kadeliah
04-02-2008, 09:53 PM
Mrs. Garrett moves on from 'Facts of Life'
When Edna Garrett bid farewell to Blair, Joe, Natalie and Tootie on "The Facts of Life" in 1986, it was just the beginning of another chapter in the life of the actress who played her: Charlotte Rae.
"I've had a busy, busy time for quite awhile," Rae said last week. "I made a movie with Peter O'Toole and Marcia Gay Harden which I thought was going to come out at the end of November, but it wasn't quite ready. It's called `Christmas Cottage.' Then I did a few cruises where I sang and lectured. I did a club in San Francisco called The Plush Room, and it was a lot of fun. Then I did a cameo in a movie with Adam Sandler that's coming out in June."
Rae, who turns 82 on April 22, has done guest spots in recent years on such shows as "King of Queens" and "Strong Medicine" and was the voice of Nanny in "101 Dalmations: The Series."
She doesn't mind being forever known as Mrs. Garrett, who worked as the housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes" in 1978, then spent seven seasons as the housemother at a private all-girls school.
"That was such a dear show," she said of "Facts of Life.
"We really presented issues that were wonderful for opening up dialogue between parents and their kids. It was warm and sweet ... Friends of mine who are actors in their early 30s tell me they grew up with us and tell me they have such a feeling for Mrs. Garrett and the girls. I guess it's meant a lot to them. It makes me feel very, very grateful."
Prior to her Mrs. Garrett years, Rae appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "Sesame Street" and as a cast member on "Car 54 Where Are You?" and "Hot L Baltimore." She was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1975 for her performance in "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom."
But she also has wowed on the stage in productions of "Three Wishes for Jamie," "The Threepenny Opera," "Li'l Abner," and "Pickwick."
In 2001, Rae gathered with most of the cast for a "Facts of Life" reunion movie, and she remains quite close to some of her former co-stars.
"I'm very close with Lisa (Welchel) and her husband and children and Nancy McKeon and her husband, and she has two little ones," she said.
"I admire Mindy (Cohn) very much but I haven't seen her in years. She doesn't like it when I say I discovered her, but it's true. I'm grateful that we had her because she was a wonderful complement to the other girls. A tremendous talent."
Rae, who keeps busy with her grandchildren, is excited about the recent CD release of "Songs I Taught My Mother," an album she made in 1955 of "silly, sinful, and satirical" songs.
"It's got the greatest material," she said. "The best songs."
And if another good TV role comes along?
"I love television," she said. "I wouldn't mind getting a recurring part on television. I wouldn't want to do it every week."
link to the story (http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8774302)
When Edna Garrett bid farewell to Blair, Joe, Natalie and Tootie on "The Facts of Life" in 1986, it was just the beginning of another chapter in the life of the actress who played her: Charlotte Rae.
"I've had a busy, busy time for quite awhile," Rae said last week. "I made a movie with Peter O'Toole and Marcia Gay Harden which I thought was going to come out at the end of November, but it wasn't quite ready. It's called `Christmas Cottage.' Then I did a few cruises where I sang and lectured. I did a club in San Francisco called The Plush Room, and it was a lot of fun. Then I did a cameo in a movie with Adam Sandler that's coming out in June."
Rae, who turns 82 on April 22, has done guest spots in recent years on such shows as "King of Queens" and "Strong Medicine" and was the voice of Nanny in "101 Dalmations: The Series."
She doesn't mind being forever known as Mrs. Garrett, who worked as the housekeeper on "Diff'rent Strokes" in 1978, then spent seven seasons as the housemother at a private all-girls school.
"That was such a dear show," she said of "Facts of Life.
"We really presented issues that were wonderful for opening up dialogue between parents and their kids. It was warm and sweet ... Friends of mine who are actors in their early 30s tell me they grew up with us and tell me they have such a feeling for Mrs. Garrett and the girls. I guess it's meant a lot to them. It makes me feel very, very grateful."
Prior to her Mrs. Garrett years, Rae appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "Sesame Street" and as a cast member on "Car 54 Where Are You?" and "Hot L Baltimore." She was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1975 for her performance in "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom."
But she also has wowed on the stage in productions of "Three Wishes for Jamie," "The Threepenny Opera," "Li'l Abner," and "Pickwick."
In 2001, Rae gathered with most of the cast for a "Facts of Life" reunion movie, and she remains quite close to some of her former co-stars.
"I'm very close with Lisa (Welchel) and her husband and children and Nancy McKeon and her husband, and she has two little ones," she said.
"I admire Mindy (Cohn) very much but I haven't seen her in years. She doesn't like it when I say I discovered her, but it's true. I'm grateful that we had her because she was a wonderful complement to the other girls. A tremendous talent."
Rae, who keeps busy with her grandchildren, is excited about the recent CD release of "Songs I Taught My Mother," an album she made in 1955 of "silly, sinful, and satirical" songs.
"It's got the greatest material," she said. "The best songs."
And if another good TV role comes along?
"I love television," she said. "I wouldn't mind getting a recurring part on television. I wouldn't want to do it every week."
link to the story (http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8774302)