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Charlotte Rae
Actor
Born April 22, 1926Died August 5, 2018 (92 years)
Charlotte Rae Lubotsky (April 22, 1926 – August 5, 2018) was an American actress and singer. On screen, Rae was best known for her portrayal of Edna Garrett in the sitcoms Diff'rent Strokes and its spin-off, The Facts of Life.
She was born to Russian Jewish immigrants Esther (née Ottenstein), who was a childhood friend of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and Meyer Lubotsky, a retail tire business owner. She was one of three sisters, along with Miriam and the late Beverly (December 21, 1921 – June 2, 1998).
She graduated from Shorewood High School in 1944. For the first ten years or so of her life, Rae's family lived in Milwaukee, then moved to Shorewood, Wisconsin. She did radio work and was with the Wauwatosa Children's Theatre. At 16, she was an apprentice with the Port Players, a professional theater company that came for the summer to Milwaukee, with several established actors such as Morton DaCosta, who would eventually direct The Music Man on Broadway.
Rae attended Northwestern University, although she did not complete her studies, where she met Cloris Leachman, who many years later succeeded Rae on The Facts of Life for the show's last two seasons. At Northwestern she met several unknown stars and producers, including Agnes Nixon, Charlton Heston, Paul Lynde, Gerald Freedman, Claude Akins and songwriter Sheldon Harnick. When a radio personality told her that her last name wouldn't do, she dropped it, to her father's chagrin. She moved to New York City in 1948, where she performed in the theater and nightclubs. During her early years in New York, she worked at the Village Vanguard (alongside up-and-coming talents such as singer Richard Dyer-Bennet) and at the posh Blue Angel, home to budding talents Barbra Streisand, Mike Nichols and Elaine May. She moved to Los Angeles in 1974.
She was born to Russian Jewish immigrants Esther (née Ottenstein), who was a childhood friend of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and Meyer Lubotsky, a retail tire business owner. She was one of three sisters, along with Miriam and the late Beverly (December 21, 1921 – June 2, 1998).
She graduated from Shorewood High School in 1944. For the first ten years or so of her life, Rae's family lived in Milwaukee, then moved to Shorewood, Wisconsin. She did radio work and was with the Wauwatosa Children's Theatre. At 16, she was an apprentice with the Port Players, a professional theater company that came for the summer to Milwaukee, with several established actors such as Morton DaCosta, who would eventually direct The Music Man on Broadway.
Rae attended Northwestern University, although she did not complete her studies, where she met Cloris Leachman, who many years later succeeded Rae on The Facts of Life for the show's last two seasons. At Northwestern she met several unknown stars and producers, including Agnes Nixon, Charlton Heston, Paul Lynde, Gerald Freedman, Claude Akins and songwriter Sheldon Harnick. When a radio personality told her that her last name wouldn't do, she dropped it, to her father's chagrin. She moved to New York City in 1948, where she performed in the theater and nightclubs. During her early years in New York, she worked at the Village Vanguard (alongside up-and-coming talents such as singer Richard Dyer-Bennet) and at the posh Blue Angel, home to budding talents Barbra Streisand, Mike Nichols and Elaine May. She moved to Los Angeles in 1974.
Movies & Shows on Plex
Charlotte Rae Filmography
| 2015 | Ricki and the Flash · as Oma |
| 2014 | Girl Meets World (TV Series) · as Gammy Hart |
| 2012 | Love Sick Love · as Edna |
| 2010 | Pretty Little Liars (TV Series) · as Bead Boutique Owner |
| 2008 | Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage · as Vesta |
| 2008 | You Don't Mess with the Zohan · as Mrs. Greenhouse |
| 2008 | Disney's Christmas Favorites · as Nanny |
| 2007 | Life (2007) (TV Series) · as Mary Ford |
| 2001 | The Facts of Life Reunion · as Mrs. Edna Garrett |
| 2000 | The Tangerine Bear · as Mrs. Caruthers (voice) |
| 2000 | Strong Medicine (TV Series) · as Maude |
| 2000 | Another Woman's Husband · as Stella |
| 1999 | The Return of Alex Kelly · as Cast |
| 1998 | The King of Queens (TV Series) · as Betty |
| 1997 | The Wonderful World of Disney (TV Series) |
| 1997 | Michael Hayes (TV Series) · as Bea Dictor |
| 1997 | 101 Dalmatians: The Series (TV Series) · as Nanny (voice) |
| 1997 | Nowhere · as Fortune Teller |
| 1997 | The Brothers Flub (TV Series) · as Tarara Boomdeeyay (voice) |
| 1996 | E! True Hollywood Story (TV Series) |
| 1995 | Can't Hurry Love (TV Series) · as Helen |
| 1994 | The Itsy Bitsy Spider (TV Series) · as Adrienne |
| 1994 | The Secret World of Alex Mack (TV Series) |
| 1994 | ER (TV Series) · as Roxanne Gaines |
| 1994 | Thunder in Paradise (TV Series) |
| 1993 | Diagnosis Murder (TV Series) · as Estelle |
| 1993 | Thunder in Paradise · as Lola Miller |
| 1992 | Tom and Jerry: The Movie · as Aunt Figg (voice) |
| 1991 | |
| 1991 | Baby Talk (TV Series) |
| 1988 | |
| 1986 | The Worst Witch · as Miss Cackle / Agatha |
| 1985 | The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible (TV Series) · as Noah's Wife |
| 1985 | 227 (TV Series) |
