means George passed away some time in the year of 1976.

In a 1990 episode, Season 6, Episode 9, 'Mrs. George Devereaux' (that aired nationally on November 17th, 1990), Blanche had a dream that George came back from the dead. It was said in this dream that George said he faked his death after his business partner's embezzlement. Much to Blanche's astonishment, she wished those words were true and accurate to say. However, they were not. It was, alas, all a dream. On set, Rue McClanahan said that George was the love of Blanche's life and that her promiscuity was, in fact, a desperate search for the next love of her life - just a bit of a disillusionment.

Fans of The Golden Girls would not let these inconsistencies run amok without letting it known publicly! There was an inconsistency relating Blanche going to a pedicure on the same day following George's passing. Another time, Blanche mentioned George passed away by stepping on a land mine. Yet, in another episode, George died instantly in a car accident while Blanche was at home, and then a police officer phoned her regarding the awful news. Which one was it? Nonetheless, George passed away nine years prior to the debut of the TV series.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Eldest sister, Charmaine Gertrude Hollingsworth
Blanche has four siblings: Charmaine Gertrude Hollingsworth, the eldest sister, who infuriates Blanche immediately when she writes a sordid novel that tells about Blanche's crazed sex life. Blanche was too quick to jump the gun on that one. It is soon revealed that the novel is actually about Charmaine's sexual escapades and not about Blanche's. The two of Blanche and Charmaine make peace with one another right after.

Younger sister, Virginia Lena Hollingsworth-Warren
The other sister is the youngest, Virginia Lena Hollingsworth-Warren, a prudent and spoiled brat, with whom Blanche shared a mutual loathing and sibling rivalry. However, in Season 1, Episode 4, 'Transplant' (that aired nationally on October 5th, 1985), they buried the hatchet pretty early on, so to speak, when Virginia went into life-threatening renal failure and had a handful of months to live. Virginia flew unexpectedly to Blanche's ranch home in Miami in striving hopes to encourage Blanche to help her in a rather indirect manner. At first, Blanche was in denial that her youngest sister would ask for genuine help. Blanche believed her sister was looking for something to 'steal', like how Virginia did when the two were younger back in Atlanta. However, through much encouragement and immensely helpful talks with the other girls around the famous kitchen table, Blanche thought really hard, changed her mind, and offered her one kidney to her sister. However, in the end, Blanche's kidney was not the right fit for Virginia being the kidney's vessels were 'too petite'. Thankfully so, Virginia was on the hunt for a kidney transplant. She found one. It was said that a few weeks later, there was a nearly perfect candidate for a kidney transplant from a certain somebody with a good heart and the same blood type.

Younger Brother, Clayton Louis "Clay" Hollingsworth
There is also Blanche's year-younger brother, Clayton Louis "Clay" Hollingsworth, whose subsequent revelation as being homosexual. This coming out of the closet gay-troubled Blanche to some extent. In Season 4, Episode 9, 'Scared Straight' (that aired nationally on December 10th, 1988), Clayton comes to visit Blanche. At first, Blanche is reluctant to accept Clayton's sexual orientation and nearly cost her relationship with him. Clayton attempts to act straight initially and even blurted out that he slept with Rose the night prior, which infuriates Blanche and stuns Rose. However, of course, it was just a front. Clayton is so afraid to admit his homosexuality to his direct sister, Blanche. However, he musters up the courage and tells Blanche straightforwardly, whether she accepted the truth or not. Being that Blanche is from the south, their deeply rooted Southern and conservative traditions and mindsets take hold. Blanche, at first, does not accept that her younger brother was gay. Fortunately so, in quick and due time, yes, Blanche accepts Clayton for who he is. Clayton and Blanche are very close, in comparison to the other siblings. The two of them are the only ones who actually maintain their sibling relationship well. As it turns out, Clayton decides to get engage to marry a gay policeman named Doug.

Older brother, Theodore Hunter "Tad" Hollingsworth
During The Golden Palace, it is revealed that Blanche has a mentally-challenged older brother, Theodore Hunter "Tad" Hollingsworth, who had spent most of his life in a Chattanooga Institution. It was once revealed, when she was attempting to gain entry to the DOS (Daughters of the South), that she is 1/8 Jewish. Her great-grandmother, having been a Jewish woman named Rosalyn Feldman-Roquet from Buffalo, New York, married her great-grandfather, Walker Roquet.

