Charlotte Rae, Mrs. Garrett on Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes, dies at 92

[MikeLutton]

http://ew.com/tv/2018/08/05/charlott...e=facebook.com


Charlotte Rae, best known as wise and lovable house mother Mrs. Garrett on The Facts of Life, died Sunday at her home in Los Angeles, representatives for the actress confirmed. She was 92.

Rae revealed she’d been diagnosed with bone cancer at the end of April 2017. “Last Monday, I found out I have bone cancer,” she said in a statement. “About seven years ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer — which is a miracle that they found it because usually, it’s too late. My mother, sister, and my uncle died of pancreatic cancer. After six months of chemotherapy, I was cancer-free. I lost my hair, but I had beautiful wigs. Nobody ever knew. 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. Now I have to figure out whether I want to go have treatment again or opt for life.”

She continued to share her decision, “I love life. I’ve had a wonderful one already … I’ve had a great life, but I have so many wonderful things happening. I’d like to choose life. I’m grateful for the life I’ve already had.”

Born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rae got her start doing theater and radio (where she was told to drop her last name). She broke into television playing Sylvia Schnauser, the wife of Al Lewis’ Officer Leo Schnauser on Car 54, Where Are You? While she earned Tony nominations Pickwick, Morning Noon and Night, and an Emmy nom (Queen of the Stardust Ballroom), it wasn’t until 1978 when Norman Lear, a longtime fan, cast her in Diff’rent Strokes, that Rae’s career took off.

Rae played the kooky but kind housekeeper Edna Garrett, unmissable thanks to that mound of bright orange hair, on Diff’rent Strokes, and when she became a popular breakout character, Rae herself proposed the spin-off. That spin-off became The Facts of Life, a sitcom about a girls’ boarding school and their (once again) kooky and kind house mother. Rae’s Mrs. Garrett (or Mrs. G, as Nancy McKeon’s Jo liked to call her) helped guide the girls through every very special episode theme imaginable, from depression to dating, AIDS to alcohol. Rae left the show in 1986 for health reasons, and though Cloris Leachman stepped in as Mrs. Garrett’s sister, the show was canceled two years later.

Rae went on to guest star on TV shows like ER, Pretty Little Liars, Sisters, and The King of Queens, and appeared in movies such as Don’t Mess with the Zohan and Tom and Jerry: The Movie. Her final regular gig was voicing “Nanny” in the animated 101 Dalmations: The Series, which aired from 1997-98.

As much as she was beloved by TV watchers throughout the ‘80s, she remained associated with the beloved character of Mrs. Garrett thanks to reruns. In 2011, The Facts of Life cast reunited for the TV Land Awards, where she took home the Pop Icon award. That night, her Facts of Life costars Kim Fields and Nancy McKeon gave speeches in her honor. For the show’s 35th anniversary in 2014, they again got together for the closing night of PaleyFest in Los Angeles.

Rae shared many of her Hollywood experiences — including 44 years of sobriety and discovering that her husband, John Strauss, was bisexual — in her memoir, The Facts of My Life, released in 2015.

In her April 2017 statement, Rae also said, “At 91, every day is a birthday. [In my book] I want to tell everybody to celebrate every day, to savor the day and be good to yourself, love yourself, and then you can be good to others and be of service to others.”

[RetroGuy2000]

Oh, I suspected this was coming. Rest In Peace, Mrs. Garrett.

[Impressions]

Oh no.

RIP our beloved housemother.

[Dunkin Donuts]

RIP Charlotte.

[Bonniegirl]

Sad to hear this!! RIP Charlotte Rae /Mrs. Garrett !

[Svenfan1234]

Mrs. G!!!

[Rawr]

Very sad. May she RIP.

['80sSitcoms]

Oh gosh...so sorry to hear our Mrs. Garrett has gone from all of us...but 92 years, wow, what an accomplished life. RIP Ms. Rae, and thank you so much for all the years of laughter, warmth, and memories. You were a fantasy confidante figure for so many of us.

Moderators, please adjust the first sentence of this post so it begins "Charlotte" instead of "harlotte".

I wonder where the source of this obituary got some of their "facts" from, though. It is known Ms. Rae did not propose the DS spin-off, the producers proposed it; indeed, Ms. Rae was hesitant and unsure of trying it at first.

Also, The Facts of Life never had an AIDS episode; surprisingly, one of what seems few '80s sitcoms to not have tackled that subject.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Oh gosh...so sorry to hear our Mrs. Garrett has gone from all of us...but 92 years, wow, what an accomplished life. RIP Ms. Rae, and thank you so much for all the years of laughter, warmth, and memories. You were a fantasy confidante figure for so many of us.

Definitely!

Moderators, please adjust the first sentence of this post so it begins "Charlotte" instead of "harlotte".

Yes, please.

I wonder where the source of this obituary got some of their "facts" from, though. It is known Ms. Rae did not propose the DS spin-off, the producers proposed it; indeed, Ms. Rae was hesitant and unsure of trying it at first.

Also, The Facts of Life never had an AIDS episode; surprisingly, one of what seems few '80s sitcoms to not have tackled that subject.

I noticed those errors as well, but in my sadness, I didn't even bother to bring them up.

By the time the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic had gained media attention, FOL was no longer tackling most serious subjects, and had become a show that focused mainly on Twilight Zone parodies and musical guests of the week. What FOL would have tackled during the first six seasons was mostly avoided during the last few.

[Mr. Television]

Oh no. So sad. Such a wonderful woman. R.I.P. Mrs. Garrett.

['80sSitcoms]

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I noticed those errors as well, but in my sadness, I didn't even bother to bring them up.

Well, I was kind of insulted for her that an obituary for her would have errors in it. Knowing many people will read it who are casual fans, or just curious to check, will see this and believe things that are not true. I just want to set the "facts" straight (I got an A+ in Mr. Gideon's class).

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

By the time the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic had gained media attention, FOL was no longer tackling most serious subjects, and had become a show that focused mainly on Twilight Zone parodies and musical guests of the week. What FOL would have tackled during the first six seasons was mostly avoided during the last few.

People are often too quick to credit Designing Women with first tackling AIDS on sitcoms, but to my knowledge, Mr. Belvedere was the first '80s sitcom to tackle it; season 2's "Wesley's Friend", which aired January 31, 1986. I remember seeing that in its original airing when I was a kid.

[RetroGuy2000]

Originally Posted by '80sSitcoms

Well, I was kind of insulted for her that an obituary for her would have errors in it. Knowing many people will read it who are casual fans, or just curious to check, will see this and believe things that are not true. I just want to set the "facts" straight (I got an A+ in Mr. Gideon's class).

I agree that it's egregious to get facts wrong in an obituary... or even in a news story about someone's death. We know what Mr. Gideon would say.

People are often too quick to credit Designing Women with first tackling AIDS on sitcoms, but to my knowledge, Mr. Belvedere was the first '80s sitcom to tackle it; season 2's "Wesley's Friend", which aired January 31, 1986. I remember seeing that in its original airing when I was a kid.

I'm sure I saw it, too, but Mr. Belvedere never had the same influence on me as FOL (I never wanted to become a butler, but shows like HOTC and FOL helped make me realize I wanted to be a teacher). Mrs. Garrett's life lessons will live on with all of us who watched the show.

My thoughts are with her family and friends right now. About now, I bet there are many very sad Eastland girls.

[Lorimar Television]

So sad! R.I.P. Mrs. G

[Gemini_89]

Wow RIP! I wonder if her funeral will be televised like a lot of other legends in the entertainment industry? I wonder if we'll see all of the girls together there?

[MA]

Rest In Peace.