Charlotte Rae

Charlotte Rae - Actresses, Career and Facts

Violet FieldHome › AmericanCharlotte RaeApril 22, 1926334 views

0 based on 0 rates
Charlotte Rae Biography Stories 

Charlotte Rae's Personal Details

Charlotte Rae was an American actress, comedian and singer

InformationDetail
BirthdayApril 22, 1926
Died onAugust 5, 2018
NationalityAmerican
FamousFilm & Theater Personalities, Actresses, Stand-up Comedians
City/StateWisconsin
SpousesJohn Strauss (m. 1951; div. 1976)
Known asCharlotte Rae Lubotsky
ChildrensAndrew Strauss, Larry Strauss
Universities
  • Northwestern University
  • University of Southern California
  • Northwestern University School of Communication
  • Shorewood High School
Birth PlaceMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Height152
GenderFemale
FatherMeyer Lubotsky
MotherEsther Lubotsky
Sun SignTaurus
Born inMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Famous asActress
Died at Age92

// Famous Film & Theater Personalities

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.

Charlotte Rae's photo

Who is Charlotte Rae?

Charlotte Rae Lubotsky was an American actress, comedian and singer. Best known for her portrayal of “Edna Garrett” in the TV show ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ and ‘The Facts of Life’, Charlotte started her career as a stand-up comedian in the night clubs of New York during 1940s. Though she liked performing the stand-up acts, her long-term dream had always been to become an actress. Her first break as an actress came when she was offered a role in Broadway musical comedy, ‘Three Wishes for Jamie’ in 1952. She continued working for Broadway musicals and while doing so, she also released her first song album called ‘Songs I Taught My Mother’ which was composed by her husband John Strauss. Soon she started getting offers to appear as guest star on multiple TV shows and in 1961, she landed her first regular TV show, ‘Car 54, Where Are You?’. She made a comeback to the Broadway arena in 1963 and earned a Tony nomination for her performance in ‘Pickwick’. Her biggest break came when she was offered the role of Edna Garret” in the sitcom ‘Diff’rent Strokes’. Her performance resonated with audience at such a level that her character got a show of its own, ‘The Facts of Life’. She played the role of “Edna Garrett” for 7 years and earned Primetime Emmy nomination for it. After leaving ‘The Facts of Life’ Rae appeared as a guest actor on multiple TV shows and gave her voice to Animation projects such as ‘Tom and Jerry: The Movie’ and ‘101 Dalmatians: The Series’. She released her autobiography titled ‘The Facts of My Life’, in 2015.

// Famous Actresses

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.

Riele Downs

Riele Downs

Riele Downs is a Canadian-American actress & Musical.ly star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life including age, birthday, net worth, boyfriends and fun facts.

Kaylee Quinn

Kaylee Quinn

Kaylee Quinn is an American dancer, model, and actress. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.

Childhood & Early Life

Charlotte Rae was born on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Esther and Meyer Lubotsky. Her father had a retail tire business. Rae was second of her parent’s three children. She had an elder sister named Beverly and younger sister named Miriam

After spending her first 10 years in Milwaukee, Rae moved with her parents to Shorewood, Wisconsin. She attended Shorewood high school while doing radio work and working for Wauwatosa Children’s theatre. She graduated from Shorewood high school in 1944

Thereafter, she attended Northwestern University, Chicago. However, she didn’t complete her studies and moved to New York in 1948 where she performed in nightclubs and theatre

Career

Charlotte Rae’s first break came in the year 1952, when she got a chance to work in a Broadway musical comedy called ‘Three Wishes for Jamie’. Her Broadway journey continued with projects like ‘Threepenny Opera’ and ‘Lil' Abner’

In 1955, Rae released her first album of satirical songs called ‘Songs I Taught My Mother’. The lyrics were written by her college friend and lyricist, Sheldon Harnick, and the music was composed by her husband John Strauss

Though she had been appearing on television through her guest appearances in many famous TV show, her first regular TV show was ‘Car 54, Where Are You?’. However, success still eluded her, so she went back to the Broadway and was soon nominated for Tony Award for best actress for her performance in ‘Pickwick’ in 1965

Rae got her biggest break in 1978 when she was cast to play the role of “Edna Garrett” in a new series called ‘Diff'rent Strokes’. Her character became so popular among the audience that NBC decided to give her own TV show which ultimately became the most successful series of Rae’s career, the series was called ‘The Facts of Life’ and she played the character of “Edna Garrett” for six seasons (1979-1986) until she had to leave the show due to health concerns

Rae’s favorite stage experience came in 1990, when she got a chance to play the character of “Winnie” in Samuel Beckett’s play, ‘Happy Days’. Rae had always dreamed to be a dramatic actress and this role helped her in making it a reality.

