Charlotte Rae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlotte Rae
|
|
---|---|
![]() Rae at the 1988 Emmy Awards
|
|
Born |
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky
April 22, 1926 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
|
Died | August 5, 2018 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
(aged 92)
Education | |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 1952–2018 |
Known for | Edna Garrett – Diff'rent Strokes The Facts of Life |
Spouse(s) |
John Strauss
(m. 1951; div. 1976) |
Children | 2 |
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American actress and singer. Her career in entertainment lasted for over sixty years.
Rae was best known for playing Edna Garrett in the TV shows Diff'rent Strokes and its spin-off, The Facts of Life. She was the main star of The Facts of Life from 1979 to 1986. In 1982, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Comedy. She also appeared in two Facts of Life TV movies. These were The Facts of Life Goes to Paris (1982) and The Facts of Life Reunion (2001). Rae also lent her voice to characters like "Nanny" in 101 Dalmatians: The Series and Aunt Pristine Figg in Tom and Jerry: The Movie. She played Gammy Hart in Girl Meets World too.
In 2015, she acted in the movie Ricki and the Flash. She starred alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Rick Springfield. In November 2015, Rae released her autobiography, The Facts of My Life. She wrote it with her son, Larry Strauss.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky was born on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her parents, Esther and Meyer Lubotsky, were Jewish immigrants from Russia. Her father owned a tire business. Charlotte's mother, Esther, was childhood friends with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Charlotte was the middle of three sisters.
For her first ten years, Charlotte's family lived in an apartment above her father's tire store. In 1936, her parents bought a house in nearby Shorewood, Wisconsin. She finished school at Shorewood High School in 1944.
Rae went to Northwestern University but did not finish her studies there. At Northwestern, she met her friend Cloris Leachman. Years later, Leachman took over Rae's role on The Facts of Life for its last two seasons. She also met other future stars like Charlton Heston and Paul Lynde. Charlotte once said she wanted to be a serious actor. She never thought she would get into comedy. She dropped her last name, Lubotsky, because a radio person told her it wouldn't work.
Charlotte Rae's Acting Career
Early TV Roles
In 1954, Rae started her TV career on shows like Look Up and Live. She then appeared on many other variety shows. These included Armstrong Circle Theatre and The Colgate Comedy Hour.
Her first big success was on the sitcom Car 54, Where Are You? (1961–1963). She played Sylvia Schnauzer, the wife of Officer Leo Schnauzer. After this, she had roles in many other popular TV shows. Some of these were The Love Boat, The Partridge Family, and Murder, She Wrote. In 1975, she was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was for her role in the drama Queen of the Stardust Ballroom.
In 1975, Rae joined the cast of Hot l Baltimore. She played Mrs. Bellotti, a quirky character. Mrs. Bellotti would visit her unseen son Moose at the hotel. Rae also played Molly the Mail Lady on Sesame Street.
Starring in Diff'rent Strokes
In 1978, TV producer Norman Lear created the show Diff'rent Strokes. He hired Charlotte Rae for the role of the kind housekeeper, Edna Garrett. She co-starred with Conrad Bain in the first season. In one episode, Mrs. Garrett helped out at a private school for girls. This school was called East Lake, later known as Eastland. This episode became the idea for a new show.
Leading The Facts of Life
In July 1979, Rae suggested a spin-off show based on the "Girls' School" episode. NBC liked the idea, and The Facts of Life was created. The show was about Mrs. Garrett becoming a housemother for girls at a boarding school. It explored issues that teenagers face, like friendships and growing up. This show made Charlotte Rae a TV star.
The Facts of Life was not very popular at first. But after some changes to the cast and schedule, it became a big hit. The show was very successful from 1980 to 1986. In 1982, Rae was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role as Edna Garrett.
As the show continued, Rae felt the girls' characters were growing up. They didn't need Mrs. Garrett's advice as much. So, her appearances on the show were reduced. She decided to leave the series at the end of the 1985–86 season. She wanted to do more theater and travel.
Cloris Leachman, a good friend of Rae's, took over her role. Rae made her last appearance in the eighth season premiere. In that episode, Mrs. Garrett got married and moved to Africa. Leachman was introduced as Mrs. Garrett's sister, Beverly Ann Stickle. Beverly Ann then became the new mother figure for the girls. The show continued to be popular until it ended in 1988.
After The Facts of Life, Rae continued acting. In 1993, she voiced Aunt Pristine Figg in Tom and Jerry: The Movie. In 2001, Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, and Kim Fields reunited for The Facts of Life Reunion TV movie. In 2007, the cast sang the show's theme song at the TV Land Awards.
In 2008, Rae had a role in the movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan. In 2011, the entire cast of The Facts of Life reunited again. They won the Pop Culture Icon award at the TV Land Awards.