Blanche also had a visit from her promiscuous niece, Lucy War.

Blanche was not at Big Daddy's side when he passed away because she was attending a ball in Miami, and could not go to his funeral because of a prior argument with her sister, Virginia Lena Hollingsworth-Warren. Blanche regretted this afterwards and resolved to try and rethink her priorities in life. She and Dorothy Zbornak eventually went to the cemetery where Big Daddy was buried. This is where Blanche said 'hello' to both her mother and father, buried alongside one another, and prayed at their resting places. Subsequent to Big Daddy passing away, it was revealed that he and Blanche's long-lost African-American nanny, Viola "Mammy" Watkins, had an affair with him that lasted for nearly fifty years, which Blanche was exceptionally upset and almost disgusted with.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

The Reasons For Blanche's Promiscuity. Let's Say, There are 8 Reasons:
Seemingly, it feels as if much of Blanche's promiscuity nature stems from the death of her one and only true love, George Devereaux. The two were high school sweethearts. When realizing George passed away, Blanche became disillusioned and consumed with impulsive behavior (very much like how Rue McClanahan was in her 30s and 40s with a number of male actors and co-stars, if you ever read her memoir...). Blanche wanted to date as many men as should could in rapid succession in the striving yet desperate hope and search for her next love. On to the next one, in other words...

There were specific and yet realistic reasons as to why Blanche was promiscuous:

1) Blanche lost her one and only true love, George Devereaux.

2) Her choice in men were absolutely terrible, for the most part. -- Was it bad luck? A coincidence? In the end, no one stayed with Blanche.

3) She self-sabotaged herself one too many times and hurt her personal reputation in front of many -- Similarly to Rue McClanahan's actual and personal life, Blanche Devereaux self-sabotaged herself and hurt her own image and name in front of her best friends, Rose and Dorothy as well as Sophia. Many times, she also hurt her name in front of others. The slut-shaming rampage throughout the seven series against Blanche were all based on substantial truths. Blanche slept around with possibly over 160 men throughout the entire TV series. However, none of them stay with Blanche.

Due to the slut-shaming, there were a good number of times the girls did not believe Blanche when she attempted to speak the honest truth. Similarly, Rue McClanahan rushed through relationships to get married and hitched, going through five failed marriages with all five ex-husbands and painful lawsuits with two of her ex-husbands. Moreover, Rue was in an average of one to two years of marriage. Rue's third marriage was for just shy of seven years with a belligerent man who was emotionally abusive towards Rue as well as towards her one and only child, Mark. Honestly, the feel of self-sabotaging was very much real. Rue's fifth marriage was to her high-school sweetheart and her fifth ex-husband, Tom Keel. Their marriage ended abruptly in the year of 1986, just into the second season of The Golden Girls. Tom and Rue were only married for less than one year from 1985 to 1986. The marriage was so bitter, ruthless, and horrific. Tom Keel sued Rue McClanahan upon their divorce settlement in 1986 for her Golden Girls money.... And, he did. He won a fair share, let's just say.

Nevertheless, through The Golden Girls run from 1985 to 1992, Rue McClanahan learned a lot about herself. Rue mentioned, "'Art imitates life. Life imitates arts. Blanche's impenetrable confidence eventually wore off me as well. I learned a lot from Blanche and her optimism and joie de vivre -- feeling confident about what you have to offer the world, and the ability to bounce back from life's momentary failures. Blanche Devereaux is a masterful rebounder, never down for the count, always back up to fight again -- to look again on the bright side. I loved that about her.' (Farrell, O'Connor, Powell, 2018)."4) Blanche's husband, George Devereaux, had a love affair and actually had a son through the love affair -- to be cheated on, despite all the seemingly perky happiness George and Blanche had, the marriage was very much flawed. George cheated on Blanche during their marriage behind her back and had a son, David, with the other woman. Blanche learned about this in utter stun subsequent to the passing of George nine years prior (year 1976).

5) She had a strained relationship with her children -- there are numerous accounts when Blanche would express guilt and even regret to the other girls during their famous kitchen table chats. Blanche had five children of her own with George -- Janet, Rebecca, Biff, Doug, and Matthew (aka Skippy). Blanche had an especially strained relationship with her daughter, Rebecca. (We will get to this later.)

