Charlotte Rae

Birthplace: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
Birthday: April 22, 1926

This comic actress of revues, early TV and Broadway found national fame in the 1980s playing Edna Garrett, first as a housekeeper on the NBC sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978-79 and then as the house mother and guiding figure to Tootie, Natalie, Jo and Blair on "The Facts of Life" (NBC) from 1979-86. The diminutive Charlotte Rae had a mop of reddish auburn hair, a quavery voice and a demeanor which could be ditsy, motherly, or even occasionally menacing. In the early stages of her career she usually was asked to be go…more

Full Biography

Credits

Actor

In Fashion
The Facts of Life Goes to Paris
Mrs Garrett
Words by Heart
The Facts of Life
Edna Garrett
The Rich Little Show

Music

The Facts of Life
Theme Music Performer ("The Facts of Life" (1980-81 to 1987-88 season))
The Facts of Life
Theme Music Performer ( The Facts of Life (1980-81 to 1987-88 season))
The Facts of Life
Music

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Career Milestones

2001
Acted in L.A. stage production of "True West"
2000
Had featured role of the grandmother in the Paper Mill Playhouse revival of "Pippin"
1997
Returned to big screen in cameo as fortune teller in "Nowhere"
1992
Provided voice for "Tom & Jerry: The Movie"
1979
Co-starred in "The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal" (NBC)