Singing and Theater Work
Singing Career
In 1955, Charlotte Rae released her only solo album, Songs I Taught My Mother. It featured funny and satirical songs. She also appeared in a musical show called The Littlest Revue in 1956.
Rae was nominated for two Tony Awards during her Broadway career. The first was in 1966 for her role in Pickwick. The second was in 1969 for Morning, Noon and Night.
Stage Performances
Charlotte Rae was a stage actress since the 1950s. She performed on Broadway in several plays. These included Three Wishes for Jamie (1952) and Li'l Abner (1956). In 1989, she played Miss Daisy in Driving Miss Daisy in Chicago.
Personal Life
Charlotte Rae married composer John Strauss in 1951. They later divorced in 1976. Strauss passed away in 2011. Rae had two sons with Strauss: Lawrence and Andrew. Andrew (1955–1999) had autism and epilepsy.
Health and Later Years
In 1982, Rae had a pacemaker put in to help her heart. This pacemaker worked for over 30 years. She later had another surgery to replace a heart valve.
In 2009, Rae was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This type of cancer had affected her family before. She received treatment and became cancer-free after six months. However, in 2017, at age 91, she was diagnosed with bone cancer.
Charlotte Rae passed away at her home in Los Angeles, California, on August 5, 2018. She was 92 years old.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1969 | Hello Down There | Myrtle Ruth | |
1970 | Jenny | Bella Star | |
1971 | Bananas | Mrs. Mellish | |
1972 | The Hot Rock | Ma Murch | |
1977 | Sidewinder 1 | Mrs. Holt | |
1978 | Rabbit Test | Cousin Claire | |
1979 | Hair | Edin the Lady in Pink | |
1986 | The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible | Noah's Wife Christine | Short film: "Noah's Ark"; voice |
1992 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie | Aunt Pristine Figg | Voice |
1993 | Thunder in Paradise | Lola Miller | Direct to video |
1997 | Nowhere | Madame Maude Rae | |
2000 | The Tangerine Bear: Home in Time for Christmas | Mrs. Edna Caruthers | Voice; direct to video |
2008 | You Don't Mess with the Zohan | Mrs. Ruthie Greenhouse | |
2008 | Christmas Cottage | Vesta | |
2012 | Love Sick Love | Edna | |
2015 | Ricki and the Flash | Oma | |
2016 | Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You | Herself | Documentary |
2018 | Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age | Herself | Documentary |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1954 | The United States Steel Hour | Ramona | |
1954–55 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Mrs. Ogburn / Party Snob | 2 episodes |
1955 | Kraft Television Theatre | ||
1955 | NBC Television Opera Theatre | Mariella | |
1955 | Appointment with Adventure | Beverly | |
1955 | The Philco Television Playhouse | ||
1955–58 | The Phil Silvers Show | Flossie / Mrs. Whitney | 2 episodes |
1958 | DuPont Show of the Month | Myrtle May | |
1959 | The World of Sholom Aleichem | Television film | |
1959 | Play of the Week | The Angel Rochele | |
1961 | Way Out | Hazel Atterbury | |
1961 | From These Roots | Hilda Furman | Unknown episodes |
1961–63 | Car 54, Where Are You? | Sylvia Schnauser / Miss Berger | 11 episodes Recurring role (Season 1–2) |
1963 | Look Up and Live | ||
1964 | The Defenders | Mrs. Abeles | |
1966 | The Journey of the Fifth Horse | Terentievna | Television film |
1966–69 | New York Television Theatre | Various roles | 3 episodes |
1968 | Pinocchio | Rosa Whale | Television film |
1970 | NET Playhouse | Episode: "Foul!" | |
1971–72 | Sesame Street | Molly the Mail Lady | Main role (Season 3) |
1972 | Temperatures Rising | Mrs. Moscowitz | |
1972 | The Partridge Family | Dr. Beecher | Episode: "You're Only Young Twice" |
1972 | McMillan & Wife | Mrs. Drake | |
1972 | Love, American Style | Edna Albertson | Segment: "Love and the Clinic" |
1972 | The Paul Lynde Show | Aunt Charlotte | 2 episodes |
1974 | Great Performances | Madame Aigreville | |
1974 | All in the Family | Miss Lillian Henderson | Episode: "Where's Archie?" |
1974 | Good Times | Ms. Rogers | Episode: "Florida's Big Gig" |
1975 | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Helen | Television film |
1975 | Hot l Baltimore | Mrs. Bellotti | 13 episodes Main cast (Season 1) |