6) Blanche could not accept homosexuality being from the south -- the fact that Blanche's baby brother, Clayton Hollingsworth, was gay or homosexual, Blanche just could not believe the thought. In Southern tradition, homosexuality is frowned upon greatly. Blanche was rather confused and troubled by Clayton's sexual orientation. She simply could not believe he could be gay. She would not accept it. Never. Ever. When Blanche refused to accept Clayton's coming out, it nearly destroyed their sibling relationship. Blanche was only the closest to her little brother, Clayton, out of all her other siblings. She could not possibly bear to break or lose that relationship -- her only lasting relationship with her siblings. Of course, she accepted Clayton's sexual orientation and supported the notion through Season 4, Episode 9, "Scared Straight" (aired nationally on December 10th, 1988) and Season 6, Episode 14, "Sister Of The Bride" (aired nationally on Jan 12th, 1991). Blanche Devereaux: "I don't really mind Clayton being homosexual, I just don't like him dating men."

Dorothy Zbornak: "You really haven't grasped the concept of this "gay thing" yet, have you, Blanche?"

Blanche Devereaux: "Well, there must be homosexuals who date women."

Sophia Petrillo: "Yeah. They're called lesbians." 7) Blanche had troubling relationships with her other siblings, Charmaine and Virginia (with the exception of Clayton). -- there was great sibling rivalry between Blanche and Virginia vs. Blanche and Charmaine. (There is another sibling, the older brother, Tad, but he spent most of his life in an institution and not much is discussed about this Tad guy.) However, Blanche was only closest and on good terms with her younger brother, Clayton.

8) Blanche missed her father's, Big Daddy, funeral. Big Daddy was Blanche's role model and the apple of her eyes that was presented in Season 5, Episode 11, "Ebb Tide" (that aired nationally on December 9th, 1989). She missed the funeral only because she was attending an event.

Paraphrased from The Golden Girls: Hollywood Legends Special Collector's Edition, Farrell, O'Connor, Powell, 2018.

--

On the show, Blanche is portrayed as an overall highly promiscuous woman who claimed she lost her virginity more than once when she was younger, except she could not remember if the first time was with Billy, or Bobby, or Ben... "'My first was with Billy. Oh, I'll never forget it! That night under the dogwood tree, the air thick with perfume, and me with Billy. Or Bobby? Yes, that's right! Bobby! Or was it Ben? Oh, who knows. Anyway, it started with a B!'"Blanche spends a good deal of her free time outside of the museum where she works with members of the opposite sex, much to the disgust and yet also to the amusement of her housemates. Blanche is seemingly, highly a liberated sexual woman, in almost desperate and impulsive behavior to search for her next new love after George - in contrast to the overall sexual climate of the 1980s, when AIDS was beginning to seep its hideous head of ugly reality into the American nation's consciousness. Many people in the 80s used protection after being informed regarding AIDS. It is true, in Season 5, Episode 19, "72 Hours" (that aired nationally on February 17th, 1990), it is mentioned that Blanche is fully cognizant of the dangers of AIDS/HIV. She mentions to the girls that she ALWAYS uses protection and knows every lover's full sexual history (well, as much as possible).

At times, Blanche's crazed sex life was used against her. For instance, in Season 1, Episode 5, 'The Triangle', when the character of Dr. Elliot Clayton made a pass at Blanche, she told Dorothy. However, Dorothy does not believe Blanche. Furthermore, Elliot tells a white lie when confronted by Dorothy. Blanche is so upset that she asks Dorothy to leave. After Rose worms the truth out in front of Dorothy, acting scandalous in front of Elliot, he tells the truth. Yes, he did make a pass on Blanche. Dorothy dumps Elliot and gives Blanche an apology, which she accepts reluctantly. That was the end of Elliot.

In addition, Gil Kessler, a town's councilman, is accused of having an affair with Blanche after she helps him with a speech all night. Despite Blanche's seemingly calming innocence, Gil tells everyone the rumors were true. Shocked to hear this come out from his mouth, Blanche confronts Gil in private to admit that he lied for his re-election. Seeing how much he embarrassed and hurt Blanche in front of people she did not know, he confesses the truth in a televised speech.