| 1985 | Words by Heart · as Mary Tom Chism |
| 1984 | Wonderworks (TV Series) · as Mary Tom Chism |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) · as Nettie Harper |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere (TV Series) |
| 1982 | The Facts of Life Goes to Paris · as Edna Garrett |
| 1979 | The Facts of Life (TV Series) · as Edna Garrett |
| 1979 | Beane's of Boston · as Mae Slocombe |
| 1979 | Hair · as Lady In Pink |
| 1979 | The Triangle Factory Fire Scandal · as Bessie |
| 1979 | Hello, Larry (TV Series) · as Edna Garrett |
| 1978 | Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) · as Edna Garrett |
| 1978 | The Eddie Capra Mysteries (TV Series) · as Polly Ryan |
| 1978 | Flying High (TV Series) |
| 1978 | Rabbit Test · as Cousin Claire |
| 1977 | Sidewinder 1 · as Mrs. Holt |
| 1977 | Our Town · as Mrs. Soames |
| 1977 | The Love Boat (TV Series) · as Ellen Van Bowe |
| 1976 | C.P.O. Sharkey (TV Series) · as Mrs. Stanley |
| 1976 | All's Fair (TV Series) |
| 1976 | Family (TV Series) |
| 1975 | Phyllis (TV Series) · as Shirley |
| 1975 | Queen of the Stardust Ballroom · as Helen |
| 1975 | Hot L Baltimore (TV Series) |
| 1975 | Barney Miller (TV Series) · as Mrs. Rebecca Sobel |
| 1974 | Good Times (TV Series) |
| 1972 | The Paul Lynde Show (TV Series) · as Charlotte |
| 1972 | Temperatures Rising (TV Series) · as Mrs. Moscowitz |
| 1972 | The Hot Rock · as Ma Murch |
| 1971 | McMillan and Wife (TV Series) |
| 1971 | Bananas · as Mrs. Ruth Mellish |
| 1971 | Great Performances (TV Series) · as Madame Aigreville |
| 1971 | All in the Family (TV Series) · as Lillian Henderson |
| 1970 | The Partridge Family (TV Series) · as Dr. Beecher |
| 1970 | Jenny · as Bella Star |
| 1969 | Love, American Style (TV Series) |
| 1969 | Sesame Street (TV Series) · as Molly The Mail Lady |
| 1969 | Hello Down There · as Myrtle Ruth |
| 1966 | The Journey of the Fifth Horse · as Terentievna |
| 1966 | The Jackie Gleason Show (1966) (TV Series) · as Madame Du Bois |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 (TV Series) · as Woman In Window |
| 1964 | NET Playhouse (TV Series) · as (segment "foul!") |
| 1961 | Car 54, Where Are You? (TV Series) · as Sylvia Schnauser |
| 1961 | The DuPont Show of the Week (TV Series) · as Mona Brinkman |
| 1961 | The Defenders (TV Series) · as Mrs. Abeles |
| 1961 | Way Out (TV Series) |
| 1959 | The Play of the Week (TV Series) |
| 1959 | The Bell Telephone Hour (TV Series) |
| 1957 | The DuPont Show of the Month (TV Series) · as Myrtle May |
| 1955 | The Phil Silvers Show (TV Series) · as Flossie |
| 1953 | The United States Steel Hour (TV Series) |
| 1953 | Ponds Theater (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall Of Fame (TV Series) |
| 1950 | The Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) · as Mrs. Ogburn |
| 1948 | The Philco Television Playhouse (TV Series) |
| 2021 | Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age · as Self |
| 2019 | The 73rd Annual Tony Awards · as Self - In Memoriam |
| 2016 | Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You · as Self |
| 2015 | She's the Best Thing in It · as Self |
| 2012 | Home & Family (TV Series) · as Self |
| 2010 | Access Hollyood Live (TV Series) · as Self - Author, The Facts Of My Life |
| 2004 | The 2nd Annual TV Land Awards · as Self |
| 1998 | E! Mysteries & Scandals (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1994 | WGN Morning News (TV Series) · as Self - Phone Interview |
| 1990 | Intimate Portrait (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1987 | Biography (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1986 | The New Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1986 | NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration · as Self |
| 1985 | American Masters (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1985 | Night of 100 Stars II · as Self |
| 1983 | Star Search (TV Series) · as Self - Introducer |
| 1982 | The 34th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards · as Self - Nominee |
| 1982 | |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars · as Self |
| 1981 | Entertainment Tonight (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1980 | Hour Magazine (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1978 | Secret Story Habboin: Final Challenge (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1975 | Good Morning America (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1974 | Dinah! (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1969 | The 23rd Annual Tony Awards · as Self |
| 1968 | That Show with Joan Rivers (TV Series) · as Self - Guest |
| 1966 | The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1965 | The Hollywood Squares (TV Series) · as Self - Panelist |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) · as Self - Comic Actress |
| 1958 | Garry Moore Show (TV Series) · as Self - Guest Appearance |
| 1957 | The Jack Paar Tonight Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1954 | Camera Three (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1950 | The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) · as Self - Comic Actress |
| 1950 | The Bob Hope Show (TV Series) · as Self |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) · as Self |