Zoneboy
03-29-2009, 02:57 AM
Link (http://www.calgaryherald.com/News/facts+about+Fields/1438930/story.html)
In the late 1970s, sitcom audiences were introduced to a group of roomies at a posh boarding school. The Facts of Life centred on a prestigious girls school in New York. There was a house mother, Mrs. Garrett played by Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel as snooty Blair, Nancy McKeon had the role of tomboy Jo Polniaczek, Mindy Cohn played shy, overweight Natalie, and then there was live wire Kim Fields as roller-skating Tootie.
Fields's audition for The Facts of Life was a miserable experience. She was nine years old and small for her age and she was supposed to be playing a 12-year-old, so producers weren't sold on her. They gave her roller-skates, and she was fine when it came to navigating around camera equipment and furniture, but sometimes she had to take the stairs. "You have not lived until you've tried to go up and down those things in skates. That's just trouble waiting to happen."
Trouble was Tootie's middle name. "She was a lot of fun and very loyal to her friends, even though her gossipy nature often got them in trouble."
Fields says the cast treated each other like sisters. "I know how to shave my legs because of Nancy McKeon teaching me. Lisa (Whelchel) and I spent a lot of time together because we were the 'Christians' on set. Mindy and I spent a lot of time together because we were the best friends on the show."
When Facts of Life was cancelled in 1988, Fields moved on to Living Single about four women and two men living in Brooklyn in a brownstone and coming of age, but in a different way.
So whatever happened to Kim Fields?
After Living Single, Fields moved into directing. She started working for BET and she went on location to the Caribbean shooting music specials for them. She also made a documentary called Discovering Monk and Coltrane: One Night at Carnegie Hall.
She's also written a collection of short stories called, When Bad Women Happen to Good Men, inspired by male friends who shred their stories of how they'd been jilted by women.
In the meantime, Fields hasn't lost touch with her girlhood buds. In 2001, she was in The Facts of Life Reunion movie with Mindy Cohn and Lisa Whelchel.
"It's been an amazing ride. I couldn't have even imagined this. And to know that the ride is not over.
In the late 1970s, sitcom audiences were introduced to a group of roomies at a posh boarding school. The Facts of Life centred on a prestigious girls school in New York. There was a house mother, Mrs. Garrett played by Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel as snooty Blair, Nancy McKeon had the role of tomboy Jo Polniaczek, Mindy Cohn played shy, overweight Natalie, and then there was live wire Kim Fields as roller-skating Tootie.
Fields's audition for The Facts of Life was a miserable experience. She was nine years old and small for her age and she was supposed to be playing a 12-year-old, so producers weren't sold on her. They gave her roller-skates, and she was fine when it came to navigating around camera equipment and furniture, but sometimes she had to take the stairs. "You have not lived until you've tried to go up and down those things in skates. That's just trouble waiting to happen."
Trouble was Tootie's middle name. "She was a lot of fun and very loyal to her friends, even though her gossipy nature often got them in trouble."
Fields says the cast treated each other like sisters. "I know how to shave my legs because of Nancy McKeon teaching me. Lisa (Whelchel) and I spent a lot of time together because we were the 'Christians' on set. Mindy and I spent a lot of time together because we were the best friends on the show."
When Facts of Life was cancelled in 1988, Fields moved on to Living Single about four women and two men living in Brooklyn in a brownstone and coming of age, but in a different way.
So whatever happened to Kim Fields?
After Living Single, Fields moved into directing. She started working for BET and she went on location to the Caribbean shooting music specials for them. She also made a documentary called Discovering Monk and Coltrane: One Night at Carnegie Hall.
She's also written a collection of short stories called, When Bad Women Happen to Good Men, inspired by male friends who shred their stories of how they'd been jilted by women.
In the meantime, Fields hasn't lost touch with her girlhood buds. In 2001, she was in The Facts of Life Reunion movie with Mindy Cohn and Lisa Whelchel.
"It's been an amazing ride. I couldn't have even imagined this. And to know that the ride is not over.