About
"The Facts of Life was about growing up, family, love. And working our problems. I had a lot of input with issues like suicide, divorce, death. I’m really very proud."
In her two-hour interview, Charlotte Rae (1926-2018) talks about her early life, including majoring in drama in Northwestern, and appearing on Broadway in The Threepenny Opera. She recalls early television roles, including on The Phil Silvers Show, and her role as “Sylvia Schanuser” on Car 54, Where Are You?, the classic comedy series created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis. She speaks of guest-starring roles on All in the Family, a semi-regular role on Hot L Baltimore, and landing the role of “Mrs. Garrett," the maid for the Drummond family, on Diff’rent Strokes. She details spinning off her Diff’rent Stokes character (now known as “Edna Garrett”) for the long running series The Facts of Life. Rae describes her seven-year run on that show, including her co-stars, the development of her character over the years, and her Emmy nomination. She concludes by talking about how roles for women on television have changed over the years, her mentors, and how she’d like to be remembered. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on November 10, 2016 in Westwood, CA.
Highlights
Charlotte Rae on how she came to be cast as "Mrs. Garrett" on Diff'rent Strokes
Charlotte Rae on guest-starring on All in the Family, and on working with Jean Stapleton on the show
Charlotte Rae on attending Northwestern and majoring in drama along with fellow student Paul Lynde
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?, created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis and Joe E. Ross
Charlotte Rae on developing the role of "Edna Garrett" on The Facts of Life over the years
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on her early interest in drama; on attending Northwestern and majoring in drama along with fellow student Paul Lynde
On her first television job singing weekly on The DuMont Television Network, while she was appearing on Broadway in "The Threepenny Opera" and rehearsing for "The Pajama Game"; on her first New York apartment, and on having Cloris Leachman as a roommate
On various live television bloopers she witnessed or was involved in; on her experience with the Hollywood Blacklist; on guest-starring on The Phil Silvers Show, and co-starring as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?
On performing on The Ed Sullivan Show; on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on many shows, and on guest-starring on All in the Family; on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Chapter 2
On working with Milton Berle on The Jackie Gleason Show; on how she came to be cast as "Mrs. Garrett" on Diff'rent Strokes; on Gary Coleman as "Arnold Drummond" on Diff'rent Strokes
On her transition from Diff'rent Strokes to the spin-off The Facts of Life; on the premise of The Facts of Life, and on how the character of "Edna Garrett" changed from Diff'rent Strokes to The Facts of Life; on the original cast of girls on The Facts of Life, and on recommending the producers cast Mindy Cohn as "Natalie Green"
On Geri Jewell as "Cousin Geri" on The Facts of Life; on developing the role of "Edna Garrett" on The Facts of Life over the years; on her personal relationship with the actresses who played the girls on The Facts of Life, and on being recognized from the show
On the weight issues of the girls on The Facts of Life, how she felt about the development of her character on the show, and her decision to leave; on working with director John Bowab on The Facts of Life; on the shooting schedule of The Facts of Life, and on being recognized from the show
On being nominated for an Emmy for The Facts of Life, and on leaving the show; on the legacy of The Facts of Life, and on her post-Facts of Life roles; on what she likes about acting
On how roles for women on television have changed over the years, and on how television has changed since she started; on mentors in her career; on advice to aspiring actors, and on how she'd like to be remembered
Shows
All in the Family
Charlotte Rae on guest-starring on All in the Family, and on working with Jean Stapleton on the show
Appointment with Adventure
Charlotte Rae on a blooper she witnessed on The Ed Sullivan Show, and on a blooper she was involved with on Appointment With Adventure
Car 54, Where Are You?
