Charlotte Rae Death: Former Co-Stars Pay Tribute to 'The Facts of Life' Star

Among those remembering the late actress was former "Diff'rent Strokes" co-star Todd Bridges.

Tributes are pouring in for "The Facts of Life" star Charlotte Rae, who died on Sunday at the age of 92.

Rae, who played Mrs. Garrett on the hit show, passed away at her home in Los Angeles.

"Thank you, Charlotte, for 40 years of friendship and love," said actress Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair on "The Facts of Life."

Kim Fields, who played Tootie, added, "Sorry, no words at the moment just love and tears ... and yeah, smiles."

Actress Mindy Cohn said, "It's with a heavy heart & lots of tears (but a smile as I think of her) that I now move through the world without this incredible force of a woman being in it."

Todd Bridges, who starred in "Diff'rent Strokes" with Rae, shared a photo showing himself with the "Facts of Life" cast.

"Different Strokes would not have been the same without you #CharlotteRae,” wrote Bridges, who portrayed Willis Jackson on the show. "'My heart is full of Pain.' Rest in peace my friend."

 

The actress' career spanned six decades. She began performing stand-up comedy in the 1950s but first charmed audiences as housekeeper Edna Garrett on the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes."

The role span off into a new sitcom, "The Facts of Life." She appeared on the show for nine seasons.

"I loved that woman," she said of her character during an interview with the Television Academy Foundation. "She was such a nice lady. She was a good cook."

With her son, Larry, Rae wrote an autobiography entitled, "The Fact of My Life," and in 2016, noted she had remained close with many of her co-stars.

“I'm still close to the girls,” she said. “They're beautiful. They're beautiful. Now, it's woman to woman — not woman to children."

In 2009, she proudly shared with Inside Edition's Les Trent how she was a survivor of pancreatic cancer.

"I want everyone to know there's hope," she said.

But last year, she announced she was diagnosed with bone cancer. The beloved actress died surrounded by family and friends.

In addition to her son, Rae is survived by her sister and three grandchildren. 

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