In a later episode, Season 3, Episode 7, 'Strange Bedfellows' (that aired nationally on November 7th, 1987), Blanche was accused by Rose of sleeping with Charlie when Rose stumbled across photos of a seemingly Charlie with Blanche in the same bed. Nevertheless, Rose is unable to forgive Blanche. Rose is so angered that she believes the fling happened between the two. Rose cannot even look at Blanche. Even in Blanche's diary, it suggests that the fling may have happened. It is only when Dorothy looks at the rest of photos within the album does the truth come out: the remaining pictures were of Blanche and... yes, thankfully so, another man. The photo of the affair was a double exposure and the "Charlies" was, indeed, somebody else.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche's Children
There are a total of five children mentioned between Blanche and her late husband, George: two daughters (Janet and Rebecca, both of whom appeared in the TV series) and three sons (Biff, Doug, and "Skippy" aka Matthew, all who were mentioned in Season 3, Episode 3, "Bringing Up Baby". "Skippy" is thought to be a nickname for Blanche's youngest son, Matthew. Matthew is mentioned in Season 2, Episode 24, "To Catch a Neighbor" (with the lovely George Clooney involved in the episode), Furthermore, Matthew (portrayed by Bill Engvall) makes an on-screen appearance on Season 1, Episode 17, 'Say Goodbye, Rose' of The Golden Palace.

Some time throughout the series of The Golden Girls, Blanche learns in great horror that George had a sixth child, a son named David, as a result of having an affair against Blanche's awareness.

During the course of the show, Blanche is revealed not to have been very 'hands-on' as a mother. She has a strained relationship with her daughters, especially with Janet, something that led to some of the most dramatic storylines as she expressed regrets that she was not there for her children more.

Blanche also had a falling out with her daughter, Rebecca (as portrayed by Shawn Schepps) over her decision to drop out of school to pursue a modeling career in Paris. When Rebecca returned 4 years later, she was overweight and engaged to a man named Jeremy (Joe Regalbuto) who did nothing but insult. Blanche tried to convince Rebecca to break up with Jeremy, and Rebecca once again accused her mother of trying to control her life and stormed out. On the way to the airport, she realized her mother was right and returned to her mother and told her she dumped Jeremy.

Rebecca (now played by Debra Engle) lost the extra pounds and returned a few years later, and she said she was going to have a baby through artificial insemination. Blanche made no secret of her disapproval of her daughter having a baby out of wedlock and raising the baby without a father. Blanche and Rebecca visited a fertility clinic with Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia joining them, and she called the doctor "a sperm pusher" and told everyone she didn't want "a test tube for a son-in-law." Rebecca decides to leave, and Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia talk to Blanche about her behavior, and reminded her that Rebecca is a grown woman who could make any decisions she wanted with her own life. Blanche realized that her own pride wasn't worth risking losing relationships with her daughter and grandchild and decided to accept Rebecca's decisions.

While Rebecca was pregnant, she decided have her baby in Florida instead of at home with her own doctor so Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, and Sophia could be there for the baby's birth. They joined Rebecca when she decided to visit a birthing center as an alternative. Rebecca said: "Hospitals have a rigid way of doing things." After they hear screams and then a horrible shriek from a mother giving birth, they decide that the hospital is a better option. Blanche still feels embarrassed about the decisions Rebecca made, and Rebecca decides to leave the next morning, taking her baby with her. That night, Rebecca experiences contractions and she's taken to the hospital, and Blanche is with her in the delivery room when she gives birth to a baby daughter, Aurora Devereaux.

Rebecca later visits again with Aurora (a name Blanche hates because it's not "musical" or "Southern" enough and she even called her "Oreo"). Unfortunately, Aurora is the catalyst of one more major conflict between Rebecca and Blanche when Blanche meets a man named Jason (Alan Rachins) while babysitting Aurora. Jason assumes that Blanche is Aurora's mother rather than her grandmother, and Blanche is so flattered that she fails to correct him. When Jason finds out the truth, he breaks off their relationship, and Rebecca accuses Blanche of using her granddaughter to "land a man" and decides to leave and never speak to her mother again until Sophia convinces her to reconcile so Aurora doesn't grow up without having her grandmother in her life.