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?, created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis and Joe E. Ross
Diff'rent Strokes
Charlotte Rae on how she came to be cast as "Mrs. Garrett" on Diff'rent Strokes
Charlotte Rae on Gary Coleman as "Arnold Drummond" on Diff'rent Strokes
Charlotte Rae on her transition from Diff'rent Strokes to the spin-off, The Facts of Life
DuPont Show of the Month, The
Charlotte Rae on a blooper she was involved with on The DuPont Show of the Month
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Charlotte Rae on a blooper she witnessed on The Ed Sullivan Show, and on a blooper she was involved with on Appointment With Adventure
Charlotte Rae on performing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)
Charlotte Rae on being nominated for an Emmy for The Facts of Life, and on leaving the show
Facts of Life, The
Charlotte Rae on her transition from Diff'rent Strokes to the spin-off, The Facts of Life
Charlotte Rae on the premise of The Facts of Life, and on how the character of "Edna Garrett" changed from Diff'rent Strokes to The Facts of Life
Charlotte Rae on the original cast of girls on The Facts of Life, and on recommending the producers cast Mindy Cohn as "Natalie Green"
Charlotte Rae on Geri Jewell as "Cousin Geri" on The Facts of Life
Charlotte Rae on developing the role of "Edna Garrett" on The Facts of Life over the years
Charlotte Rae on her personal relationship with the actresses who played the girls on The Facts of Life, and on being recognized from the show
Charlotte Rae on the weight issues of the girls on The Facts of Life, how she felt about the development of her character on the show, and her decision to leave
Charlotte Rae on working with director John Bowab on The Facts of Life
Charlotte Rae on the shooting schedule of The Facts of Life, and on being recognized from the show
Charlotte Rae on being nominated for an Emmy for The Facts of Life, and on leaving the show
Charlotte Rae on the legacy of The Facts of Life, and on her post-Facts of Life roles
Hot L Baltimore
Charlotte Rae on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman because of Louise Lasser
Jackie Gleason Show, The
Charlotte Rae on working with Milton Berle on The Jackie Gleason Show
Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Charlotte Rae on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman because of Louise Lasser
McMillan & Wife
Charlotte Rae on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on many shows, including McMillian & Wife and The Partridge Family
Partridge Family, The
Charlotte Rae on moving to Los Angeles and appearing on many shows, including McMillian & Wife and The Partridge Family
Phil Silvers Show, The aka You'll Never Get Rich aka Sergeant Bilko
Charlotte Rae on guest-starring on The Phil Silvers Show
Sesame Street
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Molly the Mail Lady" on Sesame Street
Topics
Advice
Charlotte Rae on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered
Bloopers
Charlotte Rae on a blooper she witnessed on The Ed Sullivan Show, and on a blooper she was involved with on Appointment With Adventure
Charlotte Rae on a blooper she was involved with on The DuPont Show of the Month
Creative Influences and Inspiration
Charlotte Rae on mentors in her career
Emmy Awards
Charlotte Rae on being nominated for an Emmy for The Facts of Life, and on leaving the show
Hollywood Blacklist
Charlotte Rae on her experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Industry Crossroads
Charlotte Rae on her experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Pivotal Career Moments
Charlotte Rae on mentors in her career
Representation on Television
Charlotte Rae on how roles for women on television have changed over the years, and on how television has changed since she started
Television Industry
Charlotte Rae on her experience with the Hollywood Blacklist
Charlotte Rae on how roles for women on television have changed over the years, and on how television has changed since she started
Charlotte Rae on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered
Women
Charlotte Rae on how roles for women on television have changed over the years, and on how television has changed since she started
Professions
Actress
Charlotte Rae on what she likes about acting
Charlotte Rae on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered
Performers
Charlotte Rae on what she likes about acting
Charlotte Rae on advice to aspiring actors, and how she'd like to be remembered
Genres
Children's Programming
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Molly the Mail Lady" on Sesame Street
Comedy Series
Charlotte Rae on guest-starring on The Phil Silvers Show
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?, created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis and Joe E. Ross
Charlotte Rae on guest-starring on All in the Family, and on working with Jean Stapleton on the show
Charlotte Rae on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman
Charlotte Rae on playing "Mrs. Garrett" on Diff'rent Strokes
Charlotte Rae on playing "Edna Garrett" on The Facts of Life
Commercials
Charlotte Rae on appearing in several commercials in the '60s and '70s
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Charlotte Rae on performing on The Ed Sullivan Show
Charlotte Rae on working with Milton Berle on The Jackie Gleason Show
People
Milton Berle
Charlotte Rae on working with Milton Berle on The Jackie Gleason Show
Gary Coleman
Charlotte Rae on Gary Coleman as "Arnold Drummond" on Diff'rent Strokes
Jackie Gleason
Charlotte Rae on working with Milton Berle on The Jackie Gleason Show
Nat Hiken
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?, created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis and Joe E. Ross
Geri Jewell
Charlotte Rae on Geri Jewell as "Cousin Geri" on The Facts of Life
Louise Lasser
Charlotte Rae on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman because of Louise Lasser
Cloris Leachman
Charlotte Rae on her first New York apartment, and on having Cloris Leachman as a roommate
Norman Lear
Charlotte Rae on becoming a regular on Norman Lear's Hot L Baltimore, and declining a role on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman because of Louise Lasser
Al Lewis
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?, created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis and Joe E. Ross
Paul Lynde
Charlotte Rae on attending Northwestern and majoring in drama along with fellow student Paul Lynde
Joe E. Ross
Charlotte Rae on appearing as "Sylvia Schnauser" on Car 54, Where Are You?, created by Nat Hiken and co-starring Al Lewis and Joe E. Ross
Jean Stapleton
Charlotte Rae on guest-starring on All in the Family, and on working with Jean Stapleton on the show