The facts about Kim Fields - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 03-29-2009, 02:57 AM

Link

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.

chrisjo3 · 03-29-2009, 05:26 AM

"We were the Christians on set" I guess Being Catholic doesn't count to her as a christian.....

Actually, I think Nancy converted to Bah'ai. Alex Rocco who she is really close to is Bah'ai. Anyways...back to the Catholic, it is interesting that she doesn't refer to Nancy, so she must not think Catholic is Christian, or Nancy wasn't acting like a "Christian."....whatever.

LoveMrsG · 03-29-2009, 09:41 PM

Okay, I may be making an idiot out myself here, but my dad always taught me that there was no such thing as a stupid question and that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask, so I'm asking...I've never heard of Bah'ai (sp.??) before...what is that, if somebody doesn't mind cluing me in???

ZeldaGilroy · 03-29-2009, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMrsG

Okay, I may be making an idiot out myself here, but my dad always taught me that there was no such thing as a stupid question and that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask, so I'm asking...I've never heard of Bah'ai (sp.??) before...what is that, if somebody doesn't mind cluing me in???

You are not making an idiot out of yourself. It's a good question. I think I answered it for you earlier so i won't go into it here, but honestly I never heard that Nancy McKeon had converted to Bah'ai. I knew Alex Rocco had though.

chrisjo3 · 03-30-2009, 03:05 AM

Bah'ai is a faith that is

The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.[1] There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.[2][3]

Bahá'í teachings emphasize the underlying unity of the major world religions. Religious history is seen to have unfolded through a series of divine messengers, each of whom established a religion that was suited to the needs of the time and the capacity of the people. These messengers have included Krishna, Abraham, the Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad and others, including most recently Bahá'u'lláh. In Bahá'í belief, each messenger taught of the next, and Bahá'u'lláh's life and teachings fulfill the end-time promises of previous scriptures. Humanity is understood to be involved in a process of collective evolution, and the need of the present time is for the gradual establishment of peace, justice and unity on a global scale.[4]

The word "Bahá’í" (pronounced /bəˈhaɪ/)[5] is used either as an adjective to refer to the Bahá'í Faith or as a term for a follower of Bahá'u'lláh, and the word is not a noun meaning the religion as a whole. It is derived from the Arabic Bahá’, meaning "glory" or "splendour".[6] The term "Bahaism" (or "Baha'ism") has been used in the past, but is fading from use.

Wikipedia....

LoveMrsG · 04-01-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrisjo3

Bah'ai is a faith that is

The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.[1] There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.[2][3]

Bahá'í teachings emphasize the underlying unity of the major world religions. Religious history is seen to have unfolded through a series of divine messengers, each of whom established a religion that was suited to the needs of the time and the capacity of the people. These messengers have included Krishna, Abraham, the Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad and others, including most recently Bahá'u'lláh. In Bahá'í belief, each messenger taught of the next, and Bahá'u'lláh's life and teachings fulfill the end-time promises of previous scriptures. Humanity is understood to be involved in a process of collective evolution, and the need of the present time is for the gradual establishment of peace, justice and unity on a global scale.[4]

The word "Bahá’í" (pronounced /bəˈhaɪ/)[5] is used either as an adjective to refer to the Bahá'í Faith or as a term for a follower of Bahá'u'lláh, and the word is not a noun meaning the religion as a whole. It is derived from the Arabic Bahá’, meaning "glory" or "splendour".[6] The term "Bahaism" (or "Baha'ism") has been used in the past, but is fading from use.

Wikipedia....

Okay, thanks. That was so thoughtful of you to post the Wikipedia article.

I appreciate it.

03-29-2009, 02:57 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,386	The facts about Kim Fields Link 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.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

03-29-2009, 09:41 PM	#3
LoveMrsG Future Emmy-Winning Writer Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 27, 2008 Location: In Mrs. G.'s mind: "Hmm, maybe I didn't know as much as I thought!" Posts: 783	Okay, I may be making an idiot out myself here, but my dad always taught me that there was no such thing as a stupid question and that the only stupid question is the one you don't ask, so I'm asking...I've never heard of Bah'ai (sp.??) before...what is that, if somebody doesn't mind cluing me in???
	__________________ Mrs. Garrett: "Get the h*ll out of here or I'll beat you with my frying pan!"

03-29-2009, 05:26 AM	#2
chrisjo3 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 08, 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 52	"We were the Christians on set" I guess Being Catholic doesn't count to her as a christian..... Actually, I think Nancy converted to Bah'ai. Alex Rocco who she is really close to is Bah'ai. Anyways...back to the Catholic, it is interesting that she doesn't refer to Nancy, so she must not think Catholic is Christian, or Nancy wasn't acting like a "Christian."....whatever.

03-30-2009, 03:05 AM	#5
chrisjo3 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jan 08, 2009 Location: Hawaii Posts: 52	Bah'ai is a faith that is The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.[1] There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories.[2][3] Bahá'í teachings emphasize the underlying unity of the major world religions. Religious history is seen to have unfolded through a series of divine messengers, each of whom established a religion that was suited to the needs of the time and the capacity of the people. These messengers have included Krishna, Abraham, the Buddha, Jesus, Muhammad and others, including most recently Bahá'u'lláh. In Bahá'í belief, each messenger taught of the next, and Bahá'u'lláh's life and teachings fulfill the end-time promises of previous scriptures. Humanity is understood to be involved in a process of collective evolution, and the need of the present time is for the gradual establishment of peace, justice and unity on a global scale.[4] The word "Bahá’í" (pronounced /bəˈhaɪ/)[5] is used either as an adjective to refer to the Bahá'í Faith or as a term for a follower of Bahá'u'lláh, and the word is not a noun meaning the religion as a whole. It is derived from the Arabic Bahá’, meaning "glory" or "splendour".[6] The term "Bahaism" (or "Baha'ism") has been used in the past, but is fading from use. Wikipedia....