As The Facts of Life celebrates its 45th anniversary, it’s the perfect time to catch up with the beloved cast. This iconic sitcom, a spin-off of Diff’rent Strokes, boasted an all-female lead cast and writing crew, making history as the longest-running show of its kind. Let’s see what the stars have been up to and reminisce about the roles that made them unforgettable.
1. Charlotte Rae (Edna Garrett)
Charlotte Rae played Edna Garrett, the warm and wise housemother at Eastland School. Originally appearing on Diff’rent Strokes as the Drummonds’ housekeeper, Rae made her mark as the center of The Facts of Life. After seven seasons, Rae left the show, feeling she had done all she could with the character.
Her acting career began in 1951, with roles in Car 54, Where Are You? and Sesame Street before landing her gig with Norman Lear in 1978. Later in life, she became a committed member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Charlotte Rae passed away in 2018 at the age of 92, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and warmth.
2. Lisa Whelchel (Blair Warner)
Lisa Whelchel brought sass and flair to Blair Warner, the spoiled Manhattanite who could always steal the spotlight. After her start on The New Mickey Mouse Club, she joined The Facts of Life in 1979 and remained a fan favorite throughout the series. Whelchel famously refused a controversial storyline that conflicted with her Christian beliefs, earning admiration for her convictions.
Post-Facts, Lisa released a Grammy-nominated Christian album and wrote the parenting book Creative Correction. She even appeared on Survivor: Philippines in 2012, winning fan favorite. Today, Whelchel, now 60, hosts Collector’s Call on MTV.
3. Kim Fields (Dorothy ‘Tootie’ Ramsey)
Kim Fields, just nine years old at the time, charmed audiences as Tootie, the roller-skating youngster. Fun fact: the skates were a trick to make her appear taller! Kim’s talent wasn’t limited to sitcoms—she starred in a Mrs. Butterworth commercial and later took on a lead role in the ’90s hit Living Single.
Fields, now 55, recently starred in Netflix’s The Upshaws and a string of Christmas TV movies. Off-screen, she’s been an activist, making headlines for her arrest while protesting police violence in 1999.
4. Mindy Cohn (Natalie Green)
Mindy Cohn’s Natalie Green was inspired by the real-life Mindy herself! Producers discovered her while researching the show, and she quickly became a pivotal character. Natalie’s groundbreaking final-season storyline tackled themes of growth and independence.
Mindy continued her success as the voice of Velma in the Scooby-Doo franchise from 2002 to 2015. Today, the 58-year-old stays busy with acting projects like the 2020 film A Nice Girl Like You and the audio drama Around the Sun.
5. Cloris Leachman (Beverly Ann Stickle)
Cloris Leachman joined the show as Beverly Ann Stickle, Mrs. Garrett’s sister, during its final two seasons. A veteran actress, Leachman’s career spanned decades, including her Oscar-winning role in The Last Picture Show and unforgettable performances in Young Frankenstein and Phyllis.
Sadly, Cloris passed away in 2021 at age 94. Her enormous body of work continues to inspire generations.
6. Nancy McKeon (Jo Polniaczek)
Nancy McKeon brought edge to the series as Jo Polniaczek, the street-smart tomboy from the Bronx. Inspired by Little Women and Little Darlings, Jo was the perfect foil to Blair. McKeon’s career began young, following her brother, Philip, into the industry.
Post-Facts, she starred in The Division and reunited with castmates for the 2019 Lifetime movie You Light Up My Christmas. Today, 58-year-old Nancy lives a quiet life on a ranch near Austin, Texas, with her husband and daughters.
7. Molly Ringwald (Molly Parker)
Molly Ringwald played Molly Parker in The Facts of Life’s first season before being cut during a cast shake-up. But no worries—she went on to become an ’80s icon in Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink.
Now 56, Ringwald continues acting, with recent roles in Riverdale and Netflix’s The Kissing Booth trilogy.
8. George Clooney (George Burnett)
George Clooney appeared as George Burnett, the friendly handyman in the show’s later seasons. Though his role was minor, Clooney’s career exploded post-Facts, earning two Oscars and becoming a Hollywood legend.
At 63, Clooney remains active, recently starring in Catch-22 and appearing in The Flash. He also enjoys life as a dad to twins with wife Amal Clooney.
The cast of The Facts of Life continues to entertain and inspire, reminding us why we all loved “learning the facts of life.”