In 1992, Rae voiced the character of "Aunt Christine Figg" in ‘The Tom and Jerry Movie’ and later in 1997 she voiced “Nanny” in the TV series ‘101 Dalmatians: The Series’.

Rae continued appearing as guest actor on numerous TV shows and worked in a few TV films like ‘Crime in Connecticut: The Alex Kelly Story’ which was released in 1999.

In 2001, Rae was reunited with her co-stars from ‘The Facts of Life’ to reprise her role of “Edna Garrett” one more time in the TV movie ‘The Facts of Life Reunion’. The movie managed a decent rating of 7.1 and a healthy viewer count of 11.5 million.

Owing to her deteriorating health and old age, Rae’s later career was limited to playing minor roles in movies like ‘You Don't Mess with the Zohan’ and TV series like ‘King of Queens’, ‘Strong Medicine’. Her LASTproject was an American comedy-drama film ‘Ricki and the Flash’ where she worked with Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Rick Springfield. The movie was released in 2015.

In November 2015, Rae launched her Autobiography, ‘The Facts of My Life’. She co-wrote her autobiography with her son, Larry Strauss.

Major Works

‘The Facts of Life’ was the most successful work of Rae’s career and it made her a household name. The show revolved around “Edna Garrett” who works as a housemother at the fictional Eastland School which is an all-female boarding school. The show dealt with important social issues of 1980s like depression, drugs, alcohol, peer pressure etc.

’The Facts of Life’ was ranked as one of the top 10 shows for teenagers in 1988 by ‘USA Today’, an American daily newspaper.

Personal Life & Legacy

Charlotte Rae married music composer John Strauss in 1951. The marriage lasted for 25 years and the couple divorced in 1976 after John came out as a bisexual. The couple had two children, Larry and Andrew Strauss.

In 2017, Rae announced to the world that she has been detected with bone cancer at the age of 91. She had already been detected with pancreatic cancer seven years ago, which was treated through chemotherapy.

She died on August 5, 2018, at the age of 92, in Los Angeles, California.

// Famous Stand-up Comedians

Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson is an English actor and screenwriter, famous for his work in ‘Mr. Bean’ and ‘Blackadder’. This biography profiles his childhood, life, acting career, achievements and timeline.

Jack Dee

Jack Dee

Jack Dee is an English stand-up comedian, actor and writer. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline.

Deshae Frost

Deshae Frost

Deshae Frost is an American stand-up comedian and actor. Let’s have a look at his childhood, family, personal life, etc.