Blanche also has at least four grandchildren: David, Melissa, and Sarah (all born to Janet, who married a "Yankee"), as well as Rebecca's daughter, Aurora.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022

Blanche's Many Raunchy Relationships
Blanche acts as both a landlady and a housemate to Rose Nylund, Dorothy Zbornak, and Sophia Petrillo. Rose are involved in the same activities, be it auditioning for a play or doing community service projects. Though she is annoyed at times by Rose's constant storytelling, she sees her as both her best friend and a surrogate sister. To be sure, Blanche has her own collection of strange stories which she also shares from time to time, often tales of her rivalry with sisters Virginia and Charmaine or of the promiscuous stunts she pulled as a teenager.

Her relationship with Dorothy is mixed with envy and condemnation on both parts: Dorothy envies and condemns Blanche's being comfortable sexually, while Blanche envies Dorothy's intelligence and singing talents, among other things. And yet, both she and Dorothy at times isolate themselves from Rose, ganging up on her when the latter says anything particularly foolish, and taking turns hitting her on the head with a newspaper or magazine. Their relationship is also symbiotic: in one of the last episodes in the series, Dorothy admits that Blanche has helped her be comfortable with her own sexuality, while Dorothy herself has always served as Blanche's other voice of reason.

With Rose she saw her as a sister, she could see that Rose is good natured but she could be annoyed by her as well. Blanche critiqued her for doing long stories that were pointless, when Rose won tickets for a Frank Sinatra Concert she told Blanche the full story and in anger Blanche told a reduced version to Dorothy. Rose did audition for stage plays as well as Blanche and she would be angry if Rose got her part. However Rose could surprise Blanche, in Old Boyfriends when Rose can't remember an boyfriend from the past Blanche questions how many boyfriends she had only to reveal that she had 56 boyfriends that had Blanche going crazy saying that Rose being like a slut. When Rose talked about her and Charlie's sex life, claiming they made love 3 times a day and Blanche said "good lord no wonder you still mourn that man".

Blanche's relationship with Sophia is also interesting: Blanche sees her both as a mother figure and as a mean old lady, and Sophia sees her as one of her daughters and, very vocally, a streetwalker. For example, in the very first episode of the series, Sophia had bluntly told Blanche "You look like a prostitute". Her doctor in or until the year 1992 was Amanda Riskin.

On the show, Blanche has been shown to have dated various men. Some of them were unsavory and horrible. She almost married a bigamist, as we fans may know as Harry, in Season 1, Episode 1, 'The Pilot' (that aired nationally on September 14th, 1985). There was another man who stole Blanche's necklace at her Full Moon-Leap Year's Party, in Season, Episode, and this crazed man was also caught by the police and arrested. Oh gosh, there was yet another guy who Blanche saw named Rex - that horrific Rex. Of course, Rex was verbally abusive towards Blanche. (This reminded Rue McClanahan of her third ex-husband for nearly seven years of emotional turmoil and abuse). Blanche's housemates and best friends, Dorothy and Rose, helped Blanche see through to Rex's true colors and the two were separated. There was another guy who Blanche dated name Gary (portrayed by Jerry Hardin) who cheated on her under her very roof by sleeping with Rose's sister, who came to visit, Holly Lindstrom (played by Inga Swenson) who was visiting. Blanche overcame her apprehension of dating Ted (played by Hugh Farringt o n), who is in a wheelchair, only to find out he is married. So, Blanche terminated the relationship based on the fact that she has never been the "other woman" in extramarital affairs.

The only other time that incident occurred to Blanche was when, through a bizarre turn-of-events, her beau's wife was revived by paramedics after she was declared dead. But Blanche has also ruined good relationships with worthy men: Jake (played by Donnelly Rhodes), who wanted to marry Blanche. But, Blanche turned him down only to regret the notion later. Or when Steven (played by Robert Mandan) was hospitalized, Blanche refused to visit him until much later, by which time he reconciled with his ex-girlfriend.

In an episode called "Yes, We Have no Havanas", Sophia and Blanche became rivals for the affections of an elderly Cuban gentleman named Fidel Santiago (played by Henry Darrow), and the two women traded particularly nasty insults with each other. Sophia called Blanche a "50-year-old mattress," and Blanche referred to Sophia as a "raisin in sneakers." and "a crow". The rivalry came to an abrupt end when Fidel died suddenly. As it turned out, Fidel was even more promiscuous than Blanche - the congregation at his funeral consisted entirely of women he had been romancing, with exception for Dorothy and Rose.

Written by: Jessica Renee

Edited by: Avalon Cupid and Niki Poplin

Originally written: March 2020; Edited in May/June 2022