Sad news for all of you Facts of Life and Diff’rent Strokes fans–loveable character actress Charlotte Rae has passed away. According to her son, she died on Sunday, August 5th at the age of 92. Sadly, her death comes after a long bout of illnesses, including several different types of cancer and heart disease.

If you’re a child of the 1980’s, then you likely remember Rae for playing the iconic character of Edna Garrett, a figure that became so popular and beloved by viewers when she first debuted in 1978 on Diff’rent Strokes, that producers decided to make her one of the stars of The Facts of Life, spin-off series. How’s that for influential?

While the incredible Charlotte Rae might have been just another part of your regular TV viewing schedule growing up, chances are you don’t know too much about the veteran actress’ six-decade career in show business. Let’s take a look at some of the late performer’s most notable credits and contributions to her craft…

1. She planted her performing roots on the Great White Way

   Charlotte grew up on a Wisconsin farm, far away from the bright lights of the city, but that didn’t stop her from going after her dream of performing. After a short stint at Northwestern University, the budding actress turned her sights to Broadway. Apparently, it was a great move–by 1969 she had already been nominated for two Tonys!

2. ..then she took on Hollywood

   After her Broadway success, the comedic actress became a favorite of ’70s sitcom writers, particularly Norman Lear. After becoming a fan-favorite on Diff’rent Strokes, Lear gave Rae her very own starring role in a sitcom, on the iconic, Facts Of Life.

3. She used her influence to help a young actress

   As the story goes, when Norman Lear was first laying the groundwork for the Facts of Life, Rae happened upon Mindy Cohn, a student at the Westlake School in suburban Los Angeles. The veteran actress was so taken by Cohn’s bubbly personality, she convinced producers to create a co-starring role for the unknown actress. Rae even named the character, Natalie Green, as a tribute to her best friend from high school by the same name.

4. Her career didn’t stop when Facts of Life ended

   Quite the opposite, in fact. After she departed the sitcom in 1986, she continued to work in show business for another three decades. Rae appeared as a guest star on a slew of popular shows, including Murder She Wrote, ER, Pretty Little Liars, and Girl Meets World, just to name a few.

Whether or not you’re a fan of her work, you HAVE to be impressed by Rae’s incredible life! To learn even more about the actress and to see clips of her playing the beloved Edna Garrett, be sure to watch the video below. She will be missed!

We’d love to hear your thoughts on Charlotte Rae’s passing. Were you a fan of hers? What’s your all-time favorite Charlotte Rae role? What was your favorite TV sitcom to watch growing up?

Source: IMDB