What Was Charlotte Rae's Natural Hair Color? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-23-2008, 05:47 AM

I was just curious to know. Throughout the seasons she changed between being blonde, brown, and red haired.

JNSBSB · 02-23-2008, 07:07 AM

I'm thinking her hair has always been red. (Just different shades of red hair, though!)

gregrob · 03-15-2008, 09:09 AM

Back in the early 70s, when she had the recurring role of Molly the Mail Carrier on Sesame Street, her hair was black. It sort of looks like a wig, but is it I wonder? You can see her on the Sesame Street Old School 1969-1974 DVD on the premier third season episode (1971).

FOL85NatandMrsGRock · 03-15-2008, 07:18 PM

in car 54 where are you (in the 50's or 60's... still black and white) she had really dark hair, either black or brown.... so i'm thinking that her hair was naturally a darker color, but rarely does somebody just randomly chose to go red head unless their hair had some natural red hughes in it? i am unsure

candycandy · 11-07-2012, 07:22 PM

She certainly has a "red hair personality" but then you guys are right: in the early 60ies her hair looked almost black so i don t know......
PS: RED HAIR is a popular colour though, so maybe she chosed to dye it for the sitcoms?

'80sSitcoms · 10-05-2021, 04:36 PM

Research is showing Molly Ringwald is a natural auburn/brunette, but Charlotte seems a mystery. Was her natural hair color actually black? Possibly dark brown?

Since her earlier TV in the black and white days shows her having very dark hair, it's easy to assume her natural color was a dark one. But if so, they sure did a great job covering up her roots in all her red-head years!

valentina warner · 10-05-2021, 07:52 PM

CHARLOTTE RAE definitely looked like a red haired: her personality was so feisty, and like you said 80's, the red colour looked natural on her!

80s Dude · 10-05-2021, 09:19 PM

I think it was black. Charlotte was Jewish and most Jews have black hair.

Chocolate Moose · 10-06-2021, 12:00 PM

It was probably grey. Hair changes as we age, you know.

RetroGuy2000 · 10-06-2021, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80s Dude

I think it was black. Charlotte was Jewish and most Jews have black hair.

I also believe Charlotte's hair was naturally black. The photos from her college yearbooks show she had black hair then: even darker than her brunette classmates.

Here she is by herself and with blonde Cloris (one seat away).

I think the red hair suited her best, but that's likely because it's the only hair color I saw on her for many decades.

valentina warner · 10-06-2021, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I also believe Charlotte's hair was naturally black. The photos from her college yearbooks show she had black hair then: even darker than her brunette classmates.

Here she is by herself and with blonde Cloris (one seat away).

I think the red hair suited her best, but that's likely because it's the only hair color I saw on her for many decades.

Great finding Retro!

These photos of CHARLOTTE RAE school year remind me so much of the old photo albums my grandmother used to have from in her youth/high school years lol!

The girl next to CHARLOTTE looks very Jewish by the way: kind of like Anne Frank

Lorimar Television · 10-06-2021, 11:15 PM

Its crazy to think shes not really a redhead, just like Lucy.

RetroGuy2000 · 10-07-2021, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorimar Television

Its crazy to think shes not really a redhead, just like Lucy.

I know, right? Even in the black and white episodes of shows like ILL, I can feel the red coming through the screen because they mention her red hair so often.

RetroGuy2000 · 10-07-2021, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valentina warner

Great finding Retro!

These photos of CHARLOTTE RAE school year remind me so much of the old photo albums my grandmother used to have from in her youth/high school years lol!

My grandparents didn't attend high school, as they had to work on the farm, but my aunts and uncles had yearbook photos that weren't all that different than these.

Quote:

The girl next to CHARLOTTE looks very Jewish by the way: kind of like Anne Frank

I do see the resemblance, as well.

Lorimar Television · 10-07-2021, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGuy2000

I know, right? Even in the black and white episodes of shows like ILL, I can feel the red coming through the screen because they mention her red hair so often.

Exactly

02-23-2008, 05:47 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,135	What Was Charlotte Rae's Natural Hair Color? I was just curious to know. Throughout the seasons she changed between being blonde, brown, and red haired.

02-23-2008, 07:07 AM	#2
JNSBSB Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 11, 2004 Location: In a room turned into a theater room inside a cave in sunny Texas. Posts: 593	I'm thinking her hair has always been red. (Just different shades of red hair, though!)
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03-15-2008, 09:09 AM	#3
gregrob Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 13, 2002 Posts: 130	Did she wear a black wig on Sesame Street? Back in the early 70s, when she had the recurring role of Molly the Mail Carrier on Sesame Street, her hair was black. It sort of looks like a wig, but is it I wonder? You can see her on the Sesame Street Old School 1969-1974 DVD on the premier third season episode (1971).

03-15-2008, 07:18 PM	#4
FOL85NatandMrsGRock The Lovable Sarah Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2000 Location: Wisconsin (Same Place Charlotte's From and where That 70's Show takes place!) .... Wish I was in Mayfield USA! Posts: 1,770	in car 54 where are you (in the 50's or 60's... still black and white) she had really dark hair, either black or brown.... so i'm thinking that her hair was naturally a darker color, but rarely does somebody just randomly chose to go red head unless their hair had some natural red hughes in it? i am unsure
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11-07-2012, 07:22 PM	#5
candycandy Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 26, 2012 Location: Austria Posts: 245	Charlotte Rae natural hair colour She certainly has a "red hair personality" but then you guys are right: in the early 60ies her hair looked almost black so i don t know...... PS: RED HAIR is a popular colour though, so maybe she chosed to dye it for the sitcoms?

10-05-2021, 04:36 PM	#6
'80sSitcoms Member Forum Star Join Date: Jan 30, 2013 Posts: 12,474	Research is showing Molly Ringwald is a natural auburn/brunette, but Charlotte seems a mystery. Was her natural hair color actually black? Possibly dark brown? Since her earlier TV in the black and white days shows her having very dark hair, it's easy to assume her natural color was a dark one. But if so, they sure did a great job covering up her roots in all her red-head years!
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10-05-2021, 07:52 PM	#7
valentina warner Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 31, 2020 Location: The Uk Posts: 3,154	CHARLOTTE RAE definitely looked like a red haired: her personality was so feisty, and like you said 80's, the red colour looked natural on her!

10-05-2021, 09:19 PM	#8
80s Dude Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 24, 2019 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,811	I think it was black. Charlotte was Jewish and most Jews have black hair.

10-06-2021, 12:00 PM	#9
Chocolate Moose Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2007 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 4,899	It was probably grey. Hair changes as we age, you know.
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10-06-2021, 11:15 PM	#12
Lorimar Television Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 06, 2007 Posts: 7,034	Its crazy to think shes not really a redhead, just like Lucy.
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