Sad news in today’s Dirty Laundry: Charlotte Rae, aka Mrs. Garrett from The Facts of Life sitcom, has died. She was 92.
AND I LOVED HER!
And to think they just announced a reboot!
Fun facts about Rae, according to IMDB.com:
“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.”
Also, this:
“Her eldest son Andy was autistic. She knew something was wrong since he was a baby and kept taking him to doctors who told her that she was worrying over nothing. Eventually, a doctor who diagnosed childhood cognitive disabilities told her that her son was autistic. She thought he said “artistic” and was relieved. Then, he wrote out the word “autistic” and explained to her Andy’s condition and that if he didn’t improve by age six, he would have to be institutionalized. She was devastated. But she and her husband helped Andy as much as they could, and when he grew up, he had a girlfriend Rhonda, who was also challenged, but more-functioning than him. Her mother Edna was warm, caring, and wise, and became fast friends with Charlotte. When it came time to giving Mrs. Garrett’s first name on “The Facts of Life”, Charlotte insisted to the writers that her name be Edna, because she wanted her character to have the same qualities. When she told the real Edna about it, she was very flattered and honored.”
Bye, Bye, Bye, Brady Bunch House! Lance Bass won the bid to buy the famed Brady Bunch House, but lost it once a big Hollywood studio stepped in and offered a ton more money!
And Demi Lovato released her first statement since her overdose. We really wish her all the best.