Overview

Mini Bio

Charlotte Rae is best remembered for her role as Edna Garrett, the warm and wise housemother at the Eastland School for Girls in the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life (1979-1988). Her portrayal of a nurturing, understanding authority figure who guided her young charges through the challenges of adolescence made Mrs. Garrett one of the most beloved characters in 1980s American television.

...Rae had originated the role of Edna Garrett in Diff'rent Strokes before the character was spun off into The Facts of Life. After leaving the series in 1986, she continued to work in theatre, film, and television. She was open about her personal struggles and wrote a memoir about her life. She passed away in August 2018, remembered fondly by generations of viewers who grew up watching The Facts of Life.