1975 | Phyllis | Shirley | Episode: "So Lonely I Could Cry" |
1976 | Barney Miller | Mrs. Rebecca Sobel | Episode: "The Sniper" |
1976 | The Rich Little Show | Herself | 11 episodes |
1976 | All's Fair | Madge | |
1977 | Our Town | Mrs. Soames | Television film |
1978 | Szysznyk | Mrs. Dinsmore | |
1978 | Family | Nurse Rondo | Episode: "Magic" |
1978 | The Eddie Capra Mysteries | Polly | |
1978 | Flying High | Woman | Episode: "Fun Flight" |
1978–84 | Diff'rent Strokes | Edna Garrett | 37 episodes Main cast (season 1–2); guest star (Season 6) |
1979 | Beane's of Boston | Mrs. Slocombe | Episode: "Pilot" |
1979 | The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal | Bessie | Television film |
1979 | Hello, Larry | Edna Garrett | 3 episodes |
1979–86 | The Facts of Life | 155 episodes Lead role (Season 1–7); guest star (Season 8) |
|
1982–85 | The Love Boat | Ellen van Bowe | 4 episodes |
1982 | The Facts of Life Goes to Paris | Mrs. Edna Garrett | Television film |
1983 | Rosie | Aunt Gillian | Episode: "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" |
1985 | WonderWorks: Words by Heart | Mary Tom Chism | |
1986 | The Worst Witch | Miss Cackle/Agatha | Television film |
1987 | St. Elsewhere | Proud Mary | Episode: "You Again?" |
1987 | Murder, She Wrote | Nettie Harper | Episode: "Doom with a View" |
1988 | Save the Dog | Voice role; Television film | |
1989 | 227 | Millie McMillan | Episode: "Reunion Blues" |
1991 | Baby Talk | Aunt Beverly | Episode: "Once in Love with Cecil" |
1994–95 | Itsy Bitsy Spider | Adrienne Van Leydon | 26 episodes Voice role; main cast (Season 1–2) |
1994 | Thunder in Paradise | Lola | 2 episodes |
1994–95 | Sisters | Mrs. Gump | 3 episodes |
1995 | Mickey: Reelin' Through the Years | Television film | |
1995 | Can't Hurry Love | Helen | Episode: "Burning Bed" |
1996 | The Secret World of Alex Mack | Dave's Mother | |
1997–98 | 101 Dalmatians: The Series | Nanny | 43 episodes Voice role (Season 1–2) |
1999 | The Brothers Flub | Tarara Boomdeyay | Voice role 4 episodes |
2000 | Diagnosis: Murder | Estelle | Episode: "A Resting Place" |
2001 | Another Woman's Husband | Stella | Television film |
2001 | The Facts of Life Reunion | Mrs. Edna Garrett | Television film |
2004 | Strong Medicine | Maude | |
2005 | The King of Queens | Betty | |
2008 | ER | Roxanne Gaines | 4 episodes |
2009 | Life | Mary Ford | |
2011 | Pretty Little Liars | Bead shop woman | Special guest star |
2014 | Girl Meets World | Gammy Hart | Episode: "Girl Meets World of Terror" |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Location |
---|---|---|---|
1952 | Three Wishes for Jamie | Tirsa Shanahan | Plymouth Theatre |
1954 | Threepenny Opera | Mrs. Peachum | Theatre de Lys |
1954 | The Golden Apple | Mrs. Juniper | Alvin Theatre |
1956 | The Littlest Revue | Various | Phoenix Theatre |
1956 | Li'l Abner | Mammy Yokum | St. James Theatre |
1962–63 | The Beauty Part | Various | Music Box Theatre / Plymouth Theatre |
1965 | Pickwick | Mrs. Bardell | 46th Street Theatre |
1968–69 | Morning, Noon and Night | Various | Henry Miller's Theatre |
1970 | The Chinese and Dr. Fish | Charlotte Mendelsohn | Ethel Barrymore Theatre |
1971 | Boom Boom Room | Helen | Vivian Beaumont Theatre |
1989 | Driving Miss Daisy | Miss Daisy | Chicago |
1989 | Into the Woods | Jack's Mother | Ahmanson Theatre |
1990 | Happy Days | Winnie | Mark Taper Forum |
2000 | Pippin | Berthe | Paper Mill Playhouse |
Video games
Year | Title | Role |
---|---|---|
2010 | Red Dead Redemption | The Local Population |
Discography
|
Published Works
- The Facts of My Life (2015), co-written with her son, Larry Strauss
Awards and Nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1966 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actress | Pickwick | Nominated |
1969 | Tony Award | Best Actress | Morning, Noon and Night | Nominated |
1975 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Comedy or Drama | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom | Nominated |
1982 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | The Facts of Life | Nominated |
2011 | TV Land Awards | Pop Culture Award (shared with cast) | Won | |
2017 | Looking Ahead Awards | The Shirley Temple Award | Herself | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Charlotte Rae para niños