THE FACTS OF LIFE's Charlotte Rae to Release Memoir

Actress Charlotte Rae is best known for her role as Mrs. Garrett on the TV series "Diff'rent Strokes" and "The Facts of Life," but from "Car 54 Where Are You?" and Molly the Mail Carrier on "Sesame Street" to the current role opposite Meryl Streep in "Ricki and the Flash," her career has onstage and on screen has been the envy of industry members. However, life at home may not always have been as comedic as the characters she entertained the public with for several decades. Subjects discussed in Ms. Rae's new book entitled "The Facts Of My Life" (24.94/34.95, Nov, 2015) include:

* Noted Northwestern classmates included Paul Lynde, Patricia Neal and Cloris Leachman

* "Facts..." cast members from Molly Ringwald (early) to George Clooney (later) in the series

* Living a nightmare with her child placed in Bellevue, deemed "a danger to himself and Others"

* How she discovered her Grammy winning husband of 25 years was gay.

* Discussing friends/colleagues such as Rock Hudson, Jerry Stiller, Rick Springfield, Geri Jewell,

Jean Stapleton, Martin Sheen, Angela Lansbury, Robert Redford, Woody Allen, Norman Lear, etc.

Actress and singer Charlotte Rae was born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky in Milwaukee, WI. The two time EMMY nominated actress would be loved by generations of television fans, but Rae initially found success as a nightclub performer and theatrical actress. Rae fine-tuned her skills at the prestigious Northwestern University before becoming a regular in summer stock productions. She found work on television and radio programs showcasing her voice and comedic chops, until she tackled New York City. She made her Broadway debut in the musical comedy Three Wishes for Jamie," then appeared with Bea ARTHUR and John Astin in a revival of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's "Threepenny Opera." She went on to originate the role of Mammy Yokum in the musical "Lil' Abner," based on the popular comic strip. In addition to recording albums and musical theater, Rae landed many television guest spots on the United States Steel Hour, The Phil Silvers Show, and Play of the Week. In 1961, Rae became a series regular on the police comedy, Car 54, Where Are You? Before the show even ended, she was back on Broadway in "The Beauty Part," with Alice Ghostley and Bert Lahr. Rae earned her first Tony Award nomination for her work on the original musical Pickwick and garnered another nomination for her role in "Morning, Noon, and Night." It was the role of Edna Garrett on "Diff'rent Strokes" and later her own spin off entitled "The Facts of Life," that made Rae a household name and TV Icon. "I still meet people who just want me to put my arms around them and give them a hug," Rae later told Entertainment Weekly with regard to the characters popularity.

Today Rae continues to work on television and in the theater, most recently appearing opposite multiple Oscar winner, Meryl Streep in "Ricki and the Flash." She has appeared on the sitcom King of Queens and the dramatic series Strong Medicine. In 2006, Rae appeared in a Los Angeles production of 70, Girls, 70with Olympia Dukakis.

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