The 75-year-old actress was hospitalised earlier this month (Nov09) after a physician noticed a problem with her heart while undergoing tests for a planned knee operation.

McClanahan, best known for her role as Blanche Devereaux on the hit series, apologised to fans for having to pull out of Golden: A Gala Tribute to Rue McClanahan at San Francisco's Castro Theatre on 14 November.

But despite insisting she just needed some ""maintenance on the old ticker"", the star was rushed into the operating room on Wednesday (04Nov09) to undergo serious heart bypass surgery.

However, her pal Del Shores reveals the op went ""very, very well,"" adding, ""She's going to be great and up and entertaining us all very shortly.""