Charlotte Rae (born April 22 1926) is an American actress and singer known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life, in which she appeared from 1979 until 1986. She received a Best Actress Emmy Nomination in a comedy in 1982. She also appeared in two Facts of Life television movies, one in 1982, and the second one, a reunion film, in 2001.
Knew Jeffrey Hunter (I) through their work in local theater as teenagers.
Attended Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).
Charlotte divorced her husband, composer John Strauss (I), before starting "Diff'rent Strokes" (1978). Her only child, Larry, is a south Central L.A. teacher.
Starred in "Pippin" at the New Jersey Paper Mill Playhouse.
Created the role of Mammy Yokum in the Broadway musical "Lil' Abner".
Middle daughter of three musical girls. Older sister Beverly, an opera singer, died of cancer a few years ago. Younger sister Mimi is a musician and composer.
Discovered young Mindy Cohn for "Facts of Life, The" (1979) show while Rae and the TV show were at an all-girls school preparing for research and casting. Rae was instrumental in getting young student Cohn cast.
Member of Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority.
Was twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award: in 1966, as Best Supporting or Featured Actress (Musical) for "Pickwick" (based on the Charles Dickens work), and in 1969, as Best Actress (Dramatic) for "Morning, Noon, and Night".
Her classmates at Northwestern University included Cloris Leachman, Paul Lynde, Charlton Heston, Martha Hyer, Patricia Neal and Agnes Nixon. Because they were seated alphabetically and her last name was Lubotsky, she & Lynde were seated next to each other.
