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Charlotte Rae
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American character actress and singer whose career spanned a remarkable sixty-six years. Rae charmed audiences with her indelible portrayals of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff’rent Strokes and its spin-off, The Facts of Life, where she starred from 1979 to 1986 and even earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy in 1982.
Rae also made her mark in two Facts of Life TV films: The Facts of Life Goes to Paris in 1982 and The Facts of Life Reunion in 2001. Not to be pigeonholed, she lent her voice as Nanny in 101 Dalmatians: The Series and Aunt Pristine Figg in Tom and Jerry: The Movie. Later generations might remember her as Gammy Hart in Girl Meets World.
In 2015, she made a silver screen comeback in the feature film Ricki and the Flash, starring alongside Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Rick Springfield. That same year, Rae released her autobiography, The Facts of My Life, co-written with her son, Larry Strauss.
Early Life
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky was born on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Russian Jewish immigrants. Her father, Meyer, owned a retail tire business, and her mother, Esther, was childhood friends with none other than Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. Rae grew up the middle child among three sisters, and for the first decade of her life, the family lived in an apartment above her father’s tire store. In 1936, the family moved to a home in Shorewood, Wisconsin, where Rae graduated from Shorewood High School in 1944.
Rae briefly attended Northwestern University, where she crossed paths with future stars like Charlton Heston and Paul Lynde. Despite not completing her studies, Rae clearly made lasting relationships. Fun fact: Rae initially aimed for a serious dramatic career. Who could’ve guessed she’d end up making us laugh so much?
Career
Acting
Charlotte Rae did not waste any time stepping into the limelight. Her TV debut came in 1954 with roles in Look Up and Live and The United States Steel Hour. This was just the beginning of her myriad appearances on variety shows and sitcoms like Car 54, Where Are You?, Temperatures Rising, The Love Boat, and Barney Miller. She even had a stint as Molly the Mail Lady on Sesame Street.
But it was her role as Edna Garrett in Diff’rent Strokes that catapulted her to fame. Creator Norman Lear recognized her talent and cast her immediately. Edna Garrett became a beloved character, and Rae starred in 24 episodes of the show’s first season. This paved the way for what would become her most iconic role in The Facts of Life.
The Facts of Life
In July 1979, Rae pitched the idea for a spinoff based on an episode of Diff’rent Strokes. NBC loved it, and The Facts of Life was born. The show tackled pressing teenage issues like dieting, depression, and drug use. It wasn’t smooth sailing from the start, with marginal ratings and cast changes, but over time, the show became a ratings winner.
Rae’s portrayal of Edna Garrett earned her an Emmy nomination in 1982. Interestingly, Rae went on a stringent diet between seasons and lost a significant amount of weight, which was mirrored in her character. As seasons progressed, Rae’s need to impart constant wisdom lessened; the girls were growing up.
Rae eventually decided to leave the series but not before making her final appearance in the eighth-season premiere. She was succeeded by Academy Award-winner Cloris Leachman, her old friend from Northwestern. The show continued strong until 1988.
Life After The Facts of Life
After her departure, Rae didn’t slow down. She voiced Aunt Pristine Figg in Tom and Jerry: The Movie and starred as Berthe in a 2000 production of Pippin. In 2001, she reunited with the cast for The Facts of Life Reunion. In 2008, she had a humorous role opposite Adam Sandler in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.
Rae candidly spoke about the pressures faced by young actresses in The Facts of Life. She was against the show’s off-stage scale used to weigh the girls, believing it induced more stress and counterproductive eating.
Personal Life
Charlotte Rae married composer John Strauss in 1951. The couple had two sons, Lawrence and Andrew. In the mid-1970s, Strauss came out as bisexual, leading to their divorce in 1976. Sadly, Andrew passed away in 1999, and Strauss died in 2011.
Health Issues and Passing
Rae faced numerous health challenges, including surgery for pacemaker replacement and heart valve issues. She battled and overcame pancreatic cancer in 2009. However, in 2017, she was diagnosed with bone cancer at age 91.
Charlotte Rae passed away at her home in Los Angeles on August 5, 2018. She was 92. Her incredible career and indomitable spirit continue to inspire.
Conclusion
From her early knocks on the door of showbiz to her enduring legacy as Edna Garrett, Charlotte Rae’s life was one of laughter, resilience, and relentless passion. Here’s to the nanny who taught us essential life lessons both on and off the screen.
