‘The Facts of Life’ and ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ stars remember Charlotte Rae
The actress, who played Mrs. Garrett on both shows, died at 92
The actress, who played Mrs. Garrett on both shows, died at 92
The actress, who played Mrs. Garrett on both shows, died at 92
Charlotte Rae, an actress best known for playing Mrs. Garrett on "The Facts of Life" and "Diff’rent Strokes," died peacefully at her home on Sunday, reports. She was 92.
Rae had a long and prolific career, but became a household name for her role as housekeeper Edna Garrett on "Diff’rent Strokes." When her character became popular, she was the one who proposed a spinoff, notes, and that led to the creation of "The Facts of Life." There, Mrs. Garrett was the house mother at a girls’ boarding school. She left that show in 1986 for health reasons, and Cloris Leachman joined the cast, playing Mrs. Garrett’s sister.
In April 2017, Rae revealed she had been diagnosed with bone cancer, and she had fought pancreatic cancer before that. “So now, at the age of 91, I have to make up my mind. I’m not in any pain right now. I’m feeling so terrific and so glad to be above ground,” she told in a statement. “Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again to opt for life. I love life. I’ve had a wonderful one already. I have this decision to make.”
After the news of her death, several of her costars spoke out on social media to remember her. “She was my champion, a teacher, a proud example of the tenacity and perseverance needed to live an actor’s life,” Mindy Cohn, who played Natalie on "The Facts of Life," wrote on Instagram.
“You were loved by everyone on our show and you were loved by everyone on 'The Facts of Life,'” Todd Bridges, who played Willis on "Diff’rent Strokes," wrote on Twitter.