Charlotte Rae biography timelines

  • // 22nd Apr 1926
    Charlotte Rae was born on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Esther and Meyer Lubotsky. Her father had a retail tire business. Rae was second of her parent’s three children. She had an elder sister named Beverly and younger sister named Miriam
  • // 1944
    After spending her first 10 years in Milwaukee, Rae moved with her parents to Shorewood, Wisconsin. She attended Shorewood high school while doing radio work and working for Wauwatosa Children’s theatre. She graduated from Shorewood high school in 1944
  • // 1948
    Thereafter, she attended Northwestern University, Chicago. However, she didn’t complete her studies and moved to New York in 1948 where she performed in nightclubs and theatre
  • // 1951 To 1976
    Charlotte Rae married music composer John Strauss in 1951. The marriage lasted for 25 years and the couple divorced in 1976 after John came out as a bisexual. The couple had two children, Larry and Andrew Strauss.
  • // 1952
    Charlotte Rae’s first break came in the year 1952, when she got a chance to work in a Broadway musical comedy called ‘Three Wishes for Jamie’. Her Broadway journey continued with projects like ‘Threepenny Opera’ and ‘Lil' Abner’
  • // 1955
    In 1955, Rae released her first album of satirical songs called ‘Songs I Taught My Mother’. The lyrics were written by her college friend and lyricist, Sheldon Harnick, and the music was composed by her husband John Strauss
  • // 1965
    Though she had been appearing on television through her guest appearances in many famous TV show, her first regular TV show was ‘Car 54, Where Are You?’. However, success still eluded her, so she went back to the Broadway and was soon nominated for Tony Award for best actress for her performance in ‘Pickwick’ in 1965
  • // 1988
    ’The Facts of Life’ was ranked as one of the top 10 shows for teenagers in 1988 by ‘USA Today’, an American daily newspaper.
  • // 1990
    Rae’s favorite stage experience came in 1990, when she got a chance to play the character of “Winnie” in Samuel Beckett’s play, ‘Happy Days’. Rae had always dreamed to be a dramatic actress and this role helped her in making it a reality.
  • // 1992 To 1997
    In 1992, Rae voiced the character of "Aunt Christine Figg" in ‘The Tom and Jerry Movie’ and later in 1997 she voiced “Nanny” in the TV series ‘101 Dalmatians: The Series’.
  • // 1999
    Rae continued appearing as guest actor on numerous TV shows and worked in a few TV films like ‘Crime in Connecticut: The Alex Kelly Story’ which was released in 1999.
  • // 2001
    In 2001, Rae was reunited with her co-stars from ‘The Facts of Life’ to reprise her role of “Edna Garrett” one more time in the TV movie ‘The Facts of Life Reunion’. The movie managed a decent rating of 7.1 and a healthy viewer count of 11.5 million.
  • // 2015
    Owing to her deteriorating health and old age, Rae’s later career was limited to playing minor roles in movies like ‘You Don't Mess with the Zohan’ and TV series like ‘King of Queens’, ‘Strong Medicine’. Her LASTproject was an American comedy-drama film ‘Ricki and the Flash’ where she worked with Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Rick Springfield. The movie was released in 2015.
  • // Nov 2015
    In November 2015, Rae launched her Autobiography, ‘The Facts of My Life’. She co-wrote her autobiography with her son, Larry Strauss.
  • // 2017
    In 2017, Rae announced to the world that she has been detected with bone cancer at the age of 91. She had already been detected with pancreatic cancer seven years ago, which was treated through chemotherapy.
  • // 5th Aug 2018
    She died on August 5, 2018, at the age of 92, in Los Angeles, California.

// Famous American peoples

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller

Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.

Jason Simpson

Jason Simpson

Jason Simpson is the son of former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O. J. Simpson. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family, life, and little known facts about him.

Melissa Brim

Melissa Brim

Melissa Brim is the ex-girlfriend of former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. Check out this biography to know about her birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about her.

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson

Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Zoe LaVerne

Zoe LaVerne

Zoe LaVerne is an American musical.ly star. Check out this biography to know more about her family, personal life, including her age, birthday, etc.

Charlotte Rae's FAQ

  • What is Charlotte Rae birthday?

    Charlotte Rae was born at 1926-04-22

  • When was Charlotte Rae died?

    Charlotte Rae was died at 2018-08-05

  • Where was Charlotte Rae died?

    Charlotte Rae was died in Los Angeles, California

  • Which age was Charlotte Rae died?

    Charlotte Rae was died at age 92

  • Where is Charlotte Rae's birth place?

    Charlotte Rae was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  • What is Charlotte Rae nationalities?

    Charlotte Rae's nationalities is American

  • Who is Charlotte Rae spouses?

    Charlotte Rae's spouses is John Strauss (m. 1951; div. 1976)

  • Who is Charlotte Rae childrens?

    Charlotte Rae's childrens is Andrew Strauss, Larry Strauss

  • What was Charlotte Rae universities?

    Charlotte Rae studied at Northwestern University, University of Southern California, Northwestern University School of Communication, Shorewood High School

  • How tall is Charlotte Rae?

    Charlotte Rae's height is 152

  • Who is Charlotte Rae's father?

    Charlotte Rae's father is Meyer Lubotsky

  • Who is Charlotte Rae's mother?

    Charlotte Rae's mother is Esther Lubotsky

  • What is Charlotte Rae's sun sign?

    Charlotte Rae is Taurus

  • How famous is Charlotte Rae?

    Charlotte Rae is famouse as Actress